You know that feeling when an actor just looks like they’re about to have a very polite, very British nervous breakdown? That is Sian Clifford in a nutshell. Honestly, before 2016, most people hadn't really heard of her. She was a theater veteran, grinding away in off-West End productions while the rest of the world was looking elsewhere. Then came a little show called Fleabag, and suddenly, everyone was obsessed with the woman who played Claire—the sister who looked like a pencil and had a "brittle" energy that could shatter glass.
But here’s the thing: Sian Clifford TV shows aren't just a list of comedies. If you think she’s just the "uptight sister" archetype, you’re missing out on some of the most nuanced acting on television right now. From the high-stakes tension of a cheating scandal to the existential dread of living the same life over and over, she has quietly become one of the most reliable leads in the industry.
The Breakthrough That Almost Didn't Happen
It’s wild to think about now, but Phoebe Waller-Bridge actually had to fight for Clifford to be in Fleabag. The producers wanted someone famous. You know how it is—big names sell shows. But Waller-Bridge knew that Clifford was the only person who could play Claire with that specific mix of terrifying competence and soul-crushing vulnerability.
If you haven't seen it (and if so, what are you doing?), Claire is the "successful" sister. She’s the one with the high-powered job, the terrible husband, and a hair-trigger temper that she masks with expensive skincare and silence. That scene in Season 2 where she has the "asymmetrical" haircut and screams that she looks like a pencil? It’s iconic. It’s also the moment she won a BAFTA, and honestly, it was deserved.
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Beyond the Pencil: Sian Clifford TV Shows You Need to Catch Up On
After Fleabag wrapped, the industry finally realized she could carry a show. She didn't just stick to the easy stuff, though.
Quiz (2020)
In Quiz, she played Diana Ingram. This was the dramatization of the real-life "Coughing Major" scandal on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?. Clifford played the wife of the accused cheater, and she was incredible. Most people expected her to play a villain—a "Lady Macbeth" pulling the strings. Instead, she played Diana as a shy, quiz-obsessed introvert who was just... kind of awkward? It was a masterclass in not playing the caricature the tabloids created.
Two Weeks to Live (2020)
Then she did a complete 180 and starred alongside Maisie Williams in this dark comedy. She played Tina, a survivalist mother who has raised her daughter in a forest to prepare for the end of the world. It’s gritty, it’s weird, and it shows that Clifford can do "tough-as-nails" just as well as "tightly-wound."
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Life After Life (2022)
This is probably her most underrated work. Based on the Kate Atkinson novel, it follows Ursula Todd, a woman who dies and is reborn repeatedly. Clifford plays Sylvie, Ursula’s mother. It’s a heavy role. She has to play a woman dealing with the grief of multiple stillbirths and the crushing weight of two world wars. It’s devastatingly good.
What’s New: From Unstable to Doctor Who
Right now, she’s busy. Like, really busy. If you’re looking for more recent Sian Clifford TV shows, you should check out:
- Unstable (Netflix): She plays Anna Bennet, the CFO of a high-tech bio-research firm. It’s a return to her comedic roots, playing the "straight man" to Rob Lowe’s chaotic genius.
- Everyone Else Burns (Channel 4): She joined the second season of this cult hit about a puritanical Christian sect. She plays Maude, and she fits into that eccentric world perfectly.
- Doctor Who (2024): She had a guest spot as the "Kind Woman" in the episode "Empire of Death." It was brief, but she brought a certain weight to it that only she can.
- Ludwig (BBC): One of her latest projects where she plays Joanne Kemper. It's a procedural comedy-drama that really lets her flex those "smarter than everyone in the room" muscles.
Why She’s Actually Different from Her Characters
In interviews, Clifford often says she’s "psychotic with a spreadsheet," which makes her sound exactly like Claire. But she’s also deeply into mindfulness and meditation. She actually founded a platform called Still Space. It’s that contrast—the high-energy, high-strung professional vs. the grounded, spiritual person—that makes her performances feel so real. She isn't just acting "stressed"; she understands the energy of it.
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She’s also not afraid to take small roles in big things. You might have missed her voice in Star Wars: The Bad Batch as GS-8, or her role as Agent Salmakia in His Dark Materials. She seems to pick projects based on the script rather than the paycheck.
How to Watch Her Best Work
If you’re planning a binge-watch session, don’t just stick to the hits. Here is a solid roadmap for getting the full Sian Clifford experience:
- Start with Fleabag Season 2: It’s where she really peaks as Claire.
- Move to Quiz: To see her handle a real-life controversy with total empathy.
- Watch Life After Life: If you want to see her do serious, heart-wrenching drama.
- Finish with Unstable: To see her navigate the absurdity of corporate America.
She’s also got a film coming out called Mother Mary in 2026, starring alongside Anne Hathaway. It’s directed by David Lowery, so expect something visually stunning and probably a bit trippy.
Most actors find a lane and stay in it. Clifford has basically built her own highway. She can be the funniest person on screen while also being the most tragic, often in the same thirty-second scene. That’s a rare gift.
Actionable Next Steps
To see the full range of Sian Clifford’s work right now, start by checking your streaming subscriptions. Fleabag is on Amazon Prime, while Unstable is a Netflix original. If you’re in the UK, Life After Life and Ludwig are essential viewing on BBC iPlayer. For those interested in her more recent comedic turns, Everyone Else Burns on Channel 4 is the way to go. If you want to follow her upcoming projects like The Ballad of Wallis Island or The Miniature Wife, keep an eye on British production news for late 2025 and 2026 releases.