Lucy Punch (born 30 December 1977) is an English actress. She played the role of Amanda Hughes in the BBC sitcom Motherland (2016–2022) and its spin-off Amandaland (2025–present) which earned her a nomination for a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance. Her film credits include Ella Enchanted (2004), Hot Fuzz (2007), You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Dinner for Schmucks (both 2010), Bad Teacher (2011), and Into the Woods (2014). She has also appeared in the television series The Class (2006), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018–2019) and Bloods (2021–2022).
Early life and education Lucy Punch was born in Hammersmith, West London, the daughter of Johanna (née Lowe) and Michael Punch, who ran a market research company.
She was educated privately at Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith. She performed with the National Youth Theatre from 1993 to 1997, and began a course at University College London before dropping out to become an actress.
Career
Punch made her acting debut in a 1998 episode of The New Adventures of Robin Hood. Her other TV credits include the naive daughter of Alison Steadman's character in the short-lived series Let Them Eat Cake which starred French and Saunders. She starred as a football player in the children's TV show Renford Rejects and played the role of the victim Melissa Townsend in the 19th episode of Midsomer Murders.
In 2000, Punch appeared in the film Greenfingers. She made her stage debut as Elaine in Terry Johnson's West End adaptation of The Graduate (1967). She has worked at the Royal Court and Bush theatres, both in London.-
In 2004, Punch played the receptionist Elaine Denham in Doc Martin. She left the television show The Class after appearing in 11 of the first 12 episodes.
In 2006, she won the Best Actress award at the Monaco International Film Festival for her performance in Are You Ready for Love? She played the murder victim and amateur actress Eve Draper in Edgar Wright's 2007 film Hot Fuzz.
Punch starred in Woody Allen's film You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010). In August 2010, she appeared in BBC Two's three-part police comedy-drama Vexed. In 2011, Punch appeared in Bad Teacher, portraying the sanctimonious schoolteacher, Amy Squirrel.
Punch was cast as Deena Pilgrim, the female lead in the TV pilot Powers,"'Powers' TV Series Casts Deena Pilgrim" , 21 June 2011, MTV but the role was recast.
From 2016, Punch played Amanda, leader of the "Alpha mums", in the BBC comedy series Motherland. In May 2024, it was announced that Punch will reprise her role as Amanda in the spin-off Amandaland, with Philippa Dunne and Joanna Lumley reprising their roles of Anne and Amanda's mother Felicity respectively.
In 2017, Punch was cast in the role of Esmé Squalor in the second season of the Netflix comedy drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events, a role that continued through the show's third and final season.
In 2020, Punch starred in the short film Leap, which was part of the anthology film, With/In. Sanaa Lathan directed and co-starred in Leap, which was written by Margaret Nagle. It debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2021 and was nominated for the Humanitas Prize as Best Short Film in 2022. It was the best reviewed film in the anthology, with Punch being singled out for her work.
In December 2022, Punch reprised her role of Amanda in the Motherland Christmas special.
Personal life In 2002 to 2005 Punch was in a relationship with James D’Arcy after they met during filming of the TV film Come Together. She began a relationship with artist Dinos Chapman in 2014. With Chapman she gave birth to her first child, a son. They had another son some years later. The family lives in the United States.
Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 2000 Greenfingers Holly 2000 The Tenth Kingdom Sally Peep 2001 It's Not Me, It's You Rose 2004 Ella Enchanted Hattie Lead stewardess Being Julia Avice Crichton 2005 Festival Nicky Romanowski 2006 Are You Ready for Love? Melanie Monaco International Film Festival – Angel Award for Best Actress Stingray Lucy 2007 Hot Fuzz Eve Draper Grindhouse Blonde in Don't trailer Uncredited St Trinian's Verity Thwaites 2009 Big Breaks Alexis (Untitled) The Clarinet 2010 Elektra Luxx Dolores You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Charmaine Dinner for Schmucks Darla 2011 Sarah Walker Take Me Home Tonight Shelly Bad Teacher Amy Squirrel Kate 2012 Pauline Saskia Yellow Amanda Stars in Shorts Julie Stand Up Guys Wendy 2013 Cottage Country Masha 2014 Someone Marry Barry Melanie Miller Into the Woods Lucinda She's Funny That Way Prostitute Cake Nurse Gayle 2016 Emily 2017 Lexi 2018 You, Me and Him Olivia 2019 How to Build a Girl Sylvia Plath 2021 With/In: Volume 1 Lucy Segment: "Leap" Silent Night Bella 2022 Book of Love Jen Spencer Confess, Fletch Tatiana Tasserly2024 How to Date Billy Walsh Lilly Arnold 2025 Jingle Bell Heist Cynthia Sterling
Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Queen Stephanie Episode: "Orphans" 1999 Renford Rejects Sue White Main role (series 2) Days Like These Helen Foreman 3 episodes Let Them Eat Cake Eveline 4 episodes 1999–2001 Big Bad World Melissa 4 episodes 2000 Cinderella Regan Television film Sally Peep 3 episodes 2001 People Like Us Kate Episode: "The Actor" Midsomer Murders Melissa Townsend Episode: "Tainted Fruit" Goodbye, Mr Steadman Linda Mortimer Television film 2002 Come Together Amy Television film I Saw You Esther Episode: "Episode 1.1" 2003 Second Nature Car Rental Girl Television film Dinotopia Shayna Episode: "Night of the Wartosa" 2004 My Family Sarah Episode: "Luck Be a Lady Tonight" Doc Martin Elaine Denham Main role (series 1) 2005 Survivors Juliet Savage Episode: "In Deep Water" 2006 Agatha Christie's Poirot Susannah Henderson Episode: "After the Funeral" 2007 Holly Ellenbogen Main role Comedy Showcase: Ladies and Gentlemen Alice Pilot Sally Episode: "Ah, Men" Miss Fanny Dashett Episode 1.2 Two Families Irene Television film 2008 Fairy Tales Fenola Gay Episode: "Cinderella" Wainy Days Angel Episode: "Angel" 1% Candace Television film 2010 Vexed DI Kate Bishop 3 episodes 2012–2013 Ben and Kate Beatrice Joan "BJ" Harrison Main role 2013 Hello Ladies Mother Episode: "The Wedding" 2014 Kroll Show Violet Episode: "Cake Train" Robot Chicken Daenerys Targaryen/Arya Stark/Janice Rand (voice) Episode: "Rebel Appliance" 2016 New Girl Genevieve 2 episodes 2016–2022 Motherland Amanda Main role 2018–2019 Esmé Squalor Main role 2019 Kyle's mom Episode: "Preemies, Weed and Infidelity" 2020 What We Do in the Shadows Lilith Episode: "Witches" 2021 Kate Middleton (voice) Main role Gossip Girl Saskia Bates Episode: "Once Upon a Time in the Upper West" 2021–2022 Bloods Jo Main role 2022 Avenue 5 Dawn Djopi 2 Episodes 2024 No Good Deed Trish 1 episode "Letters of Intent" 2025 Animal Control Fiona Holcomb 4 Episodes Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters Herself 5 episodes 2025–present Amandaland Amanda 13 episodes 2026 RuPaul's Drag Race: UK vs. the World Guest judge Series 3 2026 The Audacity Lili Park-Hoffsteader 8 episodes
Stage Year Title RoleNotes 2000 The Graduate Elaine Gielgud Theatre 2001 Boy Gets Girl Harriet Royal Court TheatreBoy Gets Girl review by Timothy Ramsden, 24 November , at reviewsgate.com 2002 A Carpet, A Pony and A Monkey Kate Bush TheatreA Carpet, A Pony and A Monkey, "Lucy Punch in a bravura performance of comic verve" by Amanda Hodges at londontheatre.co.uk 2014 Great Britain Paige Britain Theatre Royal Haymarket
Awards 2006 Best Actress award - Angel Film Awards - Monaco International Film Festival - performance in Are You Ready for Love? 2026 British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance nomination for Amandaland
References
External links
Lucy Punch at Roger Ebert