Theatre At 23, Higgins graduated from the
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). Through the 1980s, she became a dynamic stage actress, both in London and on
Broadway. She starred in the premiere of
David Hare's
The Secret Rapture, and won the first of her three
Olivier Awards in 1995. In 1983, she starred with
Ben Cross in the
BBC's serial version of
A.J. Cronin's
The Citadel, playing the role of Christine Manson. Higgins appeared as Jocasta in the
National Theatre's critically acclaimed production of
Oedipus, opposite
Ralph Fiennes in the title role. From April to May 2009, she appeared in
Wallace Shawn's
The Fever at the
Royal Court Theatre. From mid-May to September 2009, she appeared as the Countess Rossillion in ''
All's Well That Ends Well'' at the National Theatre (Olivier stage).
Film For the big screen, Higgins played Julia Cotton in
Clive Barker's
Hellraiser (1987), based on Barker's novella
The Hellbound Heart. She reprised the role for
Tony Randel's
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988). She was originally intended to play a major role in the third film, but requested her character be killed off at the end of the second film. Her other film credits include the Scottish film
Small Faces (1996). In 2000, she appeared in Catherine Cookson's
The Secret mini-series as Maggie Hewitt, as well as in
Woody Allen's ''
Cassandra's Dream (2007) and The Golden Compass'' (2007).
Television In 1996 appeared in an episode (Series 6 ep 14) of Heartbeat as Maureen Bristow, an escaped prisoner. On 30 September 2012, Higgins appeared in season 3, episode 3 of
Downton Abbey as Mrs Bartlett, a friend of Mrs Bates who eventually helps in the release of Mr Bates from prison. On 14 November 2013, she appeared in the
Doctor Who mini-episode "
The Night of the Doctor", which starred
Paul McGann as the
Eighth Doctor. Higgins played Ohila, the leader of the
Sisterhood of Karn. In 2014, she appeared in the
Father Brown episode "The Daughters of Jerusalem" as Dinah Fortescue. Higgins returned to the role of Ohila in 2015 in "
The Magician's Apprentice", which originally aired on 19 September 2015, and in the series finale "
Hell Bent" on 5 December 2015. The same year, she appeared in
EastEnders, as prosecuting lawyer
Hazel Warren. In January 2017, Higgins starred in CBBC's adaptation of Jill Murphy's
The Worst Witch as Miss Ada Cackle, and her wicked twin sister Agatha. ==Filmography==