Lucy Mottershead

A proud shopkeeper, Lucy is a pillar of her community until her world is turned upside down when Albert sells their shop to help fund the zoo and they are forced to live with George and his family in the country. Lucy is unconvinced by George's plan and at times her attitude towards the zoo is hostile. It's only Lucy's deep commitment to her family and her gradual attachment to the animals that slowly win her around.

Anne Reid is a BAFTA Award-nominated English stage, film and television actress best known for her roles in Midsummer Murders, Marple and Upstairs Downstairs.

Most recently Anne has starred in the BBC’s BAFTA-winning drama Last Tango in Halifax. Anne received a BAFTA nomination for her performance as Celia alongside Derek Jacobi, Sarah Lancashire, Nicola Walker and Nina Sosanya, and filming is currently underway for the third series in the UK.

Anne played the role of Jean in the BBC comedy series Dinnerladies written by Victoria Wood and has appeared in other shows including Life Begins, Shameless, Five Days, New Tricks, Prisoners' Wives and Marchlands.

Anne has featured in a number of films including Hot Fuzz, Love and Death on Long Island with John Hurt, Cemetery Junction with Ricky Gervais and Song for Marion with Vanessa Redgrave and Terence Stamp. Notably she played the challenging title role in The Mother, with Daniel Craig, for which she won the London Film Critic’s Award for Best Actress and was nominated as Best Actress at the European Film Awards.

A regular in the West End, Anne most recently performed at the Old Vic in London in a production of Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. She was also nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Epitaph for George Dillon.

Anne Reid was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours.