Lenora Crichlow

Actress in Being Human, playing ghost Annie Sawyer

Biography

Lenora Crichlow is a British actress and screenwriter born in 1985 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. She is best known for her starring role as Annie Sawyer, a ghost, in the BBC supernatural drama series Being Human (2008-2013), which also featured a vampire and a werewolf as main characters. The show became a critical and audience favorite, establishing Crichlow as a talented dramatic actress capable of blending horror, comedy, and emotional depth. Beyond Being Human, she has appeared in various television productions including Doctor Who, where she played Flower Okonkwo, and has worked in stage theatre. Crichlow has also ventured into screenwriting and producing, demonstrating her multifaceted talents within the entertainment industry. Her performance in Being Human earned her recognition as one of the most compelling actresses of her generation, and the character of Annie Sawyer remains iconic in British television history.

The Name Lenora

Lenora is a vintage English name that experienced a revival in the late 20th century, and Crichlow represents the modern, accomplished woman carrying this literary-sounding name into contemporary entertainment.

Quick Facts

Lenora

Germanic origin

“Derived from Eleanor, tracing back to the Germanic elements 'ali' (other) and 'nor' (woman), meaning 'the other woman' or bearing associations with light and brightness through Old Occitan roots. Lenora is a streamlined, Americanized version of Eleanor that emerged in the 19th century. The name balances classic dignity with approachable charm.”