Harriet Amelia Thorpe (born 8 June 1957) is an English actress. She trained at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. She is known for her roles in the British sitcoms, The Brittas Empire (1991–97) and Absolutely Fabulous (1992–2012). She has also starred in the West End musicals, Cabaret (2006), Wicked (2008) and Mamma Mia! (2010).
She appeared in the mid-to-late 1990s British television sitcom The Brittas Empire, playing Carole Parkinson, the receptionist who was prone to depression and fits of emotion who permanently kept her children with her in drawers under her desk, and would sometimes be seen feeding them or washing their clothes. Thorpe also starred in a celebrity edition of The Weakest Link as Madame Morrible, in which she was voted off in the first round.
Thorpe played Fleur in Absolutely Fabulous, an eccentric and somewhat odd work-colleague who spoke in a very precise fashion. Along with working extensively with Dawn French and Jennifer Saunders. She has also appeared in BBC2's Alexei Sayle's Stuff, A Bit of Fry and Laurie; BBC's Casualty, Material Girl and ITV's The Bill and Midsomer Murders. She notably played Beverley Osman in the BBC children's comedy drama No Sweat, starring boyband North and South. She made a guest appearance in Channel 4 soap opera, Hollyoaks as Elizabeth.