Jane Danson (born Jane Dawson, 8 November 1978) is an English actress. She is known for her portrayal of Leanne Battersby in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 1997 and 2000, and from 2004 onwards. Her other television credits include Children's Ward (1995–1997), The Grand (1997) and The Bill (2002–2003). For her role on Coronation Street, Danson won the 2011 British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance.
Danson was born in Bury, Greater Manchester, England. At the age of 12, Danson made her television debut under the name Jane Dawson in the 1991 Alan Bleasdale series GBH playing the part of Eileen Critchley.
From 1995 to 1997, Danson played the role of Paula in the ITV children's television drama Children's Ward. In 1996, she also appeared in Out of Tune, a British children's sitcom which was shown on CBBC. She also made an appearance in the first episode of the BBC's Hetty Wainthropp Investigates which was aired in January 1996.