Heather Craney was born in Stapleford in Cambridgeshire in 1971 and even at primary school was a notable Buttons in their production of 'Cinderella'. She spent two years in Darlington in the 1980s where the family had moved for the father's work and she was a regular at the local arts and drama centre. Returning to Cambridgeshire she left Long Road Sixth Form College to study English and Drama at Liverpool Hope University,graduating in 1992. She then went on to London's Central School of Speech and Drama for its three year course until 1995. Her first professional theatrical job was at the Orange tree,Richmond in 'Death of an Elephant' and she has subsequently appeared at the Royal Court and Donmar Warehouse. She was nominated for a BAFTA for her supporting role in Mike Leigh's 'Vera Drake' as the social-climbing sister-in-law and has an ongoing role as the woman next door in the sitcom 'Life of Riley'.