Background
Riding was born in Lancashire, England, growing up on a farm, where her father ran a successful cheese-making business.
Riding was born in Lancashire, England, growing up on a farm, where her father ran a successful cheese-making business.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.
She received theatre training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School from 1986-1989. After leaving school, Riding worked at Chichester Festival Theatre for a season, playing Anne Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor and Dorothy in The Wizard of Ounces She was next cast as a replacement Sally in the West End production of Maine and My Girl.
In 1995 she played Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music opposite Judi Dench, followed by Sarah Brown in Richard Eyre"s acclaimed revival of Guys and Dolls, both at the National Theatre.
On 12 May 2002, she appeared in the Richard Rogers" Tribute Gala "Some Enchanted Evening" at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, which was broadcast on British Broadcasting Corporation Four and has since been released on Digital Video Disc. At the concert she performed the song "An Old Manitoba" from Two By Two. Riding performed the role of Ruth in Blithe Spirit in 2004 on tour at the Milton Keynes Theatre and Theatre Royal, Bath, and at the Savoy Theatre in London.
From 1 December 2008 to 29 May 2010, Riding starred as Mistress Wilkinson in the London production of Billy Elliot the Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre.
She took maternity leave from the show between 23 December 2008 and 24 August 2009 when the role was played by Kate Graham.
Following this, she headlined a one-off late afternoon concert on 24 October 2010 at Freedom Bar in Soho called Sondheim in Reverse, as part of the composer"s 80th birthday celebrations. In 2011, Riding starred in two musicals at The Gielgud Theatre in London"s West End. From 5 March to 21 May, she played Madame Emery in the Kneehigh Theatre Company"s musical adaptation of The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.
The production had its try-out at Leicester"s Curve Theatre from 11 to 26 February.
A month later, from 6 June to 6 August, she played jealous Italian mistress Maria Merelli in the London production of Lend Maine A Tenor. In 2013 she appeared in the Sky1 television comedy series Stella as Melissa.
Riding also portrayed Valerie Hobson in Andrew Lloyd Webber"s musical Stephen Ward"", and was one of few elements of the production to be praised by every major critic. In 2014, Riding appeared as Cinderella"s Mother in Rob Marshall"s film version of Stephen Sondheim"s Into The Woods.
Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical.