Sally Bretton

Sally Bretton
Born (1980-04-23) 23 April 1980 (age 44)
Alma materRoyal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1987, 1990, 2000–present

Sally Bretton is an English actress.

She is best known for appearing as Lucy Adams in the long-running BBC television sitcom Not Going Out since 2007, and as Martha Lloyd in the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise between 2016 and 2017, a role she has reprised in the spin-off, Beyond Paradise, since 2023.

Other roles include Donna in The Office in 2001, Cat Durnford in Absolute Power in 2003, and Kim Alabaster in Green Wing between 2004 and 2006.

Early life and education

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Bretton trained in London at the Central School of Speech and Drama,[1] and worked, part time, as a drama teacher at Top Hat Stage and Screen School during her time at Speech and Drama School.[2][when?] She chose the professional name Bretton as her birth name was already registered, by another, with actors' union Equity.

Career

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Film

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In "Rogue Landlord", in 2011, Bretton appeared with Sean Lock and Oliver Chris (who she had previously appeared with in Green Wing between 2004 and 2006). The film was part of a Shelter campaign bringing attention to the problem of questionable landlords and their tactics.[3]

Television

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Bretton has appeared as Lucy Adams in the BBC television sitcom Not Going Out from 2007.[4] She also featured in the TV programmes Absolute Power, Green Wing, and The Office.[4]

She played Martha Lloyd in the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise between 2016 and 2017, and from 2023 has reprised the role in the spin-off, Beyond Paradise.[4]

Theatre

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On stage, she played Goneril in Shakespeare's King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe in 2008.[5]

Bretton has made a number of appearances in the theatre. "An Ideal Husband" in 2018 was broadcast from London to cinemas across the country. It was also recorded as a film and is available to view, in the UK, through MarqueeTV (part of Prime Video).[6][7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2000 Peaches Amy Feature films
2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright Susan
2007 Outlaw Kelly
A Fitting Tribute Tammy Short film
Edinburgh International Film Festival Official Selection
2009 Jubilee Skinny Mum Short Films
2011 The Last Temptation of William Shaw Emily
Shelter – Rogue Landlords Mother
2018 Hassan's Tower Sarah
2020 Swan Donna

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1987 Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story Hortense de Beauharnais as Child Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2: "Part I" & "Part II". Credited as Sally Davis
1990 Screen One Jenny Series 2; episode 5: "Can You Hear Me Thinking?". Credited as Sally Davis
2000 Sunburn Lisa Series 2; episode 4: "Unexpected Love and Golf"
Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various roles Episodes 1 & 2
2001 Harry Enfield Presents Tim Nice-But-Dim's Guide to Being a Bloody Nice Bloke Big Brother – Nun Television film
Beast Girl in Pub (Carly) Series 2; episode 1: "Cow"
Harry Enfield Presents Wayne and Waynetta's Guide to Wedded Bliss Teacher Television film
The Armstrong and Miller Show Emma Series 4; episode 1
Doctors Chrissie Devonish Series 2; episode 105: "Passive Resistance"
The Office Donna Series 1; episodes 2–6
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Carmina Episode 1: "Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust"
Night & Day Lisa Series 1; episodes 4–9
2002 Happy Together Debi Television film
2003 Blue Murder Grassmere Series 1; episode 1: "Cry Me a River: Part 1"
2003–2005 Absolute Power Cat Durnford Main role; series 1 & 2; 12 episodes
2004 Wild West Victoria Series 2; episode 5: "The Film Crew"
If... Dr. Sally Price Series 2; episode 2: "If... We Could Stop the Violence"
2004–2006 Green Wing Kim Alabaster Series 1 & 2; 18 episodes
2005 Blessed Mary Hathaway Episodes 1–8
Open Wide Karen Television film
2006 The Bill Dee Collier Series 22; episodes 5 & 6
Blackbeard: Terror at Sea Mary Ormond Television film
Snuff Box Pretty Lady Walking Dog Mini-series; episode 5: "Love Triangle"
Vincent Tina Series 2; episode 3
2007 Casualty Stevie Thornell Series 21; episode 31: "Stitch"
Hotel Babylon Elizabeth Scott Series 2; episode 6
How Not to Live Your Life Abby Pilot episode
2007–2023 Not Going Out Lucy Adams Main role; series 2–13; 95 episodes
2009 My Family Cheryl Series 10; episode: "2039: A Christmas Oddity"
2010 Lewis Eve Rigby Series 4; episode 3: "Your Sudden Death Question"
2011 Casualty Suki Williams Series 25; episode 36: "A Quiet Life"
2016 Agatha Raisin Amanda Barton Series 1; episode 2: "Hell's Bells"
2016–2017 Death in Paradise Martha Lloyd Series 5 & 6; 5 episodes
2019 Thanks for the Memories Sarah Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2
2023–present Beyond Paradise Martha Lloyd Main role; series 1–3; 15 episodes
2025 The Au Pair Zoe Dalton Main role; episodes 1–4

Theatre

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Year Title Role Venue
2002 Hay Fever Sorel Oxford Stage Company (UK tour)
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Library Theatre, Manchester
2003 Present Laughter Daphne Theatre Royal, Bath (Tour)
2004 All My Sons Ann Deever Library Theatre, Manchester
A Conversation Gail Williams Royal Exchange, Manchester
2006–2007 In Extremis Heloise Shakespeare's Globe, London
2008 King Lear Goneril Shakespeare's Globe, London
2018 An Ideal Husband Lady Chiltern Vaudeville Theatre, London / Theatre Royal, Bath
2020 Dial M for Murder Margot Wendice Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 Afternoon Play: Seven Floors Hospital Staff Member [8]
2010 Drama on 3 – The Carhullan Army Corky [9]
2012–2013 Births, Deaths and Marriages Mary [10]
2014 Start/Stop Alice Series 2 [11]
2015 The Archers – The Ambridge Players – Dead Girls Tell No Tales Carol Grey / Anne Cullen [12]

Awards

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  • Nominated
    • 2002 – Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards – Best Actress (Theatre) – Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
    • 2024 – TV Times Awards – Favourite On-Screen Partnership – Beyond Paradise with Kris Marshall

References

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  1. ^ Actaeon Films Ltd. "Actaeon Films". Archived from the original on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  2. ^ Fotheringham, Ann (4 March 2020). "Not Going Out star Sally Bretton on her latest role in Dial M for Murder". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 25 November 2020.
  3. ^ Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord Lear". YouTube. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sally Bretton - IMDB". imdb. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  5. ^ Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sally Bretton - Cast Update for King Lear". imdb. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  6. ^ Holmes, Neil (13 January 2025). "An Ideal Husband IMDB". imdb. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  7. ^ Holmes, Neil (13 January 2025). "An Ideal Husband Marquee TV". imdb. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  8. ^ "Seven Floors". Radio Listings.
  9. ^ "Drama on 3 - Drama on 3 - The Carhullan Army". BBC.
  10. ^ "Births, Deaths and Marriages - BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  11. ^ "Start/Stop". BBC.
  12. ^ "Drama on 4 - Dead Girls Tell No Tales". BBC.
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