Sally Bretton

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Sally Bretton
Born
Sally Davis

(1980-04-23) 23 April 1980 (age 45)
Alma mater Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
OccupationActress
Years active1987, 1990, 2000–present
SpouseLee
Children3

Sally Davis (born 23 April 1980), [1] known professionally as Sally Bretton, [2] 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.

Contents

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

Bretton trained in London at the Central School of Speech and Drama, [3] and worked, part time, as a drama teacher at Top Hat Stage and Screen School during her time at speech and drama school. [4] [ when? ] She chose the professional name Bretton as her birth name was already registered, by another, with actors' union Equity.

Career

Film

In "Rogue Landlord", in 2011, Bretton appeared with Sean Lock and Oliver Chris (whom 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. [5]

Television

Bretton has appeared as Lucy Adams in the BBC television sitcom Not Going Out from 2007. [6] She also featured in the TV programmes Absolute Power , Green Wing , and The Office . [6]

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 . [6]

Theatre

On stage, she played Goneril in Shakespeare's King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe in 2008. [7]

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). [8] [9]

Personal life

Bretton and her husband, Lee, a photographer, [1] have three daughters, including twins. [1] As of March 2025, they live in Hertfordshire. [10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2000PeachesAmyFeature film
2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright Susan
2007 Outlaw Kelly
A Fitting Tribute TammyShort film
Edinburgh International Film Festival Official Selection
2009JubileeSkinny MumShort film
2011The Last Temptation of William ShawEmily
Shelter – Rogue LandlordsMother
2018Hassan's TowerSarah
2020SwanDonna

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987 Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story Hortense de Beauharnais as ChildMini-series; episodes 1 & 2: "Part I" & "Part II". Credited as Sally Davis
1990 Screen One JennySeries 2; episode 5: "Can You Hear Me Thinking?". Credited as Sally Davis
2000 Sunburn LisaSeries 2; episode 4: "Unexpected Love and Golf"
Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various rolesEpisodes 1 & 2
2001Harry Enfield Presents Tim Nice-But-Dim's Guide to Being a Bloody Nice BlokeBig Brother – NunTelevision film
Beast Girl in Pub (Carly)Series 2; episode 1: "Cow"
Harry Enfield Presents Wayne and Waynetta's Guide to Wedded BlissTeacherTelevision film
The Armstrong and Miller Show EmmaSeries 4; episode 1
Doctors Chrissie DevonishSeries 2; episode 105: "Passive Resistance"
The Office DonnaSeries 1; episodes 2–6
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible CarminaEpisode 1: "Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust"
Night & Day LisaSeries 1; episodes 4–9
2002Happy TogetherDebiTelevision film
2003 Blue Murder GrassmereSeries 1; episode 1: "Cry Me a River: Part 1"
2003–2005 Absolute Power Cat DurnfordMain role; series 1 & 2; 12 episodes
2004 Wild West VictoriaSeries 2; episode 5: "The Film Crew"
If... Dr. Sally PriceSeries 2; episode 2: "If... We Could Stop the Violence"
2004–2006 Green Wing Kim AlabasterSeries 1 & 2; 18 episodes
2005 Blessed Mary HathawayEpisodes 1–8
Open WideKarenTelevision film
2006 The Bill Dee CollierSeries 22; episodes 5 & 6
Blackbeard: Terror at Sea Mary Ormond Television film
Snuff Box Pretty Lady Walking DogMini-series; episode 5: "Love Triangle"
Vincent TinaSeries 2; episode 3
2007 Casualty Stevie ThornellSeries 21; episode 31: "Stitch"
Hotel Babylon Elizabeth ScottSeries 2; episode 6
How Not to Live Your Life AbbyPilot episode
2007–present Not Going Out Lucy AdamsMain role; 99 episodes
2009 My Family CherylSeries 10; episode: "2039: A Christmas Oddity"
2010 Lewis Eve RigbySeries 4; episode 3: "Your Sudden Death Question"
2011 Casualty Suki WilliamsSeries 25; episode 36: "A Quiet Life"
2016 Agatha Raisin Amanda BartonSeries 1; episode 2: "Hell's Bells"
2016–2017 Death in Paradise Martha LloydSeries 5 & 6; 5 episodes
2019Thanks for the MemoriesSarahMini-series; episodes 1 & 2
2023–present Beyond Paradise Martha LloydMain role; series 1–3; 15 episodes
2025 The Au Pair Zoe DaltonMain role; episodes 1–4

Theatre

YearTitleRoleVenue
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 DeeverLibrary 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

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2003Afternoon Play: Seven FloorsHospital Staff Member [11]
2010Drama on 3 – The Carhullan ArmyCorky [12]
2012–2013Births, Deaths and MarriagesMary [13]
2014Start/StopAliceSeries 2 [14]
2015The Archers – The Ambridge Players – Dead Girls Tell No TalesCarol Grey / Anne Cullen [15]

Awards

References

  1. 1 2 3 Wilson, Hope (28 March 2025). "Sally Bretton facts: Beyond Paradise star's age, husband, children and career explained". heart.co.uk. Heart . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  2. Morgan, Laura (24 February 2023). "Sally Bretton — things you didn't know about the TV star". yahoo.com. Yahoo! . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  3. Actaeon Films Ltd. "Actaeon Films". Archived from the original on 21 April 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  4. 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.
  5. Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord Lear". YouTube. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sally Bretton - IMDB". imdb. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  7. Holmes, Neil (12 January 2025). "Sally Bretton - Cast Update for King Lear". imdb. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
  8. Holmes, Neil (13 January 2025). "An Ideal Husband IMDB". imdb. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  9. Holmes, Neil (13 January 2025). "An Ideal Husband Marquee TV". imdb. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  10. Shillcock, Francesca (10 March 2025). "Inside Sally Bretton's family life with husband". hellomagazine.com. Hello! . Retrieved 26 April 2025.
  11. "Seven Floors". Radio Listings.
  12. "Drama on 3 - Drama on 3 - The Carhullan Army". BBC.
  13. "Births, Deaths and Marriages - BBC Radio 4". BBC.
  14. "Start/Stop". BBC.
  15. "Drama on 4 - Dead Girls Tell No Tales". BBC.