Sally Bretton
British actress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
23 April 1980
Sally Bretton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sally Davis 23 April 1980 |
| Alma mater | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987, 1990, 2000–present |
| Spouse | Lee |
| Children | 3 |
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 from which she graduated in 1999.[4][5] She chose the professional name Bretton as her birth name was already registered, by another, with actors' union Equity.
Career
Film
In Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord, in 2011, Bretton appeared with Sean Lock and Oliver Chris (whom she had previously appeared with in the Green Wing sitcom between 2004 and 2006). The short film was part of a Shelter campaign bringing attention to the problem of questionable landlords and their tactics.[6][7]
Television
Bretton has appeared as Lucy Adams in the BBC television sitcom Not Going Out from 2007.[8] She also featured in the TV programmes Absolute Power, Green Wing, and The Office.[8]
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.[8]
Theatre
On stage, she played Goneril in Shakespeare's King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe in 2008.[9]
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).[10][11]
Personal life
Bretton and her husband, Lee, a photographer, have three daughters, including twins.[1] As of March 2025, they lived in Hertfordshire.[12]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Peaches | Amy | Feature film |
| 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 film |
| 2011 | The Last Temptation of William Shaw | Emily | |
| Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord | Mother | ||
| 2018 | Hassan's Tower | Sarah | |
| 2020 | Swan | Donna |
Television
| 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–present | Not Going Out | Lucy Adams | Main role; 99 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: "Agatha Raisin and 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
| 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
Awards
- 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