Sally Bretton is best known for playing Lucy Adams in the long-running BBC sitcom, Not Going Out, and as Martha Lloyd in Death in Paradise spin-off Beyond Paradise.
She actually made her first TV appearance as a child star in 1987. Sally was back on our screens last year in Beyond Paradise season 2, which sees her play Martha, the fiancée of DI Humphrey Goodman (played by Kris Marshall). And she will soon be seen in Beyond Paradise season 3.
Taling about the vibe of Beyond Paradise, she says: "The comedy in this is much gentler than in Not Going Out. But Humphrey and Martha are quite playful with each other, and there's an appreciation of each other's foibles that brings humor into the show".
Sally also has a major new Channel 5 drama on the way. She stars alongside Sir David Suchet in the big new drama The Au Pair. David Suchet plays George, who moves next door to his daughter Zoe Dalton (Sally Bretton). Sally's character is a woman who appears to have everything: a handsome and successful husband, two adorable stepchildren, and a stunning home in a beautiful English town. But everything goes wrong for Zoe when she unwisely hires Sandrine (Lupin’s Ludmilla Makowski) as an au pair. The Au Pair will begin on Channel 5 on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 9 pm.
Despite her successful career, married mum-of-three Sally isn't a fan of the limelight and enjoys leading a quiet life with her young family away from the cameras. Here are a few things you may not know about her…
Sally Bretton isn’t her real name
Sally Bretton was born Sally Davis and grew up in Hertfordshire. After graduating from Central School of Speech and Drama in 1999, she joined Equity, the performing arts and entertainment union, but realised she’d have to change her surname as there was another Sally Davis on their books.
Sally's new moniker came to her while she was working as a Saturday girl in the Barnet branch of Next. “A friend brought in a book all about the meanings of names, and I was in the staff room flicking through,” she told The Telegraph.
Sally wasn’t far into the book when she fell on Bretton, and that was that. “I just thought, 'Yup, I quite like that.’ It’s totally random, but I thought it sounded quite nice.”
She experienced fame at a young age
Sally was bitten by the performing bug when she was at primary school and always knew she wanted to be an actress.
She attended a local drama club, which had an agency attached to it, and auditions led Sally to land roles in TV adverts as well as Warner Brothers mini-series Napoleon and Josephine.
However, achieving a minor level of fame was something that didn’t always sit well with the young Sally. “It was sometimes difficult to navigate. I didn’t get teased or bullied, but I was always aware that people knew that about me …” she told The Telegraph. Even today, Sally admits: “I would much rather go in (to auditions), faff around and pretend, and come home. That would be my ideal.”
She used to be a drama teacher
While she was studying at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, Sally spent her weekends teaching budding young stars at Top Hat Stage and Screen School.
Reflecting on her former job in an interview with The Glasgow Times, Sally said: “I loved it, but I just love kids. I got hooked on performing at primary school. I think that’s all you want for your own children, isn’t it? That chance to find a passion, something they will love doing.”
She starred in the first series of The Office
Fans of Ricky Gervais’s iconic sitcom The Office may remember Sally starred in the first series, which aired back in 2001.
The actress played the part of intern Donna, whose parents were the friends of regional manager David Brent (Gervais), and with whom she was lodging.
Donna caused a stir amongst the staff at Wernham Hogg when she started an office romance with handsome temp Ricky. But the character’s most memorable moment came when she branded pedantic salesman Gareth Keenan a "weasel-faced arse" after his numerous creepy attempts to woo her!
She's played the same character for over a decade
Acting can be a fickle profession, but Sally is lucky enough to have a steady income thanks to her role in the long-running BBC One series Not Going Out, which has now reached 100 episodes. The actress has been with the show since its second series playing Lucy Adams, who was initially Lee's landlady and is now the wife of Lee Mack’s character.
13 series on Not Going Out still draws in an audience of millions, but Sally recalls having lots of auditions to win the part, telling us: "There were lots of rounds. I was called back lots and lots of times. That's what I remember about it. It was a lot of times. Six or something ridiculous."
She's enjoyed a varied career
Sally has rarely been out of work since graduating from drama school over two decades ago.
Her acting CV includes parts in popular dramas such as The Bill, Casualty, Lewis and Hotel Babylon. Other notable roles include Death in Paradise, Green King and Outlaw.
Sally has achieved success on the stage, starring in touring productions of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Shakespeare’s King Lear. And she’s also lent her voice to a number of Radio 4 plays, including Births, Deaths and Marriages.
She fiercely guards her private life
Not much is known about Sally’s personal life, and she prefers to keep it that way, choosing not to have a presence on social media.
The low-key actress is married to husband Lee, who works as a photographer and the couple are parents to three daughters, including twins.
The family live near the pretty market town of Hitchin in Hertfordshire and devoted mum Sally makes sure her work doesn't take her away from her girls for long periods of time.
In 2020, she starred in a UK touring production of Dial M for Murder, but revealed she doesn’t take on many roles like that because “touring is not a good fit with family life.”
Sally Bretton's fact file
Frequently asked questions about the star...
How old is Sally Bretton?
Sally Bretton is 44, she was born on April 23, 1980.
Is Sally Bretton married?
Sally is married to husband Lee, who works as a photographer.
Does Sally Bretton have any children?
Sally and husband Lee are parents to three daughters.
Where was Sally Bretton born?
Sally Bretton was born and raised in Hertfordshire.
How tall is Sally Bretton?
Sally Bretton is five foot four.
We work hard to ensure that all information is correct. Facts that change over time, such as age, will be correct, to the best of our knowledge, at the time of the last article update.
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