Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sarah Smith |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Spouse | Peter Serafinowicz |
Sarah Alexander (née Smith; born 3 January 1971) is an English actress, known for her roles in various British comedy series such as Armstrong and Miller, Smack the Pony, Coupling, The Worst Week of My Life and Green Wing.
Biography
Early life
Sarah Alexander was born in Hammersmith, London, England. Her father, Frank Smith, was a television producer and director who worked on factual programmes such as Panorama, allowing her to be brought up in a television environment. She attended The Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith.[1] At 19, she left home after her A-levels and travelled to the Edinburgh Festival in the hope of getting her start in acting.[1] Her parents were opposed and wanted her to continue onto university. Sarah turned down a place at the University of Manchester to take up her first professional acting job.[2]
Career
In 1993, she played Muriel in an episode of the BBC comedy-drama Lovejoy. In 1996, she played Beatrice in the British premiere of Octavio Paz's only play, Rappaccini's Daughter, at the Gate Theatre Studio. In the mid-1990s she met Ben Miller when they filmed an advertisement for disposable cameras together, and through him Alexander Armstrong.[3] Miller and Armstrong became friends and collaborators, and Sarah went on to appear on their Armstrong and Miller sketch show (1997-2001).
Sarah began to move into comedic acting, in which she has specialised ever since. Other work on sketch-shows included Smith and Jones (1997-98) and Smack the Pony (1999-2003), also writing material for the latter. In the British science-fiction comedy series Red Dwarf, Sarah played a French Queen in the episode Stoke Me a Clipper. She also appeared in Midsomer Murders' 'The Garden of Death', as Fliss Inkpen-Thomas, who was hit over the head with a shovel.
In 2000, she appeared in the comedy The Strangerers, as well as becoming co-host of the current-affairs satire The 11 O'Clock Show, alongside Jon Holmes. She made her debut as Susan Walker, perhaps her best-known role, in the BBC sitcom Coupling, which ran for four series from 2000 to 2004. Other British TV roles have been 'Mel' in The Worst Week of My Life, again alongside Ben Miller, and Dr Angela Hunter in the hospital comedy Green Wing, created by Smack The Pony creator Victoria Pile.
Sarah appeared in the USA as Alice Fletcher in the NBC's short-lived remake of the British comedy series Teachers, before accepting roles in the movies I Could Never Be Your Woman and Stardust (both released in 2007). Her previous film credits include Seaview Knights (1994) and Going Off Big Time, (2000).
Sarah also stars in the 2008 BBC dramedy Mutual Friends, again alongside Armstrong,[3] and plays the character of Layla Barton in the BBC drama, All The Small Things,[4] which debuted on March 31, 2009.
Other work
Sarah is a regular contributor to the biennial BBC charity telethon Comic Relief[citation needed], appearing in 2001 as a judge based on Nicki Chapman in a parody of Popstars, in 2003 as Liza Goddard in a spoof of the game show Blankety Blank and in 2005 in a celebrity version of University Challenge hosted by Angus Deayton.
Personal life
Sarah is married to the writer and actor Peter Serafinowicz,[5] with whom she has a son, Sam, born in March 2007.[3] She has appeared in both series of Look Around You which Serafinowicz co-created and stars in, as well as his internet-only E! News spoof, O!News.
She speaks French and Spanish fluently.
References
- ^ a b Jones, Alice (9 November 2005). "Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
- ^ How We Met: Sarah Alexander & Ben Miller The Independent on Sunday, 7 March 2004
- ^ a b c Mutual Friends Press Pack BBC Press Office. 2008-08-13
- ^ BBC - Press Office - All-singing new drama series announced for BBC One
- ^ Philby, Charlotte (August 30, 2008). "My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
External links
- Sarah Alexander at IMDb
- Sarah Alexander at the BFI's Screenonline