Sarah Alexander
Sarah Alexander | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sarah Smith |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1989 – present |
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
Alexander was born in London, England. Her father, Frank Smith, was a television producer and director who worked on factual programmes such as Panorama, allowing her to be raised 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 into university. Alexander turned down a place at Manchester University to take up her first professional acting job.[2] After beginning her career in theatre, Alexander planned to become a classical actress[3] and had an unsuccessful audition with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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.[4] Miller and Armstrong became friends and collaborators, and Alexander went on to appear on their Armstrong and Miller sketch show (1997-2001), including the recurring Nude Practice (for which she is rumoured to have worn a pubic wig).
Between these times, she worked for a local jewellery company. In 1997, she was offered a role in EastEnders, but turned it down not wishing to be typecast.
Alexander began to move into comedy 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 three episodes of the latter. In the British science-fiction comedy series Red Dwarf, Alexander 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.
Alexander appeared in the USA as Alice Fletcher in the NBC's shortlived remake of the British comedy series Teachers, before accepting supporting 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).
According to the BBC Coupling website, she is writing her own comedy series about journalists with two writers of the Armstrong and Miller production team.[5] She also stars in the 2008 BBC dramedy Mutual Friends, again alongside Armstrong,[4] and will play the character of Layla in an upcoming BBC drama with the working title The Choir Project.[6]
Other work
Alexander is a regular contributor to the biennial BBC charity telethon Comic Relief, 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
Alexander is dating the writer and actor Peter Serafinowicz.[7] She and Serafinowicz have a son named Sam, born in April 2007.[4] 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, and her brother works as an ESOL teacher. Her interests include horse riding, tennis, swimming, karate and singing.
References
- ^ a b Jones, Alice (November 9, 2005). "Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition". The Independent. Retrieved 2008-09-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ How We Met: Sarah Alexander & Ben Miller The Independent on Sunday, March 7 2004
- ^ Coupling Series Four Press Pack BBC Press Office. 2004-06-16
- ^ a b c Mutual Friends Press Pack BBC Press Office. 2008-08-13
- ^ BBC - Coupling - Sarah Alexander
- ^ 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.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)
External links
- Sarah Alexander at IMDb
- Sarah Alexander at the BFI's Screenonline