English actress and comedian
Sally Phillips
Phillips appears for the
Eureka! museum in 2019
Born Sally Elizabeth Phillips
1969 or 1970 (age 54–55)Education Wycombe Abbey Alma mater New College, Oxford Occupations Actress comedian television presenter Years active 1994–present Spouse
Andrew Bermejo
(
m. 2003;
div. 2017)
Children 3
Sally Elizabeth Phillips (born 1969 or 1970) is an English actress, comedian, and television presenter. She co-created and was one of the writers of the sketch comedy show Smack the Pony . She is also known for her roles in Jam & Jerusalem as Natasha "Tash" Vine, Miranda as Tilly, I'm Alan Partridge as Sophie, Parents as Jenny Pope, Set the Thames on Fire as Colette in 2015, Zapped as Slasher Morgan, and her guest appearances as the fictional Prime Minister of Finland Minna Häkkinen in the US TV series Veep . Phillips also co-starred in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Mrs Bennet and in the role of Shazza in all three films of the Bridget Jones franchise .
From 2004 to 2019, Phillips played the title role in the BBC Radio 4 comedy show Clare in the Community . In 2018 she was curator for series 12 of The Museum of Curiosity on BBC Radio 4. In 2022, she played the prison warden on Pennyworth .
Early life and education
Sally Elizabeth Phillips[citation needed ] was born in 1969 or 1970 in Hong Kong ,[ 1] which at the time was under British rule . Her father Tim, later chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club ,[ 2] was an executive with British Airways . With the family following her father's job, she grew up in the Far East, the Middle East, Italy, and Australia. At the age of 13 she was sent to board at Wycombe Abbey School , where she studied her O-Levels and A-Levels .[ 3]
Phillips read Italian and linguistics at New College, Oxford , where she joined the Oxford Revue , playing mostly male parts, alongside contemporaries including Stewart Lee and Richard Herring (who went on to have their own television show, Fist of Fun , in which Phillips appeared as "the girl who smells of Spam "). She then co-wrote and performed the one-woman show Benadetta, the Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy , based on a true story. She appeared in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH , which also starred Ed Smith.[ 3]
Phillips gained a first-class honours degree, and applied to write a PhD on the Spaghetti Western . However she changed her mind, and instead studied drama with the Théâtre de Complicité .[ 3]
Career
Phillips performed at nine consecutive Edinburgh Fringe Festivals , appearing in shows including Ra-Ra-Rasputin , Arthur Smith 's version of Hamlet (as Ophelia) and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery , Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas, Julian Barratt and Lori Lixenburg. Her first television role was in Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun in 1994, followed shortly after by a cameo in Alas Smith and Jones with Mel Smith . In 1995, Phillips played the role of a reporter in the unbroadcast pilot of Chris Morris 's spoof series Brass Eye . In Six Pairs Of Pants , six actors produced a number of regular sketches, which developed as the series progressed.[ 4] The show was written in part by Phillips. [citation needed ] Phillips had a role as a "Travel Tavern" receptionist in I'm Alan Partridge (1997),[citation needed ] and as Laura in Holding the Baby .[citation needed ] She played radio DJ Gemma White in the TV series In the Red .[citation needed ]
In 1997, Phillips featured in Eddie Izzard 's sitcom Cows .[citation needed ] She had a starring role in the short-lived 1999 British comedy series Hippies with Simon Pegg and Julian Rhind-Tutt .[citation needed ] Phillips garnered a nomination for best female newcomer at the 1999 British Comedy Awards as she, along with Fiona Allen and Doon Mackichan , co-created, wrote, and performed in Smack the Pony .[citation needed ]
In 2001, she took the starring role in the David Nicholls series Rescue Me for BBC1.[citation needed ] She also played cameo roles in Mean Machine , Birthday Girl , and Born Romantic , and wrote episodes for the animation Bob and Margaret .[citation needed ]
In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.[citation needed ] She appeared in Bridget Jones's Diary as Shazza, having previously auditioned for Bridget; the character was based upon the film's director, Sharon Maguire .[citation needed ]
In 2004, she took the title role in the BBC radio sitcom Clare in the Community which ended after 74 episodes in 2019. In August 2005, she returned to the stage after a long absence, in Oscar Wilde 's The Importance of Being Earnest at the Oxford Playhouse .[ 5] In 2006, she appeared in the Australian comedy feature BoyTown ; on television, she appeared as Clare Winchester in the BBC2 science fiction comedy Hyperdrive .[citation needed ]
In the second series of Green Wing , Phillips played the character of Holly, whose appearance threatens the blossoming relationship between Mac (Julian Rhind-Tutt ) and Caroline (Tamsin Greig ).[citation needed ] Between 2006 and 2009, she had a recurring role in the BBC's comedy Jam & Jerusalem as Natasha "Tash" Vine, a scatterbrained New Ager.[citation needed ]
In 2009, Phillips took the role of Tilly in Miranda as Miranda Hart 's character's irritating upper-class friend. The series found critical success and Phillips remained a part of the show throughout its duration, from 2009 to 2015.[citation needed ]
She also had a guest-star part in E4 's Skins , series 3 playing Pandora's mother.[citation needed ]
Her first feature film script, The Decoy Bride , started production in spring 2010. Phillips appeared in a supporting role in the film, playing Emma, a Hollywood assistant. The film was released in February 2012, premièring first on cable television and as a digital download, and then had a limited theatrical release.[citation needed ]
In December 2010, she appeared in the BBC1 drama Accidental Farmer .[citation needed ]
In 2012, she played the lead role in the Sky 1 comedy Parents and also appeared in the CBeebies television series Justin's House .[citation needed ] The same year she also appeared with Justin Fletcher in the role of Mr Tumble in Something Special .[ 6] [better source needed ]
She made two episodes of series 3 of the Dave maths and comedy series Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums in 2014, in which she was set various maths-based physical challenges.[citation needed ] In the United States, Phillips has made five appearances in the HBO comedy series Veep as Minna Häkkinen, a fictional Finnish prime minister.[citation needed ]
In 2014, she narrated the first series of The Supervet on Channel 4 .[citation needed ]
During 2015, Phillips appeared in several TV shows, notably House of Fools and Death in Paradise .[citation needed ] She has also appeared in the comedy Burn Burn Burn as Ingrid, a main character, and also the TV film Distinguished Ladies in which she plays the lead role of Bianca.[citation needed ]
Phillips appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) as Mrs Bennet, and as Shazza in Bridget Jones's Baby .[citation needed ]
In 2016, she presented the one-off BBC documentary A World Without Down's Syndrome? , which examined the potential impact of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).[citation needed ]
In 2017, she competed in series 5 of Taskmaster against Bob Mortimer , Aisling Bea , Nish Kumar and Mark Watson , finishing as runner-up to the eventual winner Mortimer. She appeared in All Star Musicals and Tim Vine Travels in Time in December 2017.[citation needed ]
In 2018, she played the scatty new night manager Lou in Trollied .[citation needed ]
In 2020, she played Gibby in Channel 4's sitcom Friday Night Dinner .[citation needed ]
She was the winner of the four competitors who appeared in the special Christmas edition of The Great British Sewing Bee that was transmitted on New Year's Eve 2020 on BBC One . Her fellow competitors in the programme were Sabrina Grant , Lesley Joseph and The Vivienne .[citation needed ]
In 2022, she starred as business owner Gina in Australian comedy film How to Please a Woman .[citation needed ]
In 2023, she played Tessa in the Netflix romantic comedy Love at First Sight .[citation needed ]
In January 2024, she was a guest co-host on the BBC One quiz show Pointless .[ 7] She starred as Ingrid in the Australian-British comedy series Austin which premiered in June 2024.[citation needed ]
Personal life
In 2002, Phillips was hospitalised with salmonellosis during a charity trip to Mexico. She said the illness led to a brain infection that made her body become a "micro-brewery ", causing neurological symptoms. Her recovery took months.[ 8] [ 9] [ 10]
She was married to Andrew Bermejo for 14 years and has three sons from their marriage, one with Down's syndrome .[ 11] [ 12] In 2017, the couple divorced.[ 13]
Phillips is a Christian .[ 14] She is a patron of Blue Apple Theatre (Hampshire, UK) which specialises in creating performance work with adults with a learning disability.[ 15]
Filmography
+Key
†
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Film
Television
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1995
Smith & Jones
Various
Series 8; Episodes 1 & 3: "Bad Microphones" and "Missing Link"
Six Pairs of Pants
Various characters
Episodes 1–3. Also writer
1995–1996
Fist of Fun
Various
Series 1 & 2; 7 episodes
1996
It Happened Next Year
Various
Television film
1997
I'm Alan Partridge
Sophie
Series 1; Episodes 1–6
Holding the Baby
Laura
Series 1; Episodes 2 & 7
Cows
Pinky
Television film (Pilot for series that was cancelled)
1998
Comedy Nation
Various characters
In the Red
Jemma White
Mini-series; Episodes 1–3
You Are Here
Laura
Television film
1999
Kiss Me Kate
Natalie
Series 2; Episode 6: "On the Couch"
Hippies
Jill Sprint
Episodes 1–6
1999–2003, 2017
Smack the Pony
Various characters
Series 1-4, and Comic Relief Special; 24 episodes. Also writer
2002
Rescue Me
Katie Nash
Episodes 1–6
2003
Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill
Kelly
Television film
2005
French and Saunders
Nun
Christmas Celebrity Special
2006
Hyperdrive
Clare Winchester
Series 1; Episode 5: "Clare"
Green Wing
Holly Hawkes
Series 2; Episodes 4–7
The Amazing Mrs Pritchard
Meg Bayliss
Episodes 2–6
Seven Second Delay
Meredith
Television film
2006–2009
Jam & Jerusalem
Natasha "Tash" Vine
Series 1–3; 18 episodes
2008
Harley Street
Izzy
Episode 3
Little Rikke
Mum (voice)
Television film
2009
Skins
Angela Moon
Series 3; Episode 4: "Pandora"
Svengali
Michelle
Television short film
2009–2015
Miranda
Tilly
Main character. Series 1–3, and 3 Specials; 15 episodes
2010
Abroad
Jemima Green
Television films
Accidental Farmer
Kat
2011
New Tricks
Samantha Gerson
Series 8; Episode 5: "Moving Target"
Justin's House
Wanda Round
Moving On
Christina
Series 3; Episode 4: "Donor"
2012
Parents
Jenny Pope
Main character. Episodes 1–6
Them from That Thing
Various
Mini-series; Episodes 1 & 2
2012–2020
The Undateables
Herself - Narrator
Series 1–11; 45 episodes
2013
Chickens
Miss Trimble
Episode 5: "Leper"
Something Special
Herself - Special Guest
Series 5; 1 episode
2013–2019
Veep
Minna Häkkinen
Series 2, 3 & 5–7; 5 episodes
2014
The Supervet
Herself - Narrator
Series 1; Episodes 1–4
2015
We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story
Ann Croft
Television film
Death in Paradise
Cheryl Moore
Series 4; Episode 5: "Swimming in Murder"
House of Fools
Mary
Series 2; Episode 6: "The Whip Affair"
Distinguished Ladies
Bianca
Television film
2016
Galavant
Ivanna
Series 2; Episode 4: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Belittled"
Siblings
Aunt Leslie
Series 2; Episode 2: "Golden Aunt"
Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge
Charlie Moran (voice)
Series 2; Episode 5: "Massage + Royal Visit"
Midsomer Murders
Lucy Keswick
Series 19; Episode 1: "The Village That Rose from the Dead"
Drunk History
Mary
Series 3; Episode: "Christmas Special"
A World Without Down's Syndrome?
Herself - Presenter
BBC Documentary film[ 18]
2016–2018
Zapped
Slasher Morgan
Series 1–3; 6 episodes
2017
Henry IX
Queen Katerina[ 19]
Episodes 1–3: "Reigned In", "Exit Strategy" and "Clearing the Air"
Hospital People
Helena Steel MP, Health Minister
Episode 5: "The New Ward"
Comedy Playhouse
Maid Marion
Series 18; Episode 1: "Tim Vine Travels Through Time"
Comic Relief
Herself - Co-presenter
2017 telethon
Taskmaster
Herself - Contestant
Series 5; Episodes 1–8[ 20]
Travel Man
Herself - Guest traveller
Series 5; Episode 4: "Stockholm"
All Star Musicals
Herself - Performer
Television Special
Tim Vine Travels Through Time
Catherine of Aragon
Television film (Christmas Special)
2017, 2018
The One Show
Herself - Guest presenter
3 episodes
2017–2024
QI
Herself - Panellist
Series 15–22; 9 episodes
2018
Trollied
Lou Chettle
Series 7; 6 episodes
The Keith & Paddy Picture Show
Dr. Ellie Sattler
Series 2; Episode 5: "Jurassic Park"
Vanity Fair
Lady Steyne
Mini-series; Episodes 6 & 7
Lip Sync Battle UK
Herself - Contestant
Series 2; Episode 5: "Robert Webb vs. Sally Phillips"
2018–2019
Tourist Trap
Elaine Gibbons
Main character. Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes[ 21] [ 22]
2019
Archibald's Next Big Thing
Flurbin (voice)
Series 1; Episode 6: "Mountain Mayhem/The Gator Spinner Max"
Year of the Rabbit
Princess Juliana of Bulgaria
Mini-series; Episodes 3–6
2020
Friday Night Dinner
Gibby
Series 6; Episode 3: "The Au Pair"[ 23]
Sunday Morning Live
Herself - Presenter[ 20]
Series 11; 5 episodes
2021
Meet the Richardsons
Herself
Series 2; 4 episodes (Fictionalised version of herself)
2022
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway
Florence Nightingale
Series 18; Episode 6 (Segment: "Polter Guys")
Breeders
Gabby
Series 3; Episodes 1, 2 & 9
Murder, They Hope
Alex
Series 2; Episode 2: "A Midsummer Night's Scream"
Pennyworth
The Warden
Series 3; Episode 7: "Don't Push It"
My Life at Christmas
Herself - Presenter
Series 1; 3 episodes[ 24]
2023
Jerk
Monica the Bureaucrat
Series 3; Episode 6
Hapless
The Caterer
Series 2; Episode 2: "The Wedding Planner"
2024
The Traitors: The Movie
Diane Carson
Television film (Segment in Comic Relief: Funny for Money)
Big Mood
Dr. Burrows
Episode 3: "Deeper"
Queenie
Gina Hargadon
5 episodes
Austin
Ingrid Hartswood
Main role. Series 1; Episodes 1–8
We Might Regret This
Jane
Series 1; Episodes 1–4 & 6
Pointless
Herself - Guest assistant
Series 30; Episodes 35–45
Audiobooks
References
^ Phillips, Sally (15 June 2012). "Q&A: Sally Phillips" . The Guardian (Interview). Interviewed by Greenstreet, Rosanna. Retrieved 2 January 2021 . Sally Phillips, 42, was born in Hong Kong and educated at Wycombe Abbey School and Oxford University.
^ Kelso, Paul (5 July 2007). "More screens to entertain drenched punters" . The Guardian . Retrieved 15 June 2022 .
^ a b c Farndale, Nigel (8 April 2001). "Funny, bright, lovely" . The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 15 June 2022 .
^ "Six Pairs of Pants[13/10/95] (1995)" . BFI . Retrieved 7 October 2021 .
^ "BBC – Oxford Stage-The Importance of Being Earnest" . www.bbc.co.uk . Retrieved 19 April 2023 .
^ "Anyone see 'something special' today?" . Pregnancy Forum . 7 March 2013. - "Strange to see Sally Phillips" . 29 May 2012 – via Twitter.
^ Morris, Lauren; Mensah, Katelyn (5 January 2024). "Who are the Pointless guest hosts?" . Radio Times . Retrieved 17 January 2024 .
^ "Series Q, Episode 12 – Quagmire" . British Comedy Guide . 11 September 2020.
^ "QI XL S17E12 Series Q – HD – Quagmire 15 February 2020 (XL edition)" . 11 September 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021 – via YouTube.
^ Boulos, Nick (27 February 2016). "Celebrity Traveller: Sally Phillips talks chicken cooked in a bin and Northern Lights" . Daily Express .
^ "Interview with Sally Phillips on Down syndrome Awareness" . This is Local London . 27 November 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2021 .
^ Potton, Ed (14 December 2017). "Sally Phillips: Whenever Weinstein saw my face in the edit suite he said, 'Cut it!' " . The Times . ISSN 0140-0460 . Retrieved 16 October 2018 .
^ A Downside Of Feminism | Romesh Talks to Sally Phillips About Her Early Acting Career , retrieved 5 August 2021
^ Gilbert, Gerard (19 January 2013). "Always the best friend: Sally Phillips on Christianity, comedians and the class system" . The Independent . Retrieved 20 November 2016 .
^ "Blue Apple" . Blue Apple . Retrieved 19 April 2023 .
^ Tartaglione, Nancy (11 April 2018). "Gurinder Chadha's 'Blinded By The Light' Blessed By Bruce Springsteen; Cast Set" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 7 August 2018 .
^ "The Rizen: Possession – Goldfinch Studios" . Goldfinchstudios.co.uk . Retrieved 7 August 2018 .
^ "A World Without Down's Syndrome?" . BBC. Retrieved 7 August 2018 .
^ "Henry IX cast and crew credits" . British Comedy Guide .
^ a b "BBC One – Sunday Morning Live – Sally Phillips" . BBC. Retrieved 18 September 2020 .
^ "A new comedy series following the tourist team of Wow Wales, who are tasked with selling Wales to the world." BBC One Wales website
^ "BBC One – Tourist Trap – Episode guide" . BBC. Retrieved 8 March 2020 .
^ Butcher, David. "Series 6 – Episode 3 The Au Pair" . Radio Times . Retrieved 28 June 2020 .
^ "My Life at Christmas with Sally Phillips" . radiotimes.com . Retrieved 4 December 2022 .
^ "The Satsuma Complex" . BookBeat . 27 October 2022. Retrieved 1 January 2025 .
External links
International National Artists