Sharon Small

Sharon Small
OccupationActress
Years active1994–present

Sharon Small is a Scottish actress known for her work in film, radio, theatre, and television. Perhaps best known for her portrayal of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George, she is also recognised for her lead roles in Law & Order: UK (as Inspector Elisabeth Flynn) and Trust Me (as Dr Brigitte Rayne). She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in a 2022 revival of Good.[1]

Early life

Small is the eldest of five children.[2] She was educated at Kinghorn Primary School, where she was the Kinghorn Gala Queen in her final year, and at Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy. Small then studied drama at Kirkcaldy College of Technology (now Fife College),[2] and continued her study at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.

Personal life

Small lives in London.[2] She has two sons with her husband, photographer Dan Bridge. Two of her brothers, Mike Small (footballer) and Thierry Small have played professional football and her cousin, Gladstone Small played cricket for England and Warwickshire and took the catch that clinched the 1986-87 Ashes for England.[3]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Production Notes
1997 Bumping the Odds Terry – Best Actress Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival
1997 Bite Alison – –
1998 Driven Caroline Hall Dandelion Films –
2002 About a Boy Christine Universal Pictures –
2004 Dear Frankie Marie Universal –
2004 Belly Button Kika Satellite Pictures –
2008 Last Chance Harvey Nurse Overture Films –
2008 Pop Art short film Mrs. Gannon Forward Films
Television
Year Title Role Production Awards
1994 Taggart Michelle Gibson SMG Productions 1 episode
1994 Roughnecks Bernadette – 1 episode
1995 An Independent Man Nicola – 1 episode
1996 Doctor Finlay Irene Gallagher – 1 episode
1997 The Bill Gina Nash ITV –
1997 Hamish Macbeth WPC Anne Patterson – 1 episode
1997 No Child of Mine Linda ITV –
1999–2000 Sunburn Carol Simpson – 14 episodes
2000 Glasgow Kiss Cara Rossi – 6 episodes
2003 Cutting It Boo Wiberley – –
2001–2007 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries DS Barbara Havers BBC 24 episodes – nominated for Most Popular Actress and the Golden Satellite Award
2005 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania BBC's Shakespeare Retold season –
2006 Rebus Miranda Masterson – –
2007 Nina and the Neurons Bud the Taste Neuron – 7 episodes
2009 Murderland Dr Laura Maitland ITV 3 episodes
2008–2010 Mistresses Trudi Malloy BBC 16 episodes
2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Mary Pritchard ITV adaptation of "Miss Marple: The Blue Geranium", aired in the US on PBS –
2011 Downton Abbey Marigold Shore – 1 episode
2012 Kidnap and Ransom Beth Cooper ITV 3 episodes
2012 New Tricks Minnie/Annabel Tilson BBC 1 episode
2013 Silent Witness Geraldine Briggs BBC 2 episodes
2013 Call the Midwife Nora Harding BBC 1 episode
2014 Death in Paradise Dorothy Foster BBC 1 episode
2014 Midsomer Murders Ruth Cameron ITV “Wild Harvest” 1 episode
2014 Law & Order: UK Inspector Elisabeth Flynn ITV 1 episode
2015 Stonemouth Connie Murston BBC 2 episodes
2017 Born to Kill Cathy World Productions 4 episodes
2017 Trust Me Dr Brigitte Rayne BBC 4 episodes
2019– London Kills DS Vivienne Cole Acorn TV Main role, 4 series, 20 episodes
2020 Flesh and Blood Stella ITV 4 episodes
2021 The Bay Rose Marshbrook ITV1 6 Episodes
2024 Nightsleeper Liz Draycott BBC 6 Episodes
Radio
Title Role
At The Foot of the Cross Narrator
High Table, Lower Orders Zoe
"Dr. Finlay – The Adventures of a Black Bag" Nurse Angus
  • |-
 Angel Lorraine
The Order of Release Effie Ruskin

Stage

Year Title Role Production
1994 The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht Polly Peachum Donmar Warehouse
1996 The Nun – Greenwich Studio Theatre
1998 London Cuckolds by Edward Ravencroft – Royal National Theatre
2004 When Harry Met Sally... Marie Fisher Theatre Royal Haymarket
2005 Lear by Edward Bond Fortanelle Sheffield Crucible Theatre
2009 Life Is A Dream Estrella Donmar Warehouse
2010 Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss Vicky Evans Royal Court Theatre
2010 Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart Maggie Morrison National Theatre
2014 Arden of Faversham[4] by Anonymous Alice Arden Royal Shakespeare Company
2015 Carmen Disruption The Singer Almeida Theatre
2015 Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman Caroline Hampstead Theatre
2016 The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht Jenny Diver[5] Royal National Theatre
2018 Still Alice Alice Howland[6] West Yorkshire Playhouse
2022 The Trials by Dawn King Defendant Three Donmar Warehouse
2022 Good by C.P. Taylor Helen Harold Pinter Theatre
2024 Nye by Tim Price Jennie Lee[7] Royal National Theatre

Awards and honours

Year Award Category Nominated Work Result
1997 Edinburgh Film Festival Best Actress Award Bumping the Odds Won
2007 Golden Satellite Awards Best Award The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Nominated
2023 Laurence Olivier Awards Best Supporting Actress Good Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Olivier Awards 2023".
  2. ^ a b c "Sharon Small". BBC. Retrieved 17 May 2017.
  3. ^ "PETER PAN AT THE NEW WIMBLEDON THEATRE, New Wimbledon Theatre, 93 The Broadway, London, UK - Desmond O'Neill Features Ltd". donfeatures.photoshelter.com.
  4. ^ "Arden of Faversham". Archived from the original on 4 June 2015.
  5. ^ "Sharon Small". Royal National Theatre.
  6. ^ "Still Alice - UK Tour". Still Alice.
  7. ^ "Nye | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2024.