Sarah Alexander

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Sarah Alexander

Born Sarah Smith
3 January 1971 (1971-01-03) (age 37)
London, England
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.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] 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. At 18, she left home after her A-levels and travelled to the Edinburgh Festival in the hope of getting her start in acting. Her parents were opposed and wanted her to continue into university. After beginning her career in theatre, Alexander planned to become a classical actress and had an unsuccessful audition with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

[edit] 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 Alexander Armstrong, who became friends and collaborators, appearing 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 type-cast.

Alexander began to move into comedy acting, which she has specialized in 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 fictitious French Queen in a medieval virtual reality video game. 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 as Mel in The Worst Week of My Life, again alongside Ben Miller, and as 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 website, she is writing her own comedy series about journalists with two writers of the Armstrong and Miller production team.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Personal life

Alexander lives with writer and actor Peter Serafinowicz. She has appeared in both series of Look Around You which he co-created and stars in, as well as his internet-only E!News spoof, O!News. She and Serafinowicz have a son, born April 2007.

She speaks French and Spanish fluently, and her brother works as an ESOL teacher. Her interests include horse riding, tennis, swimming, karate and singing.

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Alexander, Sarah
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Smith, Sarah
SHORT DESCRIPTION Actress
DATE OF BIRTH 1971-01-3
PLACE OF BIRTH London, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages