Anna Acton

Anna Smith (born 29 January 1977), known professionally as Anna Acton, is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Geri Evans in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs, Rochelle Barratt in the ITV procedural series The Bill and DC Emma Summerhayes in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Early and personal life Acton was born as Anna Smith on 29 January 1977 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. She holds both British and American citizenship. Her interest in acting began as a child in her friend's back garden, where her friend's mother held a small drama group. The couple reside in Buckinghamshire and have two daughters.

Career Acton made her professional acting debut in a production of Cor, Blimey! at the Watford Palace Theatre in 2000. She continued making minor appearances in various projects, including her television debut as a guest character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2001. Then, in 2002, she was cast as Geri Evans in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs. She remained in the role until 2005, during which time she received a nomination for Best Actress at the British Soap Awards. She also appeared in two episodes of Doctors in 2006 and 2008, as well as an episode of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. In 2007, she starred as Louise Martin in two episodes of HolbyBlue, followed by a role in Harley Street in 2008.

In 2014, she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, marking her second role in the soap. She portrayed DC Emma Summerhayes, a police officer investigating Lucy Beale's (Hetti Bywater) murder, until 2015 when the character was killed off. From 2015 to 2016, Acton appeared in the BBC medical series Casualty as Nikki Chisom. In 2018, she appeared in Birches, a UK-based feature based on the novel Silver Birches by Adrian Plass.

In 2018, Acton returned to theatre work, appearing in The Gulf at the Tristan Bates Theatre. A year later, she appeared in a production of The Permanent Way at the Vaults in London. In 2021, Acton appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Vicki. In 2023, she returned to Casualty, this time in the guest role of Piper Fulley. 2026 saw her appear in the ITV1 thriller series Gone.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 The Killers Danielle 2010 Little Deaths Annabel 2018 Degenerates Susan Moore 2019 Mapped Izzy Short film Birches Jessica 2020 Shapes Ms Roberts 2021 Smudged Smile Laura Short film 2025 Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die Jillian

Television Year Title Role Notes 2001 EastEnders Jane Madden 2 episodes 2002–2005 Family Affairs Geri Evans Regular role 2005 The Bill Rochelle Barratt Main role 2006 Doctors Rachel Cook Episode: "Home from Home" Hollyoaks D.C. Mullins 2 episodes 2007 HolbyBlue Louise Martin 2 episodes 2008 Harley Street Claudia 1 episode The Wrong Door Various roles Episode: "The Wizard of Office" Doctors Kira Chesterton Episode: "Hopelessly Devoted" 2010 The Little House Ruth's Mother 1 episode 2011 Casualty Alex Scotton Episode: "The Ties That Bind" 2012 Crime Stories Polly Andrews 1 episode 2013 Doctors Dorothy Bale Episode: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" 2013–2015 Topsy and Tim Joy O’Dell Main role 2014–2015 EastEnders DC Emma Summerhayes Regular role 2015–2016 Casualty Nikki Chisom Recurring role 2016 Doctors Colette Pendleton Episode: "Cold Facts" 2018 Joanne Webber Episode: "Playtime" 2019, 2023 Brassic Lydia McCann Recurring role 2020 Roadkill Stella Faber 1 episode 2021 Doctors Vicki Episode: "This is Not a Pipe" 2023 Casualty Piper Fulley Episode: "The Ostrich Effect" 2024 Rivals Mary Gordon-Lennox 1 episode 2026 Gone Phillipa Dyce 1 episode

Video games Year Title Role 2016 Hue Hue's Mom (voice)

Stage Year Title Role Venue 2000 Cor, Blimey! Sally Watford Palace Theatre 2007 Noises Off Brooke Ashton Liverpool Playhouse 2009 The Hokey Cokey Man Jenny/Eileen New End Theatre 2018 The Gulf Betty Tristan Bates Theatre 2019 The Permanent Way Investment Banker/Second Bereaved Mother The Vaults 2025 Blessings Dorie Riverside Studios

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2002 British Soap Awards Sexiest Female Family Affairs 2003 Best Actress