Sally Bretton

Sally Davis (born 23 April 1980), known professionally as Sally Bretton, is an English actress. She is best known for appearing as Lucy Adams in the long-running BBC television sitcom Not Going Out since 2007, and as Martha Lloyd in the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise between 2016 and 2017, a role she has reprised in the spin-off, Beyond Paradise, since 2023.

Other roles include Donna in The Office in 2001, Cat Durnford in Absolute Power in 2003, and Kim Alabaster in Green Wing between 2004 and 2006.

Early life and education Bretton trained in London at the Central School of Speech and Drama, and worked, part time, as a drama teacher at Top Hat Stage and Screen School during her time at speech and drama school from which she graduated in 1999. She chose the professional name Bretton as her birth name was already registered, by another, with actors' union Equity.

Career

Film In Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord, in 2011, Bretton appeared with Sean Lock and Oliver Chris (whom she had previously appeared with in the Green Wing sitcom between 2004 and 2006). The short film was part of a Shelter campaign bringing attention to the problem of questionable landlords and their tactics.

Television Bretton has appeared as Lucy Adams in the BBC television sitcom Not Going Out from 2007. She also featured in the TV programmes Absolute Power, Green Wing, and The Office.

She played Martha Lloyd in the BBC crime drama Death in Paradise between 2016 and 2017, and from 2023 has reprised the role in the spin-off, Beyond Paradise.

Theatre On stage, she played Goneril in Shakespeare's King Lear at Shakespeare's Globe in 2008.

Bretton has made a number of appearances in the theatre. "An Ideal Husband" in 2018 was broadcast from London to cinemas across the country. It was also recorded as a film and is available to view, in the UK, through MarqueeTV (part of Prime Video).

Personal life Bretton and her husband, Lee, a photographer, have three daughters, including twins.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2000 Peaches Amy Feature film 2001 Goodbye Charlie Bright Susan 2007 Outlaw Kelly A Fitting Tribute Tammy Short filmEdinburgh International Film Festival Official Selection 2009 Jubilee Skinny Mum Short film 2011 The Last Temptation of William Shaw Emily Sean Lock: Rogue Landlord Mother 2018 Hassan's Tower Sarah 2020 Swan Donna

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 Napoleon and Josephine: A Love Story Hortense de Beauharnais as Child Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2: "Part I" & "Part II". Credited as Sally Davis 1990 Screen One Jenny Series 2; episode 5: "Can You Hear Me Thinking?". Credited as Sally Davis 2000 Sunburn Lisa Series 2; episode 4: "Unexpected Love and Golf" Harry Enfield's Brand Spanking New Show Various roles Episodes 1 & 2 2001 Harry Enfield Presents Tim Nice-But-Dim's Guide to Being a Bloody Nice Bloke Big Brother – Nun Television film Beast Girl in Pub (Carly) Series 2; episode 1: "Cow" Harry Enfield Presents Wayne and Waynetta's Guide to Wedded Bliss Teacher Television film The Armstrong and Miller Show Emma Series 4; episode 1 Doctors Chrissie Devonish Series 2; episode 105: "Passive Resistance" The Office Donna Series 1; episodes 2–6 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Carmina Episode 1: "Lesbian Vampire Lovers of Lust" Night & Day Lisa Series 1; episodes 4–9 2002 Happy Together Debi Television film 2003 Blue Murder Grassmere Series 1; episode 1: "Cry Me a River: Part 1" 2003–2005 Absolute Power Cat Durnford Main role; series 1 & 2; 12 episodes 2004 Wild West Victoria Series 2; episode 5: "The Film Crew" If... Dr. Sally Price Series 2; episode 2: "If... We Could Stop the Violence" 2004–2006 Green Wing Kim Alabaster Series 1 & 2; 18 episodes 2005 Blessed Mary Hathaway Episodes 1–8 Open Wide Karen Television film 2006 The Bill Dee Collier Series 22; episodes 5 & 6 Blackbeard: Terror at Sea Mary Ormond Television film Snuff Box Pretty Lady Walking Dog Mini-series; episode 5: "Love Triangle" Vincent Tina Series 2; episode 3 2007 Casualty Stevie Thornell Series 21; episode 31: "Stitch" Hotel Babylon Elizabeth Scott Series 2; episode 6 How Not to Live Your Life Abby Pilot episode 2007–present Not Going Out Lucy Adams Main role; 99 episodes 2009 My Family Cheryl Series 10; episode: "2039: A Christmas Oddity" 2010 Lewis Eve Rigby Series 4; episode 3: "Your Sudden Death Question" 2011 Casualty Suki Williams Series 25; episode 36: "A Quiet Life" 2016 Agatha Raisin Amanda Barton Series 1; episode 2: "Agatha Raisin and Hell's Bells" 2016–2017 Death in Paradise Martha Lloyd Series 5 & 6; 5 episodes 2019 Thanks for the Memories Sarah Mini-series; episodes 1 & 2 2023–present Beyond Paradise Martha Lloyd Main role; series 1–4; 27 episodes 2025 The Au Pair Zoe Dalton Main role; episodes 1–4

Theatre Year Title Role Venue 2002 Hay Fever Sorel Oxford Stage Company (UK tour) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Honey Library Theatre, Manchester 2003 Present Laughter Daphne Theatre Royal, Bath (Tour) 2004 All My Sons Ann Deever Library Theatre, Manchester A Conversation Gail Williams Royal Exchange, Manchester 2006–2007 In Extremis Heloise Shakespeare's Globe, London 2008 King Lear Goneril Shakespeare's Globe, London 2018 An Ideal Husband Lady Chiltern Vaudeville Theatre, London / Theatre Royal, Bath 2020 Dial M for Murder Margot Wendice Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford

Radio Year Title Role Notes 2003 Afternoon Play: Seven Floors Hospital Staff Member 2010 Drama on 3 – The Carhullan Army Corky 2012–2013 Births, Deaths and Marriages Mary 2014 Start/Stop Alice Series 2 2015 The Archers – The Ambridge Players – Dead Girls Tell No Tales Carol Grey / Anne Cullen

Awards Nominated 2002 – Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards – Best Actress (Theatre) – Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? 2024 – TV Times Awards – Favourite On-Screen Partnership – Beyond Paradise with Kris Marshall