Amanda Abbington
Amanda Abbington (born Amanda Jane Smith; 28 February 1972) is an English actress. In a career spanning over thirty years on stage and screen, her most prominent roles include Josie Mardle in Mr Selfridge (2013–2016) and Mary Morstan in Sherlock (2014–2017).
Amanda Abbington | |
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![]() Abbington in 2015 | |
Born | Amanda Jane Smith 28 February 1972 London, England |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1993–present |
Partners |
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Children | 2 |
Her other credits include Marilyn Harwood in Dream Team (1999–2000) and Siobhan in the BBC sitcom After You've Gone (2007–2008), as well as appearing in the drama series' Cuffs (2015) and Safe (2018). Her stage roles have included God of Carnage (2018), The Son (2019) and The Unfriend (2022–2023).
Early life
Abbington was born Amanda Jane Smith[1] in north London, England,[2] on 28 February 1972.[3][4][5] An only child, she was brought up in Hertfordshire.[6]
Career
She appeared in the TV series The Bill until 2007, playing various characters.[7] During that time she also appeared in the TV series Wycliffe, Casualty,[7] Dream Team, The Sins,[7] Shades,[7] Doc Martin,[7] Coupling and Teachers.[7] She appeared in the 2005 comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman, and the 2007–2008 comedy After You've Gone with Nicholas Lyndhurst. She has also appeared in recurring series such as Bernard's Watch and Case Histories.[7]
In 2013, she began appearing in the television series Mr Selfridge as Miss Mardle, alongside Jeremy Piven and Frances O'Connor. In 2014, Abbington appeared as Mary Morstan, the wife of John Watson, played by her then real-life partner Martin Freeman, in the third series of Sherlock the BBC adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.[8][9] In 2015 she appeared in the BBC TV crime drama series Cuffs.[7]
On stage, Abbington appeared in August 2018 in the role of Annette in God of Carnage at the Theatre Royal, Bath, and in 2019 as the character Anne in Florian Zeller's play The Son, at the Kiln Theatre in Kilburn, London;[10] later that year, the play was transferred to The Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End.[7]
In 2023, Abbington starred in the four-part Channel 5 television series Desperate Measures,[11][12] and appeared as Dana Beckman in an episode of Inside No. 9.[13]
In August 2023, Abbington was announced as a participant in the twenty-first series of Strictly Come Dancing.[14] She was partnered with Giovanni Pernice but suddenly withdrew from the competition on 23 October 2023, after being absent with illness from the show broadcast three days before.[15][16]
Personal life
Abbington was the partner of Martin Freeman, whom she met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000.[8] The couple appeared together on screen in productions such as The Debt, The Robinsons, The Good Night and Sherlock. Abbington and Freeman, who have two children, a son Joe and a daughter Grace, lived in Hertfordshire before their separation in 2016.[17][18][19][20]
As of October 2021, Abbington was engaged to former escapologist and stunt performerJonathan Goodwin.[21] She and Goodwin had been social media friends for a decade, but only met after her split from Freeman. Goodwin proposed marriage within 30 minutes of their first meeting, in Vienna. A year after meeting, he suffered a serious spinal injury in a stunt accident, confining him permanently to a wheelchair.[21][22]
Views
In March 2023, Abbington tweeted that a drag queen show for parents and babies that included topless performers was "Not for babies. And if you think it is, there is something fundamentally wrong with you."[23][24] Following the announcement of her participation in Strictly Come Dancing, some social media users condemned Abbington for her comments, accusing her of transphobia and threatening to boycott the show.[25] Abbington denied she was transphobic and said she had been upset about "a 12-year-old doing something very over-sexualised and I didn't think it was right."[24][26][27]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | The Bill: Target | Lady Car Driver | Direct-to-video, feature-length |
2001 | Men Only | Trina | TV film |
Saving Grace | Isobel Green | TV film | |
2003 | The Debt | Stacey Ross | TV film |
2005 | Derailed | Kerry Hodder | TV film |
The Booze Cruise II: The Treasure Hunt | Leone | TV film | |
2006 | The Booze Cruise III: The Scattering' | Leone | TV film |
2007 | The Good Night | Vivian Jesson | |
The All Together | Sarah | ||
2011 | Swinging with the Finkels | Lesbian #2 | |
Ghosted | Tracy | ||
2013 | Joe Mistry | Katherine | TV film |
2016 | Bring Back the Cat | Mrs. Patricia Ellison | Short film |
2017 | Another Mother's Son | Ivy Forster | |
Crooked House | Clemency Leonides | ||
2018 | We the Kings | Rosa | |
The Queen and I | Anne, Princess Royal | TV film | |
2019 | Six Days of Sistine | Angelina | |
2020 | Make Me Famous | Amanda | TV film |
2021 | Three Pints and a Rabbi | Lisa | |
Decrypted | Connie | ||
2022 | The Lost King | Chair of funding committee, Sheila Lock | |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | The Bill | Kirstey Tate | Episode: "Picking a Winner" |
1997 | Plotlands | Maude | Series regular, 6 episodes |
The Bill | Sarah Hall | Episode: "Copier" | |
Wycliffe | Local W.P.C. | Episode: "Strangers Home" | |
1998 | No Sweat | Chantelle | Episode: "Moon Boy" |
Magic with Everything | Cat | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
Picking Up the Pieces | Staff Nurse Hunter | Series regular, 6 episodes | |
1999 | Casualty | Jen Reynolds | Episode: "Human Traffic" |
Snap | Zoe | Episode: "Missed Her Sister" | |
The Bill | Laura Denny | Episode: "On Air" | |
1999–2000 | Dream Team | Marilyn Harwood | Series regular, 41 episodes |
2000 | The Thing About Vince | Lisa | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
The Sins | Belinda Edgeley | Mini-series, 2 episodes | |
2001 | Hearts and Bones | Mia | Episode: "Series 2, episode 6" |
Shades | Rebecca Jacobs | Mini-series, 1 episode | |
2002 | Always and Everyone | Tessa | Episodes: "Out of Time", "Warrior's Heart" & "Do Not Pass Go" |
2003 | 20 Things to Do Before You're 30 | Shona | Series regular, 8 episodes |
2004 | Bernard's Watch | Sonia | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
Coupling | Nicola | Episodes: "9½ Minutes" & "Nightlines" | |
Teachers | Sarah | Episode: "Series 4, episode 3" | |
2005 | The Robinsons | Polly | Series regular, 5 episodes |
2005–2007 | Man Stroke Woman | Various roles | Series regular, 12 episodes |
2007 | The Bill | Rachel Inns | Episodes: "A Model Murder", "Model Murder Uncovered" & "Caught by the Killer" |
Doc Martin | Isobel | Episode: "Happily Ever After" | |
Sold | Zoe | Episode: "Series 1, episode 6" | |
2007–2008 | After You've Gone | Siobhan | Series regular, 21 episodes |
2008 | Harley Street | Susie Linn | Episode: "Series 1, episode 2" |
Coming Up | Daughter | Episode: "Lickle Bill Um" | |
Agatha Christie's Poirot | Miss Blake | Episode: "Cat Among the Pigeons" | |
2009 | Psychoville | Caroline | Episode: "Blackmail" |
2010 | Married Single Other | Babs | Series regular, 6 episodes |
Money | Doris Artthur | Mini-series, 2 episodes | |
2011 | Postcode | Anna | Recurring role, 3 episodes |
2011–2013 | Case Histories | D.I. Louise Munroe | Series regular, 9 episodes |
2012 | Being Human | Golda | Episode: "Puppy Love" |
2013–2016 | Mr Selfridge | Josie Mardle | Series regular, 36 episodes |
2014 | Dinopaws | Gwen | Recurring role, 10 episodes |
Would I Lie to You? | Herself | Contestant | |
2014–2017 | Sherlock | Mary Morstan | Series regular, 7 episodes |
2015 | Cuffs | D.S. Jo Moffat | Series regular, 8 episodes |
2016 | Stag | Fran | Mini-series, 2 episodes |
2017 | Uncle | Siobhan | Episode: "...Is This Just Fantasy?" |
2018 | Safe | D.S. Sophie Mason | Series regular, 8 episodes |
2019 | Flack | Alexa | Episodes: "Brooke" & "Alexa" |
2020 | Unsaid Stories | Lyndsey | Mini-series, 1 episode |
I Hate Suzie | Charon Bander | Episode: "Anger" | |
2021 | Wolfe | Dot | Series regular, 6 episodes |
2022 | We Are Not Alone | Caroline Grieves | TV film |
The Net | Erika Green | Mini Series | |
2023 | Lockwood & Co. | Marissa Fittes | Episode: "Sweet Dreams" |
The Family Pile | Nicole | Series regular | |
Jon & Lucy's Odd Couples | Herself | 1 Episode | |
Desperate Measures | Rowan Taylor | Mini series, 4 episodes | |
The Weakest Link | Herself | Contestant | |
Inside No. 9 | Dana Beckman | Episode: "Paraskevidekatriaphobia" | |
Strictly Come Dancing | Herself | Contestant; series 21 |
Theatre
Year | Title | Role | Venue |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | The Safari Party | Bridget | Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough & Hampstead Theatre, London |
Something Blue | Pam | Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough | |
2004 | Love Me Tonight | Sian | Hampstead Theatre, London |
2014 | God Bless the Child | Sally Rayner | Royal Court Theatre, London |
2017 | Abigail's Party | Beverly Moss | Theatre Royal, Bath |
2018 | God of Carnage | Annette Reille | Theatre Royal, Bath |
A Little Princess | Miss Minchin | Royal Festival Hall, London | |
2019 | The Son | Anne | Kiln Theatre, London |
2022 | The Unfriend | Debbie | Minerva Theatre, Chichester |
2023 | The Unfriend | Debbie | Criterion Theatre |
Awards and nominations
Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
2011 | Crime Thriller Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Case Histories | Nominated |
2014 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Sherlock | Nominated |
Crime Thriller Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Sherlock | Won | |
References
- "Amanda Abbington". Rotten Tomatoes.
- Rampton, James (30 December 2013). "Sherlock's Amanda Abbington admits partner Martin Freeman is one of her favourite actors". The Independent. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2014.
- "The One Show – 4/8/23 – BBC iPlayer". 4 August 2023. Event occurs at 4:28.
- "'None of it has felt insurmountable': Amanda Abbington on Sherlock, separation and her fiancé's nightmare fall". The Guardian. 23 May 2022. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- "Strictly Come Dancing star Amanda Abbington reveals she didn't keep casting secret". Digital Spy. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- John, Emma (23 August 2016). "Amanda Abbington: 'I want to be a princess". The Observer. Retrieved 6 July 2020.
- "Amanda Abbington". westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- Jones, Paul (27 March 2013). "Martin Freeman's partner Amanda Abbington joins the cast of Sherlock". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- Garcia, Megan (2 September 2013). "Sherlock season 3 filming finished: 'It's a wrap,' says Sue Vertue – BBC new trailer released". Christian Today (with video). Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- Billington, Michael (27 February 2019). "The Son review – Florian Zeller's frightening tale of teen depression". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
- Desperate Measures at IMDb
- Darvill, Josh (14 March 2022). "Desperate Measures: New Channel 5 'action thriller' drama announced". TellyMix. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- Singh, Anita (4 May 2023). "Inside No 9, BBC Two, review: Friday 13th is unlucky for some as the twists start to unravel". The Telegraph. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
- "Amanda Abbington is our first celebrity contestant confirmed for Strictly Come Dancing 2023!". 4 August 2023.
- "Amanda Abbington quits Strictly Come Dancing after medical absence | Strictly Come Dancing | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 23 October 2023.
- "Anton Du Beke makes bold claim about Amanda Abbington after Strictly exit". The Independent. 25 October 2023. Retrieved 28 October 2023.
- Edmonds, Lizzie (15 April 2021). "Amanda Abbington says she is sure split with Martin Freeman caused her children 'irreparable damage'". Evening Standard. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- McLean, Craig (26 May 2013). "Amanda Abbington: Sherlock's Martin and Benedict have a fantastic chemistry". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 25 March 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- Mance, Henry (22 December 2016). "Martin Freeman on Sherlock, politics and why he's not on Twitter". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
- Jones, Emma (5 July 2013). "'Don't turn on the people that I love': A stern Martin Freeman reveals he is more Bilbo Baggins than Tim from The Office". The Independent. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
- "Britain's Got Talent star Jonathan Goodwin paralysed". BBC News. 3 May 2022.
- Cernik, Lizzie (28 December 2022). "How Amanda Abbington met Jonathan Goodwin: 'I was on him like a rat up a drainpipe'". The Guardian.
- Simpson, Craig (2 March 2023). "Actress called transphobic for condemning 'abhorrent' drag queen cabaret for parents and their babies". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
- Duff, Seamus; Hartley, Joshua (7 August 2023). "Strictly Come Dancing star responds as fans threaten to boycott". Nottingham Post.
- "Strictly fans set to boycott show amid Amanda Abbington backlash". Digital Spy. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- "Amanda Abbington responds to Strictly boycott calls: "I'm not transphobic"". Radio Times. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- "Amanda Abbington denies being transphobic after Strictly backlash". The Daily Telegraph. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 8 August 2023.