Editing Sarah Alexander

{{short description|English actress}}
{{For|the American actress known as Sarah Blanche Alexander or Blanche Alexander in her youth|Blanche Sweet}}

{{EngvarB|date=October 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox person
| image       = Sarah Alexander - Guardians of the Galaxy premiere - July 2014.jpg
| caption     = Sarah Alexander at the Guardians of the Galaxy premiere in July 2014
| image_size  = 150px
| birth_name  = Sarah Smith
| birth_date  = {{Birth date and age|1971|1|3|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Hammersmith]], West London, England
| yearsactive = 1989–present
| occupation  = Actress
| spouse      = [[Peter Serafinowicz]]
| children    = 2
}}
'''Sarah Alexander''' (''[[née]]'' '''Smith'''; 3 January 1971)<ref name="npg">{{Cite web|url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/person/mp61034/sarah-alexander|title=Sarah Alexander - National Portrait Gallery|website=www.npg.org.uk}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/modern-mrs-robinson-passion-laughs-8280953.html|title=A modern Mrs Robinson with a passion for laughs|date=5 November 2012|website=The Independent}}</ref> is an English actress. She has appeared in British series including ''[[Armstrong and Miller (TV series)|Armstrong and Miller]]'', ''[[Smack the Pony]]'', ''[[Coupling (British TV series)|Coupling]]'', ''[[The Worst Week of My Life]]'', ''[[Green Wing]]'', ''[[Marley's Ghosts]]'' and ''[[Jonathan Creek]]''.

==Early life==
Alexander was born on 3 January 1971<ref>{{cite news|title=Jan. 3 Celebrity Birthdays|work=Orange County Register|date=3 January 2012|accessdate=3 January 2023|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2012/01/03/jan-3-celebrity-birthdays-2/}}</ref> in [[Hammersmith]], London.<ref name="npg"/> Her father, Frank Smith, was a television producer and director on factual shows such as ''[[Panorama (TV series)|Panorama]]''; he died when she was still at school.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/sarah-alexander-blonde-ambition-325859.html|title=Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition|date=9 November 2005|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/06_june/16/coupling_alexander.shtml|title=BBC - Press Office - Coupling Sarah Alexander|website=www.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> She attended [[Godolphin and Latymer School]] in Hammersmith.<ref name="Ind1">{{cite web |author=Jones, Alice |title=Sarah Alexander: Blonde ambition |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/sarah-alexander-blonde-ambition-514575.html |date=9 November 2005 |access-date=10 September 2008}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> At the age of 19, she left home after her [[Advanced Level (UK)|A-levels]] and travelled to the [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] to get a start in acting.<ref name="Ind1"/> Her parents wanted her to continue to university, but she turned down a place at the [[University of Manchester]] to take her first professional acting job.<ref name="Ind3">[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20040307/ai_n12751087 How We Met: Sarah Alexander & Ben Miller] ''[[The Independent on Sunday]]'', 7 March 2004</ref>

==Career==
In 1992, Alexander appeared in ''[[The Bill]]'', as a witness to an attempted robbery.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}} The following year she played Muriel in an episode of the [[BBC]] comedy-drama ''[[Lovejoy]]''. In 1994, she played Nicky, Damien's risk-addicted weather reporter girlfriend in ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]''. In 1996, she played Beatrice in the British première of [[Octavio Paz]]'s only play, ''[[Rappaccini's Daughter]]'', at the [[Gate Theatre Studio]]. She has appeared in other theatre productions, including ''[[The Vagina Monologues]]'', ''Hand in Hand'', ''The Secretary Bird'', ''[[Northanger Abbey]]'', and as [[Lady Macbeth]] in ''[[Macbeth]]''.<ref name="worst">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/12_december/06/worst_alexander.shtml The Worst Christmas Of My Life – a Christmas to remember for all the wrong reasons] BBC Press Office. 6 December 2006</ref> In the mid-1990s, she met [[Ben Miller]] when they filmed an advertisement for [[disposable cameras]] together, and through him she met [[Alexander Armstrong (comedian)|Alexander Armstrong]].<ref name="BBCPress">[http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/08_august/13/mutualfriends8.shtml ''Mutual Friends'' Press Pack] BBC Press Office. 13 August 2008</ref> Miller and Armstrong became friends and collaborators, and Alexander went on to appear on their Channel 4 sketch show ''[[Armstrong and Miller (television)|Armstrong and Miller]]'' (1997–2001), usually in the regular "Nude Practice" segment.

Alexander moved into comedy acting, in which she has since specialised. Her other sketch show work included ''[[Alas Smith and Jones|Smith and Jones]]'' (1997–1998) and ''[[Smack the Pony]]'' (1999–2003), also writing for the latter. In the science-fiction comedy series ''[[Red Dwarf]]'', she played the Queen of Camelot in "[[Stoke Me a Clipper]]". She appeared in the ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'' episode "The Garden of Death", as Fliss Inkpen-Thomas. In 2000, she appeared in the comedy ''[[The Strangerers]]'', as well as becoming co-host of the final series of the current-affairs satire ''[[The 11 O'Clock Show]]'', alongside [[Jon Holmes]]. She made her debut as Susan Walker in the BBC sitcom ''[[Coupling (British TV series)|Coupling]]'', which ran for four series from 2000 to 2004. Other British TV roles included Mel in ''[[The Worst Week of My Life]]'' and [[Angela Hunter (Green Wing)|Angela Hunter]] in the hospital comedy ''[[Green Wing]]''.

Alexander appeared as Alice Fletcher in [[NBC]]'s short-lived remake of the British comedy series ''[[Teachers (2006 TV series)|Teachers]]'', before roles in the films ''[[I Could Never Be Your Woman]]'' and ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]'' (both released in 2007). Her previous film credits include ''[[Seaview Nights|Seaview Knights]]'' (1994) and ''Going Off Big Time'' (2000). She also starred in the 2008 BBC [[dramedy]] ''[[Mutual Friends (TV series)|Mutual Friends]]'',<ref name="BBCPress"/> and played Layla Barton in the BBC drama ''[[All the Small Things (TV series)|All The Small Things]]'',<ref name="MF">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2008/09_september/03/choir.shtml |title=All-singing new drama series announced for BBC One |publisher=[[BBC]] |access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> which debuted in 2009.

Since 2011, she has played Mimi in the [[BBC Radio 4]] comedy series ''The Gobetweenies''. The first series was broadcast in 2011 and two more followed in 2012 and 2013. She starred in the 2012 BBC series ''[[Me and Mrs Jones (TV series)|Me and Mrs Jones]]''.<ref name="MMJ">{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00wzj1c |title=Me and Mrs Jones |publisher=BBC |access-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> Since 2013, she has starred in the [[BBC One]] series ''[[Jonathan Creek]]'' as Polly Creek, wife of main character Jonathan, making her first appearance in the episode titled "The Clue of the Savant's Thumb" in 2013. She starred in the Dave comedy ''[[Undercover (2015 TV series)|Undercover]]'' as DS Zoe Keller. From 2015 she has starred in the comedy series ''[[Marley's Ghosts]]'' on [[Gold (British TV channel)|Gold]]. In 2019, Alexander appeared as  Undine Thwaite in the [[Epix]] series ''[[Pennyworth (TV series)|Pennyworth]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://tvmoviefix.com/pennyworth-season-1-episode-6-cilla-black-recap-review-spoilers/|title='Pennyworth' Season 1, Episode 6 'Cilla Black' Review: Sorcery|first=Daniel|last=Rayner|date=25 August 2019}}</ref>

==Other work==
Alexander has contributed to the BBC charity telethon ''[[Comic Relief (charity)|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 ''[[Blankety Blank]]'', and, in 2005, in a celebrity version of ''[[University Challenge]]''. Since 2021, she has contributed to [[Mark Steel]]'s podcast "What the F*** Is Going On?", appearing in sketches as "woman overheard in cafe", "tory MP Nadine Boris", and "phone-in show caller".

==Personal life==
In 2001, at the age of 30, Alexander began a relationship with 70-year-old actor [[Gerald Harper]].<ref name="SarahDumpsGerald"/> The following year, she left him for actor [[Peter Serafinowicz]], whom she later married.<ref name="SarahDumpsGerald">{{cite news |work=[[Daily Mirror]] |title=New Man For Coupling Star |via=[[The Free Library]] |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/TV+Sarah%2C29%2C+dumps+lover+Gerald%2C72%2C+for+Peter%2C29%3B+NEW+MAN+FOR...-a090146478 |last=Scott |date=2002-08-06 |access-date=2020-05-31 |first=Peter }}</ref><ref name="Ind2">{{cite web |author=Philby, Charlotte |title=My Secret Life: Peter Serafinowicz |work=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/my-secret-life-peter-serafinowicz-actor-and-comedian-age-36-912006.html |date=30 August 2008 |access-date=10 September 2008}}</ref> They live in [[west London]], and have a son and daughter together.<ref name="BBCPress"/> She appeared in both series of ''[[Look Around You]]'', which Serafinowicz co-created and starred in, as well as ''O!News'', his parody of ''[[E!|E! News]]''.

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Pretty Princess]]''
| Ursula
| Original title: ''Piccolo Grande Amore''
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Seaview Knights]]''
| Jackie
|
|-
| 1999
| ''[[The New Adventures of Pinocchio (film)|The New Adventures of Pinocchio]]''
| Felinet
| Direct-to-Video
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| ''[[Summer in the Suburbs]]''
| Maisie
| TV film
|-
| ''[[Going Off Big Time]]''
| Stacey Bannerman
|
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Bridget Jones's Diary]]''
| Daniel Cleaver's Lover
| Uncredited
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Perfect Strangers (2004 film)|Perfect Strangers]]''
| Alix Mason
| TV film
|-
| 2005
| ''Harry''
| Kay
| Short film
|-
| rowspan="2"|2007
| ''[[I Could Never Be Your Woman]]''
| Jeannie
|
|-
| ''[[Stardust (2007 film)|Stardust]]''
| Empusa
|
|-
| 2011
| ''Faculty''
| Ellie Anderson
| TV film
|-
| 2015
| ''We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story''
| Gilda Perry
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Sassy Justice]]''
| [[Julie Andrews]]
| Video short
|-
| 2022
| ''The Silent Canary''
| Jane
| Short film
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| rowspan="4"|1992
| ''[[The Bill]]''
| Lesley Anderson
| Episode: "Exit"
|-
| ''[[Kappatoo]]''
| Melanie
| Series regular, 7 episodes
|-
| ''Natural Lies''
| Anne-Marie
| 1 episode
|-
| ''[[Covington Cross]]''
| Third Girl
| Episode: "The Hero"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1993
| ''[[Lovejoy]]''
| Muriel
| Episode: "Second Fiddle"
|-
| ''You, Me and It''
| Emma
| 1 episode
|-
| ''[[Chris Cross (TV series)|Chris Cross]]''
| Sam
| Episode: "Turf Wars"
|-
| rowspan="3"|1994
| ''[[Anna Lee (TV series)|Anna Lee]]''
| Mary Vincent
| Episode: "The Cook's Tale"
|-
| ''[[The Bill]]''
| Madeline Dexter
| Episode: "Wild Justice"
|-
| ''[[Drop the Dead Donkey]]''
| Nicky
| Episode: "Damien and the Weather Girl"
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Red Dwarf]]''
| Queen
| Episode: "Stoke Me a Clipper"
|-
| 1997-1998
| ''[[Alas Smith and Jones]]''
| Various roles
| Recurring role, 12 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Noel's House Party]]''
| Girl at the Window
| Recurring role, 4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|1999
| ''[[Tilly Trotter]]''
| Lady Agnes Myton
| Miniseries, 2 episodes
|-
| ''[[People Like Us (mockumentary)|People Like Us]]''
| Madeline Goddard
| Episode: "The Estate Agent"
|-
| 1999-2003
| ''[[Smack the Pony]]''
| Various roles
| Series regular, 23 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2000
| ''[[The Strangerers]]''
| Rina
| Series regular, 9 episodes
|-
| ''[[Midsomer Murders]]''
| Fliss Inkpen-Thomas
| Episode: "Garden of Death"
|-
| 2000-2004
| ''[[Coupling (British TV series)|Coupling]]''
| Susan Walker
| Series regular, 28 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2001
| ''[[The Armstrong & Miller Show]]''
| Various roles
| Recurring role, 7 episodes
|-
| ''[[Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible]]''
| Beatrice Crown
| Episode: "Voodoo Feet of Death"
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Look Around You]]''
| Scientist
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Comic Relief#2003 event|Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do]]''
| 'Lovely' Liza Goddard
| TV special
|-
| 2004-2006
| ''[[Green Wing]]''
| Dr. Angela Hunter
| Series regular, 13 episodes
|-
| 2004-2007
| ''[[The Worst Week of My Life]]''
| Mel Cook
| Series regular, 17 episodes
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Look Around You]]''
| Ros Lamb
| Episode: "Sport"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Teachers (2006 TV series)|Teachers.]]''
| Alice Fletcher
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
| 2007
| ''[[The Peter Serafinowicz Show]]''
| Various roles
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Mutual Friends (TV series)|Mutual Friends]]''
| Liz
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
| 2009
| ''[[All the Small Things (TV series)|All the Small Things]]''
| Layla
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Agatha Christie's Marple]]''
| Lydia Harsnet
| Episode: "The Pale Horse"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2011
| ''[[The Jury (TV serial)|The Jury]]''
| Theresa Vestry
| Series regular, 5 episodes
|-
| ''The Gobetweenies''
| Mimi
| Recurring role, 4 episodes
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Me and Mrs Jones (TV series)|Me and Mrs Jones]]''
| Gemma Jones
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
| 2013-2016
| ''[[Jonathan Creek]]''
| Polly Creek
| Recurring role, 5 episodes
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Undercover (2015 TV series)|Undercover]]''
| Zoe
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
| 2015-2016
| ''[[Marley's Ghosts]]''
| Marley Wise
| Series regular, 9 episodes
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Drunk History (British TV series)|Drunk History]]''
| [[Elizabeth I]]
| Episode: "Battle of Trafalgar/The Virgin Queen"
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Pennyworth (TV series)|Pennyworth]]''
| Undine Thwaite
| Series regular, 6 episodes
|-
|2024
| ''[[Father Brown (2013 TV series)|Father Brown]]''
| Harriet Sykes
| Episode: "The Last Supper"
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0018729}}
*{{Screenonline name|id=1221119|name=Sarah Alexander}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alexander, Sarah}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Actresses from London]]
[[Category:People from Hammersmith]]
[[Category:People educated at Godolphin and Latymer School]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English actresses]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]]