# Sally Phillips

Sally Elizabeth Phillips (born 10 May 1970) is an English actress, comedian, and television presenter. She co-created and was one of the writers of the sketch comedy show Smack the Pony. She is also known for her roles in Jam & Jerusalem as Natasha "Tash" Vine, Miranda as Tilly, I'm Alan Partridge as Sophie, Parents as Jenny Pope, Set the Thames on Fire as Colette in 2015, Zapped as Slasher Morgan, and her guest appearances as the fictional Prime Minister of Finland Minna Häkkinen in the US TV series Veep. Phillips also co-starred in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Mrs Bennet and in the role of Shazza in all four films of the Bridget Jones franchise.
From 2004 to 2019, Phillips played the title role in the BBC Radio 4 comedy show Clare in the Community. In 2018 she was curator for series 12 of The Museum of Curiosity on BBC Radio 4.

## Early life and education

Sally Elizabeth Phillips was born on 10th May 1970 in Hong Kong, which at the time was under British rule. Her father Tim, later chairman of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, was an executive with British Airways. With the family following her father's job, she grew up in the Far East, the Middle East, Italy, and Australia. At the age of 13 she was sent to board at Wycombe Abbey School, where she studied her O-Levels and A-Levels.
Phillips read Italian and linguistics at New College, Oxford, where she joined the Oxford Revue, playing mostly male parts, alongside contemporaries including Stewart Lee and Richard Herring (who went on to have their own television show, Fist of Fun, in which Phillips appeared as "the girl who smells of Spam"). She then co-wrote and performed the one-woman show Benadetta, the Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, based on a true story. She appeared in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH, which also starred Ed Smith.
Phillips gained a first-class honours degree, and applied to write a PhD on the Spaghetti Western. However, she changed her mind, and instead studied drama with the Théâtre de Complicité.

## Career

Phillips performed at nine consecutive Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, appearing in shows including Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Arthur Smith's version of Hamlet (as Ophelia) and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas, Julian Barratt and Lori Lixenburg. Her first television role was in Lee and Herring's Fist of Fun in 1994, followed shortly after by a cameo in Alas Smith and Jones with Mel Smith. In 1995, Phillips played the role of a reporter in the unbroadcast pilot of Chris Morris's spoof series Brass Eye. In Six Pairs Of Pants, six actors produced a number of regular sketches, which developed as the series progressed. The show was written in part by Phillips. Phillips had a role as a "Travel Tavern" receptionist in I'm Alan Partridge (1997), and as Laura in Holding the Baby. She played radio DJ Gemma White in the TV series In the Red.
In 1997, Phillips featured in Eddie Izzard's sitcom Cows. She had a starring role in the short-lived 1999 British comedy series Hippies with Simon Pegg and Julian Rhind-Tutt. Phillips garnered a nomination for best female newcomer at the 1999 British Comedy Awards as she, along with Fiona Allen and Doon Mackichan, co-created, wrote, and performed in Smack the Pony.
In 2001, she took the starring role in the David Nicholls series Rescue Me for BBC1. She also played cameo roles in Mean Machine, Birthday Girl, and Born Romantic, and wrote episodes for the animation Bob and Margaret.
In 2003, she was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. She appeared in Bridget Jones's Diary as Shazza, having previously auditioned for Bridget; the character was based upon the film's director, Sharon Maguire.
In 2004, she took the title role in the BBC radio sitcom Clare in the Community which ended after 74 episodes in 2019. In August 2005, she returned to the stage after a long absence, in Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest at the Oxford Playhouse. In 2006, she appeared in the Australian comedy feature BoyTown; on television, she appeared as Clare Winchester in the BBC2 science fiction comedy Hyperdrive.
In the second series of Green Wing, Phillips played the character of Holly, whose appearance threatens the blossoming relationship between Mac (Julian Rhind-Tutt) and Caroline (Tamsin Greig). Between 2006 and 2009, she had a recurring role in the BBC's comedy Jam & Jerusalem.
In 2009, Phillips took the role of Tilly in Miranda as Miranda Hart's character's irritating upper-class friend. The series found critical success and Phillips remained a part of the show throughout its duration, from 2009 to 2015.
She also had a guest-star part in E4's Skins, series 3 playing Pandora's mother.
Her first feature film script, The Decoy Bride, started production in spring 2010. Phillips appeared in a supporting role in the film, playing Emma, a Hollywood assistant. The film was released in February 2012, premièring first on cable television and as a digital download, and then had a limited theatrical release.
In December 2010, she appeared in the BBC1 drama Accidental Farmer.
In 2012, she played the lead role in the Sky 1 comedy Parents and also appeared in the CBeebies television series Justin's House. The same year, she also appeared with Justin Fletcher in the role of Mr Tumble in Something Special.
She made two episodes of series 3 of the Dave maths and comedy series Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums in 2014, in which she was set various maths-based physical challenges. In the United States, Phillips has made five appearances in the HBO comedy series Veep as Minna Häkkinen, a fictional Finnish prime minister.
In 2014, she narrated the first series of The Supervet on Channel 4.
During 2015, Phillips appeared in several TV shows, notably House of Fools and Death in Paradise. She has also appeared in the comedy Burn Burn Burn as Ingrid, a main character, and also the TV film Distinguished Ladies in which she plays the lead role of Bianca.
Phillips appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016) as Mrs Bennet, and as Shazza in Bridget Jones's Baby.
In 2016, she presented the one-off BBC documentary A World Without Down's Syndrome?, which examined the potential impact of non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT).
In 2017, she competed in series 5 of Taskmaster against Bob Mortimer, Aisling Bea, Nish Kumar and Mark Watson, finishing as runner-up to the eventual winner Mortimer. She appeared in All Star Musicals and Tim Vine Travels in Time in December 2017.
In 2018, she played the scatty new night manager Lou in Trollied.
In 2020, she played Gibby in Channel 4's sitcom Friday Night Dinner.
In 2022, she starred as business owner Gina in Australian comedy film How to Please a Woman.
In 2023, she played Tessa in the Netflix romantic comedy Love at First Sight.
In January 2024, she was a guest co-host on the BBC One quiz show Pointless. She starred as Ingrid in the Australian-British comedy series Austin which premiered in June 2024.

## Personal life

In 2002, Phillips was hospitalised with salmonellosis during a charity trip to Mexico. She said the illness led to a brain infection that made her body become a "microbrewery", causing neurological symptoms. Her recovery took months.
She was married to Andrew Bermejo for 14 years and has three sons from their marriage, one with Down's syndrome. In 2017, the couple divorced.
Phillips is a Christian. She is a patron of Blue Apple Theatre (Hampshire, UK) which specialises in creating performance work with adults with a learning disability.

## Filmography

| +Key | † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |

### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2000 | Born Romantic | Suzy | |
| 2001 | The Invitation | Sarah | Short film |
| 2001 | Bridget Jones's Diary | Sharon "Shazza" | |
| 2001 | The Junkies | Sal | Short film |
| 2001 | Birthday Girl | Karen | |
| 2001 | Mean Machine | Tracey | |
| 2002 | Blowing It | Patricia | Short film |
| 2004 | Tooth | Mom | |
| 2004 | Gladiatress | Worthaboutapig | |
| 2004 | Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason | Sharon "Shazza" | |
| 2004 | Churchill: The Hollywood Years | Waitress | |
| 2004 | Show Ponies | Heidi & Amelia | Short film |
| 2006 | BoyTown | Holly | |
| 2010 | Huge | Herself | |
| 2011 | The Decoy Bride | Emma | Also writer |
| 2012 | The Actress | Second Suitor | Short films |
| 2012 | Animal Charm | Audrey Hoober | Short films |
| 2014 | Rain | Kvinnan | Short films |
| 2014 | The Case of the High Foot | Hilda Stolf | Short films |
| 2015 | Set the Thames on Fire | Colette | |
| 2015 | Seahorse | Martha | Short film |
| 2015 | Burn Burn Burn | Ingrid | |
| 2015 | Egg | Ivy | Short film |
| 2016 | Pride and Prejudice and Zombies | Mrs. Bennet | |
| 2016 | Bridget Jones's Baby | Sharon "Shazza" | |
| 2016 | Pregnant Pause | Nurse | Short film |
| 2017 | The Rizen | The Suited Woman | |
| 2017 | Blood Shed | Helen | Short film |
| 2017 | Ferdinand | Greta (voice) | |
| 2017 | You, Me and Him | Amy | |
| 2018 | The More You Ignore Me | Marie Henty | |
| 2018 | Little Star | Tiny (animated) | Short film |
| 2018 | The Fight | Beth Hunter | |
| 2018 | Surviving Christmas with the Relatives | Miriam | |
| 2019 | The Rizen: Possession | The Suited Woman | |
| 2019 | Blinded by the Light | Mrs. Anderson | |
| 2021 | Off the Rails | Liz | |
| 2021 | Tiny Dancer | Mum | Short film |
| 2022 | How to Please a Woman | Gina | |
| 2022 | The Fence | Sharon Knight | |
| 2023 | My Happy Ending | Mikey | |
| 2023 | Coffee Wars | Lisa | |
| 2023 | Love at First Sight | Tessa Jones | |
| 2024 | Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness | Clementine, The General's Wife | |
| 2025 | Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy | Sharon "Shazza" | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1995 | Smith & Jones | Various | Series 8; Episodes 1 & 3: "Bad Microphones" and "Missing Link" |
| 1995 | Six Pairs of Pants | Various characters | Episodes 1–3. Also writer |
| 1995–1996 | Fist of Fun | Various | Series 1 & 2; 7 episodes |
| 1996 | It Happened Next Year | Various | Television film |
| 1997 | I'm Alan Partridge | Sophie | Series 1; Episodes 1–6 |
| 1997 | Holding the Baby | Laura | Series 1; Episodes 2 & 7 |
| 1997 | Cows | Pinky | Television film (Pilot for series that was cancelled) |
| 1998 | Comedy Nation | Various characters | |
| 1998 | In the Red | Jemma White | Mini-series; Episodes 1–3 |
| 1998 | You Are Here | Laura | Television film |
| 1999 | Kiss Me Kate | Natalie | Series 2; Episode 6: "On the Couch" |
| 1999 | Hippies | Jill Sprint | Episodes 1–6 |
| 1999–2003, 2017 | Smack the Pony | Various characters | Series 1-4, and Comic Relief Special; 24 episodes. Also writer |
| 2002 | Rescue Me | Katie Nash | Episodes 1–6 |
| 2003 | Ready When You Are, Mr. McGill | Kelly | Television film |
| 2005 | French and Saunders | Nun | Christmas Celebrity Special |
| 2006 | Hyperdrive | Clare Winchester | Series 1; Episode 5: "Clare" |
| 2006 | Green Wing | Holly Hawkes | Series 2; Episodes 4–7 |
| 2006 | The Amazing Mrs Pritchard | Meg Bayliss | Episodes 2–6 |
| 2006 | Seven Second Delay | Meredith | Television film |
| 2006–2009 | Jam & Jerusalem | Natasha "Tash" Vine | Series 1–3; 18 episodes |
| 2008 | Harley Street | Izzy | Episode 3 |
| 2008 | Little Rikke | Mum (voice) | Television film |
| 2009 | Skins | Angela Moon | Series 3; Episode 4: "Pandora" |
| 2009 | Svengali | Michelle | Television short film |
| 2009–2015 | Miranda | Tilly | Main character. Series 1–3, and 3 Specials; 15 episodes |
| 2010 | Abroad | Jemima Green | Television films |
| 2010 | Accidental Farmer | Kat | Television films |
| 2011 | New Tricks | Samantha Gerson | Series 8; Episode 5: "Moving Target" |
| 2011 | Justin's House | Wanda Round | |
| 2011 | Moving On | Christina | Series 3; Episode 4: "Donor" |
| 2012 | Parents | Jenny Pope | Main character. Episodes 1–6 |
| 2012 | Them from That Thing | Various | Mini-series; Episodes 1 & 2 |
| 2012–2020 | The Undateables | Herself - Narrator | Series 1–11; 45 episodes |
| 2013 | Chickens | Miss Trimble | Episode 5: "Leper" |
| 2013 | Something Special | Herself - Special Guest | Series 5; 1 episode |
| 2013–2019 | Veep | Minna Häkkinen | Series 2, 3 & 5–7; 5 episodes |
| 2014 | The Supervet | Herself - Narrator | Series 1; Episodes 1–4 |
| 2015 | We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story | Ann Croft | Television film |
| 2015 | Death in Paradise | Cheryl Moore | Series 4; Episode 5: "Swimming in Murder" |
| 2015 | House of Fools | Mary | Series 2; Episode 6: "The Whip Affair" |
| 2015 | Distinguished Ladies | Bianca | Television film |
| 2016 | Galavant | Ivanna | Series 2; Episode 4: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Belittled" |
| 2016 | Siblings | Aunt Leslie | Series 2; Episode 2: "Golden Aunt" |
| 2016 | Mid Morning Matters with Alan Partridge | Charlie Moran (voice) | Series 2; Episode 5: "Massage + Royal Visit" |
| 2016 | Midsomer Murders | Lucy Keswick | Series 19; Episode 1: "The Village That Rose from the Dead" |
| 2016 | Drunk History | Mary | Series 3; Episode: "Christmas Special" |
| 2016 | A World Without Down's Syndrome? | Herself - Presenter | BBC Documentary film |
| 2016–2018 | Zapped | Slasher Morgan | Series 1–3; 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Henry IX | Queen Katerina | Episodes 1–3: "Reigned In", "Exit Strategy" and "Clearing the Air" |
| 2017 | Hospital People | Helena Steel MP, Health Minister | Episode 5: "The New Ward" |
| 2017 | Comedy Playhouse | Maid Marion | Series 18; Episode 1: "Tim Vine Travels Through Time" |
| 2017 | Comic Relief | Herself - Co-presenter | 2017 telethon |
| 2017 | Taskmaster | Herself - Contestant | Series 5; Episodes 1–8 |
| 2017 | Travel Man | Herself - Guest traveller | Series 5; Episode 4: "Stockholm" |
| 2017 | All Star Musicals | Herself - Performer | Television Special |
| 2017 | Tim Vine Travels Through Time | Catherine of Aragon | Television film (Christmas Special) |
| 2017, 2018 | The One Show | Herself - Guest presenter | 3 episodes |
| 2017–2024 | QI | Herself - Panellist | Series 15–22; 9 episodes |
| 2018 | Trollied | Lou Chettle | Series 7; 6 episodes |
| 2018 | The Keith & Paddy Picture Show | Dr. Ellie Sattler | Series 2; Episode 5: "Jurassic Park" |
| 2018 | Vanity Fair | Lady Steyne | Mini-series; Episodes 6 & 7 |
| 2018 | Lip Sync Battle UK | Herself - Contestant | Series 2; Episode 5: "Robert Webb vs. Sally Phillips" |
| 2018–2019 | Tourist Trap | Elaine Gibbons | Main character. Series 1 & 2; 12 episodes |
| 2019 | Archibald's Next Big Thing | Flurbin (voice) | Series 1; Episode 6: "Mountain Mayhem/The Gator Spinner Max" |
| 2019 | Year of the Rabbit | Princess Juliana of Bulgaria | Mini-series; Episodes 3–6 |
| 2020 | Friday Night Dinner | Gibby | Series 6; Episode 3: "The Au Pair" |
| 2020 | Sunday Morning Live | Herself - Presenter | Series 11; 5 episodes |
| 2021 | Meet the Richardsons | Herself | Series 2; 4 episodes (Fictionalised version of herself) |
| 2022 | Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway | Florence Nightingale | Series 18; Episode 6 (Segment: "Polter Guys") |
| 2022 | Breeders | Gabby | Series 3; Episodes 1, 2 & 9 |
| 2022 | Murder, They Hope | Alex | Series 2; Episode 2: "A Midsummer Night's Scream" |
| 2022 | Pennyworth | The Warden | Series 3; Episode 7: "Don't Push It" |
| 2022 | My Life at Christmas | Herself - Presenter | Series 1; 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Jerk | Monica the Bureaucrat | Series 3; Episode 6 |
| 2023 | Hapless | The Caterer | Series 2; Episode 2: "The Wedding Planner" |
| 2024 | The Traitors: The Movie | Diane Carson | Television film (Segment in Comic Relief: Funny for Money) |
| 2024 | Big Mood | Dr. Burrows | Episode 3: "Deeper" |
| 2024 | Queenie | Gina Hargadon | 5 episodes |
| 2024 | Austin | Ingrid Hartswood | Main role. Series 1; Episodes 1–8 |
| 2024 | We Might Regret This | Jane | Series 1; Episodes 1–4 & 6 |
| 2024 | Pointless | Herself - Guest assistant | Series 30; Episodes 35–45 |

## Audiobooks

| Year | Title | Author | Notes | Refs. |
| 2022 | The Satsuma Complex | Bob Mortimer | Co-read with Bob Mortimer | |