26 Facts About Sally Phillips

1.

Sally Phillips co-created and was one of the writers of the sketch comedy show Smack the Pony.

2.

From 2004 to 2019, Sally Phillips played the title role in the BBC Radio 4 comedy show Clare in the Community.

3.

Sally Phillips was born 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.

4.

Sally Phillips then studied Italian and linguistics at New College, Oxford.

5.

Sally Phillips then co-wrote and performed the one-woman show Benadetta, the Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy, based on a true story.

6.

Sally Phillips appeared in the 1990 Oxford Revue THRASH, which starred Ed Smith.

7.

Sally Phillips performed at nine consecutive Edinburgh Fringe Festivals, appearing in shows including Ra-Ra-Rasputin, Arthur Smith's version of Hamlet and Cluub Zarathustra with Simon Munnery, Stewart Lee, Richard Thomas, Julian Barratt and Lori Lixenburg.

8.

In 1995, Sally Phillips played the role of a reporter in the unbroadcast pilot of Chris Morris's spoof series Brass Eye, which at that point was called Torque TV, but she did not appear in the series itself.

9.

Sally Phillips had a role as a "Travel Tavern" receptionist in I'm Alan Partridge, and as Laura in Holding the Baby.

10.

Sally Phillips played radio DJ Gemma White in the TV series In the Red.

11.

Sally Phillips had a starring role in the short-lived 1999 British comedy series Hippies with Simon Pegg and Julian Rhind-Tutt, and co-created and wrote Smack the Pony, a double Emmy Award-winning comedy show, for which she was nominated for best female newcomer at the 1999 British Comedy Awards.

12.

Sally Phillips played cameo roles in Mean Machine, Birthday Girl and Born Romantic and wrote episodes for the animation Bob and Margaret.

13.

Sally Phillips appeared in Bridget Jones's Diary as Shazza, having previously auditioned for Bridget; the character was based upon the film's director, Sharon Maguire.

14.

In 2009, Sally Phillips took the role of Tilly in Miranda as Miranda Hart's character's irritating upper-class friend.

15.

The series found critical success and Sally Phillips remained a part of the show throughout its duration, from 2009 to 2015.

16.

Sally Phillips had a guest-star part in E4's Skins, series 3 playing Pandora's mother.

17.

Sally Phillips appeared in a supporting role in the film, playing Emma, a Hollywood assistant.

18.

Sally Phillips made two episodes of series 3 of the Dave maths and comedy series Dara O Briain: School of Hard Sums in 2014, in which she was set various maths-based physical challenges.

19.

Sally Phillips has appeared in the comedy Burn Burn Burn as Ingrid, a main character, and the TV film Distinguished Ladies in which she plays the lead role of Bianca.

20.

Sally Phillips appeared in Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as Mrs Bennet, and as Shazza in Bridget Jones's Baby.

21.

Sally Phillips appeared in All Star Musicals and Tim Vine Travels in Time in December 2017.

22.

Sally Phillips was the winner of the four competitors who appeared in the special Christmas edition of The Great British Sewing Bee that was transmitted on New Year's Eve 2020 on BBC 1.

23.

In 2002, Sally Phillips was hospitalised with salmonellosis during a charity trip to Mexico.

24.

Sally Phillips said the illness led to a brain infection which made her body become a "micro-brewery", causing neurological symptoms.

25.

Sally Phillips was married to Andrew Bermejo for 14 years and has three sons from their marriage, one with Down's syndrome.

26.

Sally Phillips is a patron of Blue Apple Theatre which specialises in creating performance work with adults with a learning disability.