Sarah Preston

Sarah Preston
Born
Sarah Jane Preston

Middlesbrough, England
NationalityBritish
EducationRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art (3 years)
Occupation(s)Actor, writer
Years active1994–present
Known forHolby City, Extras, Steel River Blues, EastEnders

Sarah Preston (born in Middlesbrough) is an English actress and writer, who is best known for playing Karen Newburn in Holby City, Amanda Parry in EastEnders[1] and the "Make-up Woman" whose name no-one can remember in Extras with Ricky Gervais.

Early life

Sarah Preston is the daughter of Madge Preston and Arthur Ernest Preston and has one brother and one sister.

Acting career

Sarah Preston started her career on stage at the age of five in her native Northeast of England. Some of her early acting experience was with Stockton Youth Theatre where she performed in acclaimed productions of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar and Sweet Charity alongside Mark Benton and Marcus Bentley.

Sarah continued to be involved in many theatre and independent productions until she left for London where she trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) for three years and gained a diploma in acting.[2]  Classmates included Andrew Lincoln and Stephen Mangan.

During her time at RADA, Sarah developed skills in stage fighting.[3] She excelled in this, earning high qualifications and the coveted John Barton Prize. One of her first jobs after leaving RADA was in the feature film The House of Angelo.

Sarah's first major TV role was playing Karen Newburn[4] in the BBC drama series, Holby City. She played the straight-talking, no-nonsense Ward Sister who clashes with ex-husband and cardiothoracic registrar Nick Jordan, played by Michael French. They battled throughout the first two series and their tempestuous relationship became one of the leading story-lines.

Other regular appearances include EastEnders, In Deep with Stephen Tompkinson, Steel River Blues and Extras with Ricky Gervais.

Sarah has guested in a number of other shows including Vera with Brenda Blethyn, The Last Detective alongside Peter Davison, Where The Heart Is and Doctors.

Writing

Sarah Preston founded the TV and film production company, Bamboo Media Productions Limited.[5]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1995 The Glass Virgin Agnes Fairbairn 3 episodes
Pie in the Sky Receptionist Episode: Lemon Twist
Men of the World Laura Episode: Stolen Kiss
1997 The House of Angelo Meg
1999 Tilly Trotter Mary Bentwood Series 1, episodes 1 & 2
1999-2000 Holby City Karen Newburn 24 episodes
2000 Badger Amanda Episode: The Last Flight
Doctors Celia Cobb Episode: Looking After
2001 Where The Heart Is Julia Joyce Episode: The Ties That Bind
Murder in Mind Sandra Episode: Vigilante
2002 Out Done Sarah Short film
2003 In Deep Katy Gannon Episodes: Men & Boys Parts 1 & 2
2004 Steel River Blues Belinda Moss 2 episodes
Doctors Karen Rees Episode: Passing By
2005 Eva Rachel Short film
EastEnders Amanda 8 episodes
2006 Extras Make-up woman 3 episodes, series 2
2007 The Last Detective Kitty Sullivan Episode: The Dead Peasants Society
2011 Vera Jeannie Long Episode: Telling Tales
Doctors Beth Wilde Episode: Defying Gravity
2013 Yvonne Turnham Episode: Falling

References

  1. ^ "Sarah Preston Interview – Holby.tv". holby.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  2. ^ "RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – Student". rada.ac.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Sarah Preston". Holby.tv. Retrieved 15 January 2008.
  4. ^ "Karen Newburn – Holby.tv". holby.tv. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
  5. ^ "The power of mindset with Sarah Preston". Boss Move. Retrieved 19 November 2022.