British comedic actress and writer Sally Phillips has appeared in some of the country’s best-loved shows, including I’m Alan Partridge (1997), Smack the Pony (1999-2017), Hippies (1999), Green Wing (2006), Miranda (2009-2020), Parents (2012) and Veep (2013-19).
Sally won the Emmy Award for the Best Popular Ats Show in 1999 and again in 2000, and she has been nominated for the Best Comedy Female Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards.
She is also a passionate charity supporter and campaigner, particularly for disabled children’s charities as her son has Downs Syndrome.
Contact Great British Speakers today to book actress and charity supporter Sally Phillips for your next event.
Sally Phillips never felt like she fitted in anywhere, particularly at her English boarding school. As a child, she was travelling the world with her BA Exec dad, before settling at Oxford where she gained a first-class degree in Italian. It was here that she finally found sanctuary on stage.
She originally wanted to be a comedian, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals an incredible nine consecutive times. She began acting on television in 1994, joining the cast of Fist of Fun (1995-96), and the popular I’m Alan Partridge (1997).
Her TV acting credits also include Skins (2009), Hyperdrive (2006), Jam and Jerusalem (2006-09), Justin’s House (2011), Death in Paradise (2015), and Friday Night Dinner (2020). She is also a popular face on panel shows and news programmes, including QI (2017-23), Richard Osman’s House of Games (2021), Loose Women (2008-21), The Great British Sewing Bee (2020), The One Show (2016-19), Taskmaster (2017), Pointless (2018-20), and The Chase (2015)
Sally Phillips has also stared in feature film including the three Bridget Jones (2001-2016) movies, The Decoy Bride (2011) – which she also co-wrote, Mean Machine (2001), Born Romantic (2000), Birthday Girl (2001), Churchill: The Hollywood Years (2004), and Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (2016). She has also voiced the character of Claire in Radio 4’s award-winning sitcom, Clare in the Community, since 2004.
In 2017, she hosted the BBC2 documentary A World Without Downs Syndrome? – which explored the ethical implications of our national screening policy. The programme was nominated for the Radio Times Readers Awards.
Sally has been recognised by The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy.
She uses her public platform to promote important causes and charities, including:
– Blue Apple Theatre: specialises in creating performance work with adults who have a learning disability
– Skylarks: A charity aiming to make a world where children with additional needs can thrive
– The Josephine and Jack Project: Supports adults and young people with learning disabilities
– Challengers: Runs play and leisure schemes for disabled children and young people
– Dingley’s Promise: Transforming the early years for people with special educational needs and disabilities
She is also a much sought after awards host and speaker, with clients including the BMJ Improving Health Awards and the Professional Beauty Awards.
Sally put a lot of work in ahead of the event, talking to us about the audience and tailoring her material towards them. I spoke to a lot of guests afterwards who were either fans before or newly converted! She was really easy to wok with and did a great job.
Moneyfacts Group plc
Sally was really lovely and did a fantastic job. I think we all really appreciate it when someone has done their research and tailored their warm-up to the event and the crowd. I loved her Charity Shop theme; perfect concept and hilarious in parts. Sally was so very refreshing as our host and went down a treat! I had time to chat to her at the beginning and the end, and she’s a very lovely warm person, so I think we chose very well in host this year.
The Civil Society Charity Awards