Sharon Small is a Scottish actress known for her work in film, radio, theatre, and television. Perhaps best known for her portrayal of Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers in the BBC television adaptation of The Inspector Lynley Mysteries by Elizabeth George, she is also recognised for her lead roles in Mistresses (as Trudi Malloy), London Kills (as DS Vivienne Cole) and Trust Me (as Dr Brigitte Rayne). She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in a 2022 revival of Good.
Early life Small is the eldest of five children. She was educated at Kinghorn Primary School in Fife, where she was the Kinghorn Gala Queen in her final year, and at Balwearie High School in Kirkcaldy. Small then studied drama at Kirkcaldy College of Technology (now Fife College), and continued her study at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London from which she graduated in 1989.
Personal life Small lives in London. She has two sons with her photographer husband Dan Bridge.
Filmography + Film Year Title Role Production Notes 1997 Bumping the Odds Terry – Best Actress Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival 1997 Bite Alison – – 1998 Driven Caroline Hall Dandelion Films – 2002 About a Boy Christine Universal Pictures – 2004 Dear Frankie Marie Universal – 2004 Belly Button Kika Satellite Pictures – 2008 Last Chance Harvey Nurse Overture Films – 2008 Pop Art short film Mrs. Gannon Forward Films
+ Television Year Title Role Production Awards 1994 Taggart Michelle Gibson SMG Productions 1 episode 1994 Roughnecks Bernadette – 1 episode 1995 An Independent Man Nicola – 1 episode 1996 Doctor Finlay Irene Gallagher – 1 episode 1997 The Bill Gina Nash ITV – 1997 Hamish Macbeth WPC Anne Patterson – 1 episode 1997 No Child of Mine Linda ITV – 1999–2000 Sunburn Carol Simpson – 14 episodes 2000 Glasgow Kiss Cara Rossi – 6 episodes 2003 Cutting It Boo Wiberley – – 2001–2007 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries DS Barbara Havers BBC 24 episodes – nominated for Most Popular Actress and the Golden Satellite Award 2005 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania BBC's Shakespeare Retold season – 2006 Rebus Miranda Masterson – – 2007-2015 Nina and the Neurons Bud the Taste Neuron – 11 seasons 2009 Murderland Dr Laura Maitland ITV 3 episodes 2008–2010 Mistresses Trudi Malloy BBC 16 episodes 2010 Agatha Christie's Marple Mary Pritchard ITV adaptation of "Miss Marple: The Blue Geranium", aired in the US on PBS – 2011 Downton Abbey Marigold Shore – 1 episode 2012 Kidnap and Ransom Beth Cooper ITV 3 episodes2012 New Tricks Minnie/Annabel Tilson BBC 1 episode2013 Silent Witness Geraldine Briggs BBC 2 episodes2013 Call the Midwife Nora Harding BBC 1 episode2014 Death in Paradise Dorothy Foster BBC 1 episode2014 Midsomer Murders Ruth Cameron ITV “Wild Harvest” 1 episode2014 Law & Order: UK Inspector Elisabeth Flynn ITV 1 episode 2015 Stonemouth Connie Murston BBC 2 episodes2017 Born to Kill Cathy World Productions 4 episodes2017 Trust Me Dr Brigitte Rayne BBC 4 episodes2019– London Kills DS Vivienne Cole Acorn TV Main role, 4 series, 20 episodes2020 Flesh and Blood Stella ITV 4 episodes2021 The Bay Rose Marshbrook ITV1 6 Episodes2024 Nightsleeper Liz Draycott BBC 6 Episodes
+ Radio Title Role At The Foot of the Cross Narrator High Table, Lower Orders Zoe "Dr. Finlay – The Adventures of a Black Bag" Nurse Angus Angel Lorraine The Order of Release Effie Ruskin
Stage Year Title Role Production 1994 The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht Polly Peachum Donmar Warehouse 1996 The Nun – Greenwich Studio Theatre 1998 London Cuckolds by Edward Ravencroft – Royal National Theatre 2004 When Harry Met Sally... Marie Fisher Theatre Royal Haymarket 2005 Lear by Edward Bond Fortanelle Sheffield Crucible Theatre 2009 Life Is A Dream Estrella Donmar Warehouse 2010 Spur of the Moment by Anya Reiss Vicky Evans Royal Court Theatre 2010 Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart Maggie Morrison National Theatre 2014 Arden of Faversham by Anonymous Alice Arden Royal Shakespeare Company 2015 Carmen Disruption The Singer Almeida Theatre 2015 Luna Gale by Rebecca Gilman Caroline Hampstead Theatre 2016 The Threepenny Opera by Bertolt Brecht Jenny Diver Royal National Theatre 2018 Still Alice Alice Howland West Yorkshire Playhouse 2022 The Trials by Dawn King Defendant Three Donmar Warehouse 2022 Good by C.P. Taylor Helen Harold Pinter Theatre2024Nye by Tim Price Jennie LeeRoyal National Theatre
Awards and honours Year Award Category Nominated Work Result 1997Edinburgh Film FestivalBest Actress AwardBumping the Odds2007Golden Satellite AwardsBest AwardThe Inspector Lynley Mysteries2023Laurence Olivier AwardsBest Supporting ActressGood References
External links
Sharon Small at bbc.co.uk Sharon Small at Royal National Theatre Sharon Small at Gordon & French actors' talent agency