Sarah Preston

{{Short description|English actress}} {{Use British English|date=February 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}} {{Infobox person | honorific_prefix = | name = Sarah Preston | honorific_suffix = | image = | image_size =  | alt = | caption = | native_name = | native_name_lang = | pronunciation = | birth_name = Sarah Jane Preston | birth_date = | birth_place = Middlesbrough, England | other_names = | citizenship = | education = Royal Academy of Dramatic Art | alma_mater = | occupation = Actor, writer | years_active = 1994–present | agent =  | known_for = ''Holby City'', ''Extras'', ''Steel River Blues'', ''EastEnders'' | notable_works =  | style = | height =  | television = | spouse =  | partner =  | children = | website =  }}

'''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''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holby.tv/sarah-preston-interview/|title=Sarah Preston Interview – Holby.tv|website=holby.tv|date=3 April 2010 |access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> and the "Make-up woman" whose name no one can remember in ''Extras''.

==Early life== Preston is the daughter of Madge Preston and Arthur Ernest Preston, and has one brother and one sister.

==Acting career== Preston started her career on stage at the age of five in her native North East 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.

She 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles?aos=acting&yr=1994&fn=sarah&sn=preston|title=RADA: The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art – Student|website=rada.ac.uk|access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> Classmates included Andrew Lincoln and Stephen Mangan.

During her time at RADA, Preston developed skills in stage fighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.holby.tv/db/index.php?id=40,69,0,0,1,0|title=Sarah Preston|publisher=Holby.tv|accessdate=15 January 2008}}</ref> 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''.

Her first major TV role was playing Karen Newburn<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.holby.tv/karen-newburn/|title=Karen Newburn – Holby.tv|website=holby.tv|date=13 January 2010 |access-date=27 November 2017}}</ref> 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 storylines.

Other regular appearances include ''EastEnders'', ''In Deep'', ''Steel River Blues'' and ''Extras''.

Preston has guest starred in several other shows including ''Vera'', ''The Last Detective'', ''Where the Heart Is'' and ''Doctors''.

==Writing== Preston founded the TV and film production company Bamboo Media Productions Limited.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bossmove.org/episodes/the-power-of-mindset|title=The power of mindset with Sarah Preston|website=Boss Move|access-date=19 November 2022}}</ref>

===Filmography=== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- ! scope="col" | Year ! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | rowspan="3"| 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 |- |rowspan="2"| 2000 | ''Badger'' | Amanda | Episode: "The Last Flight" |- | ''Doctors'' | Celia Cobb | Episode: "Looking After" |- | rowspan="2"| 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 |- |rowspan="2"| 2004 | ''Steel River Blues'' | Belinda Moss | 2 episodes |- | ''Doctors'' | Karen Rees | Episode: "Passing By" |- | rowspan="2"| 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" |- |rowspan="2"| 2011 | ''Vera'' | Jeannie Long | Episode: "Telling Tales" |- |rowspan="2"| ''Doctors'' | Beth Wilde | Episode: "Defying Gravity" |- | 2013 | Yvonne Turnham | Episode: "Falling" |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|http://www.sarahpreston.co.uk}} *{{IMDb name|id=0696488}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preston, Sarah}} Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art Category:Living people Category:Actresses from Middlesbrough Category:English television actresses Category:English soap opera actresses Category:1970 births