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{{short description|English actress}}
{{short description|English actress}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
Line 6: Line 6:
| caption =
| caption =
| birth_name = Abigail Lucy Cruttenden
| birth_name = Abigail Lucy Cruttenden
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|03|23}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1968|3|23}}
| birth_place = [[Richmond, London]],{{cn|date=June 2021}} England
| birth_place = [[Richmond, London]], England
| occupation = Actor
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1980–present
| years_active = 1980–present
| spouse = {{ubl
| spouse = {{ubl
| {{marriage|[[Sean Bean]]|1997|2000|end=div}}
| {{marriage|[[Sean Bean]]|1997|2000|end=divorced}}
| {{marriage|Jonathan R. Fraser|2003}}
| {{marriage|Jonathan R. Fraser|2003}}
}}
}}
| children = 2
| children = 2
| relatives = [[Hal Cruttenden]] <small>(brother)</small>
| relatives = [[Hal Cruttenden]] (brother)
}}
}}
⚫
'''Abigail Lucy Cruttenden''' (born 23 March 1968) is an English actress. After beginning her career as a child, she went on to play opposite [[Sean Bean]] as his character Richard Sharpe's wife [[Jane Gibbons|Jane]] in several episodes of the TV series ''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]].'' She has since become known for her roles in sitcoms, which include Kate Weedon in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] comedy series ''[[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]]'' (2007–2009), and Anna in the [[BBC]] sitcom ''[[Not Going Out]]'' (2014–present).
'''Abigail Lucy Cruttenden''' (born 23 March 1968){{cn|date=June 2021}} is an English [[actress]].

⚫
Cruttenden played opposite [[Sean Bean]] as his character Richard Sharpe's wife [[Jane Gibbons|Jane]] in several episodes of the TV series ''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]].'' In 2007, Cruttenden joined the cast from the first series of the ITV comedy series [[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]], playing the character of Kate Weedon. She has appeared in the [[British sitcom|sitcom]] ''[[Not Going Out]]'' as Anna since 2014.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Cruttenden is from a family with history in the acting industry. Her grandmother, Cynthia Coatts (1915-2013) founded the Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama in [[London]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Tribute to Coulson Great Grandmother who founded Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama - Croydon Advertiser (2013)|url=https://croydon232.rssing.com/chan-5532549/all_p56.html}}</ref> while her mother, Julia Cruttenden (1938-2013), ran the stage make-up school Greasepaint in London.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greasepaint Makeup School - What Happened Next (2017)|url=https://www.iveracademy.co.uk/greasepaint-what-happened-after/}}</ref> Her father Neville (1940-1990) was an advertising executive who also indulged in amateur theatrics before deciding to become a professional actor at 49.<ref>{{cite web|title=In Tribute - The Questors Theatre Archive|url=http://archive.questors.org.uk/obit/C/CruttendenN.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R1&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref> Her brother is [[Hal Cruttenden]], a stand-up comedian, and she has an older sister Hannah, who works in journalism.<ref>{{cite web|title=They Pay Me to Kiss Sean Bean - The Mirror (London) (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61317219&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61317219&searchId=R1&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>
Cruttenden was born on 23 March 1968 in [[Richmond, London|Richmond]], [[London]] to a family with history in the acting industry.<ref name="info">{{cite web|title=Tribute to Coulson Great Grandmother who founded Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama - Croydon Advertiser (2013)|url=https://croydon232.rssing.com/chan-5532549/all_p56.html}}</ref> Her grandmother, Cynthia Coatts (1915–2013) founded the Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama in [[London]],<ref name="info"/> while her mother, Julia Cruttenden (1938–2013), ran the stage make-up school Greasepaint in London.<ref>{{cite web|title=Greasepaint Makeup School - What Happened Next (2017)|date=3 January 2017 |url=https://www.iveracademy.co.uk/greasepaint-what-happened-after/}}</ref> Her father Neville (1940-1990) was an advertising executive who also indulged in amateur theatrics before deciding to become a professional actor at 49.<ref>{{cite web|title=In Tribute - The Questors Theatre Archive|url=http://archive.questors.org.uk/obit/C/CruttendenN.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R1&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref> Her brother is [[Hal Cruttenden]], a stand-up comedian, and she has an older sister Hannah, who works in journalism.<ref>{{cite web|title=They Pay Me to Kiss Sean Bean - The Mirror (London) (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61317219&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61317219&searchId=R1&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Cruttenden started her acting career when she was 12, appearing in the [[BBC2 Playhouse]] episode ''Elizabeth Alone'' in 1981. She gained significant notice in only her second screen role in the critically acclaimed TV film ''[[P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang]]'', playing the object of affection to a lovesick schoolboy in the coming of age drama, which was written by [[Jack Rosenthal]]. As she recalled in a newspaper interview in 1996, she did not realize she would have to kiss costar John Albasiny towards the film's climax. "I was 14 and painfully shy, like my character. I vividly remember them saying we had to kiss at the end. I was completely thrown because it wasn't in the script. Tears welled in my eyes and I mumbled 'All right then.' But I had never kissed anyone before, ever. It was all rather traumatic."<ref>{{cite news|title=Recalling P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Kiss - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>
Cruttenden started her acting career when she was 12, appearing in the [[BBC2 Playhouse]] episode ''Elizabeth Alone'' in 1981. She gained significant notice in only her second screen role in the critically acclaimed TV film ''[[P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang]]'', playing the object of affection to a lovesick schoolboy in the coming of age drama, which was written by [[Jack Rosenthal]]. As she recalled in a newspaper interview in 1996, she did not realize she would have to kiss costar John Albasiny towards the film's climax. "I was 14 and painfully shy, like my character. I vividly remember them saying we had to kiss at the end. I was completely thrown because it wasn't in the script. Tears welled in my eyes and I mumbled 'All right then.' But I had never kissed anyone before, ever. It was all rather traumatic."<ref>{{cite news|title=Recalling P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Kiss - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>


She continued to have regular acting work throughout her teenage years, including a regular role in the TV sitcom ''[[Mog (TV series)|Mog]]'' (1985-86), the TV [[Aids]] drama ''[[Intimate Contact]]'' (1987) and ''[[The StoryTeller (TV series)|The StoryTeller]]'' episode "Hans My Hedgehog" in 1987. Despite coming from a family involved in the acting industry, her parents were keen for her to concentrate more on her schooling. By this point, Cruttenden was thoroughly committed to acting, and when she was offered the stage role in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' halfway through sitting for the last two of her four A levels, she took the role.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>
She continued to have regular acting work throughout her teenage years, including a regular role in the TV sitcom ''[[Mog (TV series)|Mog]]'' (1985–86), the TV [[Aids]] drama ''[[Intimate Contact]]'' (1987) and ''[[The StoryTeller (TV series)|The StoryTeller]]'' episode "Hans My Hedgehog" in 1987. Despite coming from a family involved in the acting industry, her parents were keen for her to concentrate more on her schooling. By this point, Cruttenden was thoroughly committed to acting, and when she was offered the stage role in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' halfway through sitting for the last two of her four A levels, she took the role.<ref>{{cite news|title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>


Cruttenden immersed herself in her acting work, taking roles in TV shows TECX, Coasting and ''[[Centrepoint (TV series)|Centrepoint]]'' (all 1990), and appearing in the detective series ''[[Van der Valk|Van Der Valk]]'' and ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series)|The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes]]'' in 1991.
Cruttenden immersed herself in her acting work, taking roles in TV shows TECX, Coasting and ''[[Centrepoint (TV series)|Centrepoint]]'' (all 1990), and appearing in the detective series ''[[Van der Valk (1972 TV series)|Van der Valk]]'' and ''[[Sherlock Holmes (1984 TV series)|The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes]]'' in 1991.


After a break from TV to do more theatre work, she appeared on screen for the first time in three years in the TV period comedy drama ''[[Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|Love on a Branch Line]]'' in 1994, a role which required her to appear nude. Then in 1996 she was cast as Jane Gibbons in the TV series ''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]]'' as the love interest and eventual wife of [[Richard Sharpe (character)|Richard Sharpe]], played by [[Sean Bean]].
After a break from TV to do more theatre work, she appeared on screen for the first time in three years in the TV period comedy drama ''[[Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|Love on a Branch Line]]'' in 1994, a role which required her to appear nude. Then in 1996 she was cast as Jane Gibbons in the TV series ''[[Sharpe (TV series)|Sharpe]]'' as the love interest and eventual wife of [[Richard Sharpe (character)|Richard Sharpe]], played by [[Sean Bean]].


She continued to find regular work in the theatre and on television, with roles in ''[[Doctors and Nurses (TV series)|Doctors and Nurses]]'' (2004) and ''[[The Robinsons]]'' (2005), but it was not until she was cast in the TV sitcom ''[[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]]'' in 2007 that she gained another hit show. She appeared in the first three series until she left the show in 2009.
She continued to find regular work in the theatre and on television, with roles in ''[[Doctors and Nurses (TV series)|Doctors and Nurses]]'' (2004) and ''[[The Robinsons]]'' (2005), but it was not until she was cast in the TV sitcom ''[[Benidorm (British TV series)|Benidorm]]'' in 2007 that she gained another hit show. She appeared in the first three series until she left the show in 2009.
Line 38: Line 36:


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
In 1990 her father Neville died suddenly of a stomach haemorrhage, aged 50. He had left his job as an advertising executive the year before to become a professional actor, and had had two TV roles in the pipeline before his sudden death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996) |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>
In 1990 her father Neville died suddenly of a stomach haemorrhage, aged 50. He had left his job as an advertising executive the year before to become a professional actor, and had had two TV roles in the pipeline before his sudden death.<ref>{{cite news |title=Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996) |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm&currentPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CA61161332&docType=Article&sort=RELEVANCE&contentSegment=ZNEW-FullText-Exclude-FT&prodId=STND&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CA61161332&searchId=R4&userGroupName=wikipedia&inPS=true}}</ref>


In 2013 Cruttenden suffered a double family bereavement. On March 16th she lost her grandmother Cynthia Coatts, who died at the age of 97. Then on December 14th she lost her mother Julia after a long battle with a brain tumour.
In 2013 Cruttenden suffered a double family bereavement. On 16 March she lost her grandmother Cynthia Coatts, who died at the age of 97. Then on 14 December she lost her mother Julia after a long battle with a brain tumour.


During the filming of ''Sharpe'', Cruttenden met actor [[Sean Bean]]. They began an affair and Bean's wife [[Melanie Hill]] filed for divorce.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bean a Wild Rover: Sean's wife's Sharpe Exit - The Daily Record (1997) |url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA61012207&inPS=true&linkSource=interlink&sid=bookmark-STND}}</ref> They married on 22 November 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sharpe work as Sean marries - Mailon Sunday|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA110772360&inPS=true&linkSource=interlink&sid=bookmark-STND}}</ref> Their daughter was born in November 1998. They divorced in July 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billen |first=Andrew |title=Sean Bean: Another baby? Yes. That would be nice |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sean-bean-another-baby-yes-that-would-be-nice-szq3j8w3p |access-date=2022-11-21 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In 2003, she married Jonathan R. Fraser. They have a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merle Fraser |url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-2328489/merle-fraser-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=www.myheritage.com}}</ref>
During the filming of ''Sharpe'', Cruttenden met actor [[Sean Bean]]. They married on 22 November 1997.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sharpe work as Sean marries - Mailon Sunday|url=https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=STND&u=wikipedia&v=2.1&it=r&id=GALE%7CA110772360&inPS=true&linkSource=interlink&sid=bookmark-STND}}</ref> Their daughter was born in November 1998. They divorced in July 2000.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Billen |first=Andrew |title=Sean Bean: Another baby? Yes. That would be nice |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/sean-bean-another-baby-yes-that-would-be-nice-szq3j8w3p |access-date=21 November 2022 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> In 2003, she married Jonathan R. Fraser. They have a daughter.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Merle Fraser |url=https://www.myheritage.com/research/record-10182-2328489/merle-fraser-in-biographical-summaries-of-notable-people |access-date=21 November 2022 |website=www.myheritage.com}}</ref>


Cruttenden lives in [[East Sheen]], south-west London.<ref name="Conflict">{{cite news |date=31 May 2013 |title=Conflict of the heart |page=35 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]]}}</ref>
Cruttenden lives in [[East Sheen]], south-west London.<ref name="Conflict">{{cite news |date=31 May 2013 |title=Conflict of the heart |page=35 |work=[[Richmond and Twickenham Times]]}}</ref>


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
Line 62: Line 60:
| ''[[Intimate Contact]]'' || Nell Gregory ||
| ''[[Intimate Contact]]'' || Nell Gregory ||
|-
|-
|1988 || ''The Bell-Run'' || Gudrun Glover || TV Movie
|1988 || ''The Bell-Run'' || Gudrun Glover || TV movie
|-
|-
|1989 || ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'' || Geraldine Oglander ||
|1989 || ''[[Agatha Christie's Poirot]]'' || Geraldine Oglander ||
Line 72: Line 70:
| ''TECX'' || Marijke Van Der Broeke || Episode: Rock a Buy Baby
| ''TECX'' || Marijke Van Der Broeke || Episode: Rock a Buy Baby
|-
|-
|rowspan=2 |1991 || ''[[Van der Valk]]'' || Else || Episode: A Sudden Silence
|rowspan=2 |1991 || ''[[Van der Valk (1972 TV series)|Van der Valk]]'' || Else || Episode: A Sudden Silence
|-
|-
| ''[[The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes]]'' || Miss Violet Merville || Episode: The Illustrious Client
| ''[[The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes]]'' || Miss Violet Merville || Episode: The Illustrious Client
|-
|-
|rowspan=2|1994 || ''[[Performance (TV series)|Performance]]'' || Clara Browning || Episode: A Message for Posterity
|rowspan=2|1994 || ''[[Performance (British TV series)|Performance]]'' || Clara Browning || Episode: A Message for Posterity
|-
|-
| ''[[Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|Love on a Branch Line]]'' || Belinda Flamborough ||
| ''[[Love on a Branch Line (TV series)|Love on a Branch Line]]'' || Belinda Flamborough ||
Line 90: Line 88:
|''[[Sharpe's Revenge (TV programme)|Sharpe's Revenge]]'' || rowspan=3|Jane Sharpe ||
|''[[Sharpe's Revenge (TV programme)|Sharpe's Revenge]]'' || rowspan=3|Jane Sharpe ||
|-
|-
|''[[Sharpe's Justice]]'' || Jane Sharpe||
|''[[Sharpe's Justice]]'' ||
|-
|-
|''[[Sharpe's Waterloo (TV programme)|Sharpe's Waterloo]]'' || Jane Sharpe ||
|''[[Sharpe's Waterloo (TV programme)|Sharpe's Waterloo]]'' ||
|-
|-
| ''[[The Ruth Rendell Mysteries]]'' || Annabel Lynes || Episode: Bribery & Corruption
| ''[[The Ruth Rendell Mysteries]]'' || Annabel Lynes || Episode: Bribery & Corruption
Line 118: Line 116:
| ''[[The Commander (TV series)|The Commander]]'' || Judy Thornton || Episode: The Devil You Know
| ''[[The Commander (TV series)|The Commander]]'' || Judy Thornton || Episode: The Devil You Know
|-
|-
| ''Sex, the City and Me'' || Ali || TV Movie
| ''Sex, the City and Me'' || Ali || TV movie
|-
|-
|2008 || ''[[Teenage Kicks (TV series)|Teenage Kicks]]'' || Kate || Episode: "Sex"
|2008 || ''[[Teenage Kicks (TV series)|Teenage Kicks]]'' || Kate || Episode: "Sex"
Line 143: Line 141:
|2021
|2021
|''Face It'' ||Abbey ||TV Mini Series
|''Face It'' ||Abbey ||TV Mini Series
|-
|2024
|''[[Showtrial (TV series)|Showtrial]]'' ||Dr. Nesbitt|| Episode 2.5: The Smaller Picture; TV Mini Series
|}
|}


Line 156: Line 157:
|rowspan=2 |2001 || ''[[Charlotte Gray (film)|Charlotte Gray]]'' || Daisy
|rowspan=2 |2001 || ''[[Charlotte Gray (film)|Charlotte Gray]]'' || Daisy
|-
|-
|''[[Sword of Honour (2001 film)|Sword of Honour]]'' <ref>Tv movie</ref>|| Kerstie Kilbannock
|''[[Sword of Honour (2001 film)|Sword of Honour]]'' <ref>TV movie</ref>|| Kerstie Kilbannock
|-
|-
|2014 || ''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]'' || Isobel Hawking
|2014 || ''[[The Theory of Everything (2014 film)|The Theory of Everything]]'' || Isobel Hawking
Line 179: Line 180:
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
!Year !! Title !! Role
!Years !! Title !! Role
|-
|-
|2017
|2017 - 2022
|''[[Alone (radio series)|Alone]]'' || Ellie
|''[[Alone (radio series)|Alone]]'' || Ellie
|-
|-
Line 209: Line 210:
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:Actors from the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:People from Richmond, London]]
[[Category:People from Richmond, London]]

Latest revision as of 20:07, 7 October 2024

Abigail Cruttenden
Born
Abigail Lucy Cruttenden

(1968-03-23) 23 March 1968 (age 56)
Richmond, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1997; div. 2000)​
  • Jonathan R. Fraser
    ​
    (m. 2003)​
Children2
RelativesHal Cruttenden (brother)

Abigail Lucy Cruttenden (born 23 March 1968) is an English actress. After beginning her career as a child, she went on to play opposite Sean Bean as his character Richard Sharpe's wife Jane in several episodes of the TV series Sharpe. She has since become known for her roles in sitcoms, which include Kate Weedon in the ITV comedy series Benidorm (2007–2009), and Anna in the BBC sitcom Not Going Out (2014–present).

Early life

[edit]

Cruttenden was born on 23 March 1968 in Richmond, London to a family with history in the acting industry.[1] Her grandmother, Cynthia Coatts (1915–2013) founded the Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama in London,[1] while her mother, Julia Cruttenden (1938–2013), ran the stage make-up school Greasepaint in London.[2] Her father Neville (1940-1990) was an advertising executive who also indulged in amateur theatrics before deciding to become a professional actor at 49.[3][4] Her brother is Hal Cruttenden, a stand-up comedian, and she has an older sister Hannah, who works in journalism.[5]

Career

[edit]

Cruttenden started her acting career when she was 12, appearing in the BBC2 Playhouse episode Elizabeth Alone in 1981. She gained significant notice in only her second screen role in the critically acclaimed TV film P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang, playing the object of affection to a lovesick schoolboy in the coming of age drama, which was written by Jack Rosenthal. As she recalled in a newspaper interview in 1996, she did not realize she would have to kiss costar John Albasiny towards the film's climax. "I was 14 and painfully shy, like my character. I vividly remember them saying we had to kiss at the end. I was completely thrown because it wasn't in the script. Tears welled in my eyes and I mumbled 'All right then.' But I had never kissed anyone before, ever. It was all rather traumatic."[6]

She continued to have regular acting work throughout her teenage years, including a regular role in the TV sitcom Mog (1985–86), the TV Aids drama Intimate Contact (1987) and The StoryTeller episode "Hans My Hedgehog" in 1987. Despite coming from a family involved in the acting industry, her parents were keen for her to concentrate more on her schooling. By this point, Cruttenden was thoroughly committed to acting, and when she was offered the stage role in Romeo and Juliet halfway through sitting for the last two of her four A levels, she took the role.[7]

Cruttenden immersed herself in her acting work, taking roles in TV shows TECX, Coasting and Centrepoint (all 1990), and appearing in the detective series Van der Valk and The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes in 1991.

After a break from TV to do more theatre work, she appeared on screen for the first time in three years in the TV period comedy drama Love on a Branch Line in 1994, a role which required her to appear nude. Then in 1996 she was cast as Jane Gibbons in the TV series Sharpe as the love interest and eventual wife of Richard Sharpe, played by Sean Bean.

She continued to find regular work in the theatre and on television, with roles in Doctors and Nurses (2004) and The Robinsons (2005), but it was not until she was cast in the TV sitcom Benidorm in 2007 that she gained another hit show. She appeared in the first three series until she left the show in 2009.

There was a dearth of screen roles for the next 5 years, with only an appearance in an episode of the sitcom The Royal Bodyguard in 2012 during this time. Since 2014, she has been a regular on the sitcom Not Going Out, playing the role of Anna, Hugh Dennis' wife and snobby neighbour to Lee and Lucy.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1990 her father Neville died suddenly of a stomach haemorrhage, aged 50. He had left his job as an advertising executive the year before to become a professional actor, and had had two TV roles in the pipeline before his sudden death.[8]

In 2013 Cruttenden suffered a double family bereavement. On 16 March she lost her grandmother Cynthia Coatts, who died at the age of 97. Then on 14 December she lost her mother Julia after a long battle with a brain tumour.

During the filming of Sharpe, Cruttenden met actor Sean Bean. They married on 22 November 1997.[9] Their daughter was born in November 1998. They divorced in July 2000.[10] In 2003, she married Jonathan R. Fraser. They have a daughter.[11]

Cruttenden lives in East Sheen, south-west London.[12]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1981 BBC2 Playhouse Young Elizabeth Episode: Elizabeth Alone
1983 Storyboard Emma Episode: Lytton's Diary
1985-1986 Mog Miranda
1987 The Storyteller The Princess Episode: "Hans My Hedgehog"
Intimate Contact Nell Gregory
1988 The Bell-Run Gudrun Glover TV movie
1989 Agatha Christie's Poirot Geraldine Oglander
1990 Coasting Emma Conway Episode: "Illuminations"
Centrepoint Saskia TV Mini Series
TECX Marijke Van Der Broeke Episode: Rock a Buy Baby
1991 Van der Valk Else Episode: A Sudden Silence
The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes Miss Violet Merville Episode: The Illustrious Client
1994 Performance Clara Browning Episode: A Message for Posterity
Love on a Branch Line Belinda Flamborough
1996 Sharpe's Regiment Jane Gibbons
Sharpe's Siege Jane Sharpe née Gibbons
Sharpe's Mission Jane Sharpe
1997 Jane Eyre Blanche Ingram TV film adaptation
Sharpe's Revenge Jane Sharpe
Sharpe's Justice
Sharpe's Waterloo
The Ruth Rendell Mysteries Annabel Lynes Episode: Bribery & Corruption
Into the Blue Heather Mallender
1998 The Canterbury Tales Emily Voice
2000 Anna Karenina Betsy "Part 1", "Part 3"
Monarch of the Glen Lizzie MacDonald Episodes "1.5", "1.8"
2002 Helen West Emily Eliot Episode: A Clear Conscience
2003 Rosemary & Thyme Patsy Connolly Episode: "Arabica and the Early Spider"
2004 Doctors and Nurses Lucy Potter 6 episodes
2005 The Robinsons Vicky Robinson Episode: "1.6"
2007–2009 Benidorm Kate Weedon Regular role, 17 episodes (series 1–3)
2007 Foyle's War Evelyn Richards Episode: "Casualties of War"
The Commander Judy Thornton Episode: The Devil You Know
Sex, the City and Me Ali TV movie
2008 Teenage Kicks Kate Episode: "Sex"
2009 The Green Green Grass Doctor Episode: "I Done It My Way"
2012 The Royal Bodyguard Mary Town-Jones Episode: The Perils of Attraction
2014–present Not Going Out Anna Regular role
2015 The Outcast Anne Rawlins TV Mini Series
Citizen Khan Virginia Episode: "Farley Manor"
2016 Fresh Meat Oregon's Mother Episode: "4.6"
2017 Midsomer Murders Nell Fryer Episode: "Death by Persuasion"
Casualty Sadie Holm Episode: "32.11"
2020 Housebound Abigail Episode: "1.10"
2021 Face It Abbey TV Mini Series
2024 Showtrial Dr. Nesbitt Episode 2.5: The Smaller Picture; TV Mini Series

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role
1982 P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Ann Lawton[13]
1998 Hideous Kinky Charlotte
2001 Charlotte Gray Daisy
Sword of Honour [14] Kerstie Kilbannock
2014 The Theory of Everything Isobel Hawking
2015 The Batsman and the Ballerina Jane
2016 Denial Janine Stone
2018 Await Further Instructions Beth
2020 That Girl, Peugeot Sandra
2021 Munich – The Edge of War Anne Chamberlain

Radio

[edit]
Years Title Role
2017 - 2022 Alone Ellie

Theatre

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Tribute to Coulson Great Grandmother who founded Rosslyn School of Dance and Drama - Croydon Advertiser (2013)".
  2. ^ "Greasepaint Makeup School - What Happened Next (2017)". 3 January 2017.
  3. ^ "In Tribute - The Questors Theatre Archive".
  4. ^ "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  5. ^ "They Pay Me to Kiss Sean Bean - The Mirror (London) (1996)".
  6. ^ "Recalling P'tang, Yang, Kipperbang Kiss - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  7. ^ "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  8. ^ "Abigail Blooms - The Sunday Mirror (1996)".
  9. ^ "Sharpe work as Sean marries - Mailon Sunday".
  10. ^ Billen, Andrew. "Sean Bean: Another baby? Yes. That would be nice". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  11. ^ "Merle Fraser". www.myheritage.com. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  12. ^ "Conflict of the heart". Richmond and Twickenham Times. 31 May 2013. p. 35.
  13. ^ "Abigail Cruttenden". Curtis Brown. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  14. ^ TV movie
  15. ^ "The Seagull". Theatre Royal Bath. 8 June 2013. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. ^ "Her Naked Skin". Wiltshire Creative. 2018. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
[edit]
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