Who is Sharon Small?
Sharon Small was born in Drumchapel, Glasgow, Scotland, on 31 March 1967 – her zodiac sign is Aries and she holds British nationality. Sharon is an actress, who is perhaps still best known for having portrayed one of the lead characters – Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers – in the crime mystery series “The Inspector Lynley Mysteries”, which aired from 2001 to 2008 and which also starred Nathaniel Parker and Lesley Vickerage. The story follows a detective inspector and his colleague Barbara Havers as they solve crimes in London – for her performance, Sharon was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television.
Childhood and education
Sharon was raised in Drumchapel alongside her four siblings by their father who was a taxi driver, and their mother who worked at a local supermarket as a cashier.
Sharon attended Kinghorn Primary School at which she was a member of the drama club and appeared in numerous plays and upon matriculation in 1985, she enrolled at Kirkcaldy College of Technology at which she studied drama – she eventually switched to Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts from which she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theatre in 1989.
Roles in TV series
Sharon made her debut TV series appearance in 1994, when she guest starred as Michelle Gibson in a single episode of the Scottish detective fiction series “Taggart”, aired from 1983 to 2010 and created by Glenn Chandler.
It starred Blythe Duff, Colin McCredie and John Michie, won three awards and was nominated for three others – the same year also saw Sharon guest star as Bernadette in the British drama “Roughnecks”.
She appeared in single episodes of the British series “Doctor Finlay” in 1996, the British police procedural series “The Bill” and the British mystery comedy drama “Hamish Macbeth” both in 1997. Sharon gained recognition in 1999, when invited to star as Carol Simpson in the British series “Sunburn”, also starring Michelle Collins and Rebecca Callard, but which attracted little attention. She went on to play Cara Rossi in six episodes of the drama “Glasgow Kiss”, and in 2005 portrayed Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.
The year 2007 saw her guest star as Bud the Taste Neuron in seven episodes of the British-Scottish series “Nina and the Neurons”, and a few of her following roles were in three episodes of the British series “Murderland” in 2009, 16 episodes of the British serial drama “Mistresses” and a single episode of the British historical drama “Downton Abbey” both in 2011. In 2012, Sharon portrayed Beth Cooper in the British mini-series “Kidnap and Ransom”, which starred Trevor Eve and Helen Baxendale, and is about the negotiator Dominic King as he is talking with the kidnappers of several people.
The following years saw her appear in an episode or two of many series, such as the British crime drama “Silent Witness” in 2013 and the BBC period drama “Call the Midwife” both in 2013, and the British police procedural and legal series “Law & Order: UK” in 2014.
Three of Sharon’s most recent roles in TV series have been in four episodes of the British anthology medical drama “Trust Me” in 2017, all episodes of the 2019 British police procedural series “London Kills” as she portrayed the lead character DS Vivienne Cole, and in all four episodes of the crime drama mystery mini-series “Flesh and Blood” in 2020, in which she played Stella, one of the lead characters.
Roles in movies
Sharon made her debut film appearance in 1997, when she portrayed the lead character Terry in the thriller movie “Bumping the Odds”, which also starred Shirley Henderson and Joe McFadden – for her performance, Sharon won a Best Actress Award at the Edinburgh Film Festival. In the same year, she played Alison in the drama “Bite”.
In 1998, Sharon appeared in the horror movie “Drive” (also known as “Written in Blood”) which starred Gary Beadle, Doug Bradley and Paul Copley, and is about a copycat killer who has made a pact with the devil and now has to kill seven people. She went on to play Christine in the romantic comedy drama “About a Boy” in 2002, which was based on the eponymous novel written by Nick Hornby, and starred Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult. Two years later, Sharon played Marie in the British drama “Dear Frankie” starring Emily Mortimer and Gerard Butler, and which won eight awards and was nominated for eight others.
Three of her most recent roles in movies have been in the short comedy “Belly Button” in 2004, written and directed by David Hewitt, the romantic drama “Last Chance Harvey” in 2008 which starred Dusting Hoffman, and the short drama “Pop Art” also in 2008, which was written and directed by Amanda Boyle.
Radio and stage
Sharon has featured in several radio programs too. Her first notable performance was when she narrated “At The Foot Of The Cross”, and then voiced Zoe in “High Table, Lower Orders”, and Nurse Angus in “Dr. Finlay – The Adventures Of A Black Bag”. Two of her most recent performances in radio shows were in “Angel” voicing Lorraine, and “The Order of Release” in which she voiced Effie Ruskin.
Sharon made her debut theatre performance in 1994, when she played Polly Peachum in the “The Threepenny Opera”, performed at London Donmar Theatre, then in 1996 she appeared in “The Nun”, performed at Greenwich Studio Theatre. In 2004, she appeared in the play “When Harry Met Sally…”, based on the eponymous romantic comedy movie from 1989, and a few of her following roles were in Edward Bond’s play “Lear” in 2005, Anya Reiss’ debut play “Spur of the Moment” and Ena Lamont’s “Men Should Weep” both in 2010. The year 2014 saw Sharon star as Alice Arden in the play “Arden of Faversham”, written by an unknown person and performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in the same year, she played The Singer in the play “Carmen Disruption”, performed at the Almeida Theatre.
Three of Sharon’s most recent appearances in theatre plays have been in “Luna Gale” at the Hampstead Theatre in 2015, “The Threepenny Opera” again, performed in 2016 at the Royal National Theatre, and “Still Alice” at West Yorkshire Playhouse in 2018.
Love life and husband
Sharon prefers not to share the details of her personal life with the public, but there are rumors circulating the internet that she is currently living with her husband, however, it’s known that she and her other half Dan Bridge are indeed living together, but have both agreed not to marry. Dan is working as a photographer. In 2006, Sharon gave birth to their son Leo Bridges, while their second son Zac Bridges followed in 2008.
Sharon hasn’t commented on any men she might have dated before meeting Dan, but there are rumors circulating the internet that she was in a long-term relationship with her college sweetheart, and that they dated for around four years before splitting ways. As of September 2020, Sharon is partnering Dan, and they have two sons together.
Hobbies and other interests
Sharon’s favorite season is summer, as she is an avid swimmer while she also likes to suntan at the beach and go scuba diving.
She is a lover of animals and is a horse rider, while her favorite animals are dolphins – Sharon has two pet cats and a pet dog.
She likes to travel and has been all around the world – her acting career has made it possible for her to visit several US states, while she has also been to many European countries such as Croatia, Italy and Spain.
Sharon has her own favorite actors and actresses some of whom are Channing Tatum, Will Smith and Natalie Portman, and a few of her favorite movies are “Dear John”, “I Am Legend” and “V for Vendetta”.
Height and net worth
Sharon’s age is 53. She has long blonde hair and brown eyes, her height is 5ft 5ins (1.65m) and she weighs around 130lbs (59kgs).
As of September 2020, her net worth has been estimated at around $1 million.