Anna Acton
Anna Acton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Anna Smith[1] 29 January 1977 Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England |
| Citizenship |
|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Anna Smith (born 29 January 1977), known professionally as Anna Acton, is an English actress. She is known for her roles as Geri Evans in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs, Rochelle Barratt in the ITV procedural series The Bill and DC Emma Summerhayes in the BBC soap opera EastEnders.
Early and personal life
Acton was born as Anna Smith on 29 January 1977 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.[1][2] She holds both British and American citizenship.[3] Her interest in acting began as a child in her friend's back garden, where her friend's mother held a small drama group.[1]
Acton is married to actor and former Family Affairs co-star Ben Hull. They got married in 2007.[4] The couple reside in Buckinghamshire and have two daughters.[5]
Career
Acton made her professional acting debut in a production of Cor, Blimey! at the Watford Palace Theatre in 2000.[6] She continued making minor appearances in various projects, including her television debut as a guest character in the BBC soap opera EastEnders in 2001. Then, in 2002, she was cast as Geri Evans in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs.[7] She remained in the role until 2005, during which time she received a nomination for Best Actress at the British Soap Awards.[8]
Following her role in Family Affairs, Acton was cast as Rochelle Barratt in the ITV1 procedural drama The Bill in 2005.[9] She also appeared in two episodes of Doctors in 2006 and 2008, as well as an episode of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks.[10] In 2007, she starred as Louise Martin in two episodes of HolbyBlue, followed by a role in Harley Street in 2008.[3] From 2013 to 2015, Acton played the role of Joy in the CBeebies programme Topsy and Tim.[11]
In 2014, she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, marking her second role in the soap.[12] She portrayed DC Emma Summerhayes, a police officer investigating Lucy Beale's (Hetti Bywater) murder, until 2015 when the character was killed off.[13] From 2015 to 2016, Acton appeared in the BBC medical series Casualty as Nikki Chisom.[14] In 2018, she appeared in Birches, a UK-based feature based on the novel Silver Birches by Adrian Plass.[15][16]
In 2018, Acton returned to theatre work, appearing in The Gulf at the Tristan Bates Theatre.[17] A year later, she appeared in a production of The Permanent Way at the Vaults in London.[18] In 2021, Acton appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Vicki.[19] In 2023, she returned to Casualty, this time in the guest role of Piper Fulley.[9] A year later, she appeared in an episode of the Disney+ period series Rivals. Then in 2025, Acton appeared in a stage production of Blessings at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith.[20] 2026 saw her appear in the ITV1 thriller series Gone.[21]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Killers | Danielle | |
| 2010 | Little Deaths | Annabel | |
| 2018 | Degenerates | Susan Moore | |
| 2019 | Mapped | Izzy | Short film |
| Birches | Jessica | ||
| 2020 | Shapes | Ms Roberts | |
| 2021 | Smudged Smile | Laura | Short film |
| 2025 | Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die | Jillian |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | EastEnders | Jane Madden | 2 episodes |
| 2002–2005 | Family Affairs | Geri Evans | Regular role |
| 2005 | The Bill | Rochelle Barratt | Main role |
| 2006 | Doctors | Rachel Cook | Episode: "Home from Home" |
| Hollyoaks | D.C. Mullins | 2 episodes | |
| 2007 | HolbyBlue | Louise Martin | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | Harley Street | Claudia | 1 episode |
| The Wrong Door | Various roles | Episode: "The Wizard of Office" | |
| Doctors | Kira Chesterton | Episode: "Hopelessly Devoted" | |
| 2010 | The Little House | Ruth's Mother | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Casualty | Alex Scotton | Episode: "The Ties That Bind" |
| 2012 | Crime Stories | Polly Andrews | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Doctors | Dorothy Bale | Episode: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" |
| 2013–2015 | Topsy and Tim | Joy O’Dell | Main role |
| 2014–2015 | EastEnders | DC Emma Summerhayes | Regular role |
| 2015–2016 | Casualty | Nikki Chisom | Recurring role |
| 2016 | Doctors | Colette Pendleton | Episode: "Cold Facts" |
| 2018 | Joanne Webber | Episode: "Playtime" | |
| 2019, 2023 | Brassic | Lydia McCann | Recurring role |
| 2020 | Roadkill | Stella Faber | 1 episode |
| 2021 | Doctors | Vicki | Episode: "This is Not a Pipe" |
| 2023 | Casualty | Piper Fulley | Episode: "The Ostrich Effect" |
| 2024 | Rivals | Mary Gordon-Lennox | 1 episode |
| 2026 | Gone | Phillipa Dyce | 1 episode |
Video games
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Hue | Hue's Mom (voice) |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Cor, Blimey! | Sally | Watford Palace Theatre |
| 2007 | Noises Off | Brooke Ashton | Liverpool Playhouse |
| 2009 | The Hokey Cokey Man | Jenny/Eileen | New End Theatre |
| 2018 | The Gulf | Betty | Tristan Bates Theatre |
| 2019 | The Permanent Way | Investment Banker/Second Bereaved Mother | The Vaults |
| 2025 | Blessings | Dorie | Riverside Studios |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | British Soap Awards | Sexiest Female | Family Affairs | Nominated | [22] |
| 2003 | Best Actress | Nominated | [8] |
References
- ^ a b c "From a Marlow back garden to a family soap". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Marlow's Family Affairs star is up for Soap Award". Bucks Free Press. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ a b "Anna Acton". United Agents. Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Acton, Anna. "Then & Now - 12 years ago today I married this gorgeous man, and what a brilliant day it was! ❤️ #thenandnow #anniversary #wedding #growingoldtogether #married". Instagram. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Holby City's Ben Hull on Family Life, Nappy Changing & Life in the Country". My Baba. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
- ^ "Production of Cleo, Camping, Emmanuelle and Dick". Theatricalia. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Kris Green (28 April 2005). "Ex-'Family Affairs' actress joins 'The Bill'". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ a b "The British Soap Awards 2003". Celebrities Worldwide. 10 May 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b "Casualty fans STUNNED after EastEnders star makes a surprise cameo". What to Watch. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Watch EastEnders' Anna Acton in behind the scene video". Digital Spy. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Topsy And Tim returns to CBeebies this autumn". BBC News. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Kris Green (20 May 2005). "315: Scott confesses all". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ "21/04/2014, EastEnders - BBC One". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
- ^ Dainty, Sophie (5 January 2016). "Casualty spoilers: New pictures show Dixie putting her life in danger during explosive episode". Digital Spy. Hearst Magazines UK. Archived from the original on 18 January 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "'Silver Birches' Feature Film Coming to Theaters in 2017". christiancinema.com. 19 December 2016. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Adrian and Bridget Plass Day with Film Premiere Wednesday 16th May". baylink.org. 29 March 2018. Archived from the original on 20 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Anna Acton Joins Cast of Blessings at Riverside Studios". Theatre Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "NEWS: Anna Acton Joins the Cast of 'Blessings' at the Riverside Studios". Love London Love Culture. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Timblick, Simon. "Doctors spoilers: Is there romance in store for Al Haskey?". What's on TV. Future plc. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- ^ "Anna Acton Joins Gary Webster, Freddie Webster, Emily Lane and More in BLESSINGS at Riverside Studios". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "'Gone' new thriller with Claire Goose & Anna Acton (8 March)". EastieOaks. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Welsh, James (16 May 2002). "British Soap Awards 2002: Nominations". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on 14 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
External links
- Anna Acton at IMDb