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