Amanda Abbington, born Amanda Jane Smith February (1974) is an English actress. Best known for playing Miss Mardle in Mr Selfridge and Mary Morstan in the BBC adaptation of Sherlock.

Abbington is the longtime partner of British actor Martin Freeman, whom she met on the set of the film Men Only in 2000. The couple have since appeared together on screen in productions such as The Debt, The Robinsons, The Good Night and Sherlock. They live in Hertfordshire and have two children together. She appeared in the television series The Bill until 2007 as various characters. During that time she also appeared in the TV series Wycliffe, Casualty, Dream Team, The Sins, Shades, Doc Martin, Coupling, and Teachers. She appeared in the 2005 comedy sketch show Man Stroke Woman and the 2007–2008 comedy After You’ve Gone with Nicholas Lyndhurst. She has also appeared in recurring series such as Bernard’s Watch and Case Histories.

In 2013, she began appearing in the television series Mr Selfridge as Miss Mardle alongside Jeremy Piven and Frances O’Connor. In 2014 Abbington appeared in the third series of Sherlock as Mary Morstan, the wife of John Watson, played by her real-life partner Martin Freeman. In 2015 she appeared in the BBC drama Cuffs.

Awards!

Crime Thriller Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries
Poppy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Movie/Miniseries

Filmography

-The Bill as Various Characters (TV series) 1993–2007
-Plotlands as Maude (TV series) 1997
-Wycliffe as Local W.P.C. (TV series) 1997
-No Sweat as Chantelle (TV series) 1998
-Magic with Everything as Cat (TV series) 1998
-Picking up the Pieces as Staff Nurse Hunter (TV series) 1998
-Casualty as Jen Reynolds (TV series) 1999
-Dream Team as Marilyn Harwood (TV series) 1999
-Snap as Zoe (TV series) 1999
-The Thing About Vince as Lisa (TV series) 2000
-The Sins as Belinda Edgeley (TV mini-series) 2000
-Men Only as Trina (TV film) 2001
-Hearts and Bones as Mia (TV series) 2001
-Shades as Rebecca Jacobs (TV mini-series) 2001
-Always and Everyone as Tessa (TV series) 2002
-20 Things to Do Before You’re 30 as Shona (TV series) 2002
-The Debt as Stacey Ross (TV film) 2003
-Coupling as Nicola (TV series) 2004
-Bernard’s Watch Sonia (TV series) 2004
-Teachers as Sarah (TV series) 2004
-The Robinsons as Polly (TV series) 2005
-Derailed as Kerry Hodder (TV film) 2005
-Man Stroke Woman as Various Characters (TV series) 2005–2007
-The Booze Cruise II as Leonie (TV film) 2005
-The Booze Cruise III as Leonie (TV film) 2006
-After You’ve Gone as Siobhan Casey (TV series) 2007–2008
-The Good Night as Vivian Jesson  (Movie) 2007
-The All Together as Sarah 2007
-The Bill as Rachel Inns (TV series) 2007
-Doc Martin as Isobel (TV series) 2007
-Sold as Zoe (TV series) 2007
-Coming Up as Daughter (TV series) 2008
-Agatha Christie’s Poirot as Miss Blake (TV series) 2008
-Harley Street as Susie Linn (TV series) 2008
-Psychoville as Caroline (TV series) 2009
-Married Single Other as Babs (TV series) 2010
-Case Histories as DC Louise Munroe (TV series) 2011–2013
-Being Human as Golda (TV series) 2012
-Mr Selfridge as Miss Mardle (TV series) 2013–2016
-Sherlock as Mary Morstan (TV series) 2014–present
-Dinopaws voice of Gwen 2014
-Would I Lie to You? as a panelist 2014
-Kaiser Chiefs’ ‘Meanwhile, Up In Heaven’ as Dancing Bride 2014
-Cuffs (TV Series) as DS Jo Moffat 2015
-Another Mother’s Son (filming) 2016
-Stag (TV Series) as Fran 2016

Personal Thoughts.. I love Amanda not only in Sherlock, but also in Mr Selfridge! She’s brilliant as Miss Mardle (A strong business woman, in a time when women are still fighting for their rights!) I was delightfully surprised to see her in The Good Night as Vivian Jesson, which stars Martin Freeman. For those that haven’t seen it, it’s a must see! For the humor side, I highly recommend Man Stroke Woman!

Because we love you Miss Mardle!

I loved this short interview!