Amanda Burton is a Northern Irish actress. Her notable credits include Heather Haversham in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside (1982–1986), Beth Glover in the ITV drama series Peak Practice (1993–1995), Sam Ryan in the BBC crime drama series Silent Witness (1996–2004, 2022), Clare Blake in the ITV crime drama series The Commander (2003–2008), Karen Fisher in the BBC school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2010–2011) and Katherine Maguire in the ITV detective series Marcella (2020).
Early life and education Burton was born in Derry, Northern Ireland, the youngest of four sisters. Her father, Arthur Burton, was a primary school headmaster at Ballougry Primary School, which she attended as a child. She was raised at Ballougry, a rural townland on the south-western outskirts of Derry City, where her family lived in a house beside Ballougry Primary School, right beside County Londonderry's boundary with County Donegal.'Derry TV star Amanda Burton praying for Ballougry' (The Derry Journal, 3 June 2022). https://www.derryjournal.com/education/derry-tv-star-amanda-burton-prays-for-ballougry-3719166 After later attending Londonderry High School, she moved to England at the age of 18, where she spent three years studying drama at the Manchester Metropolitan School of Theatre.
Career Although best known for her television roles, Burton had worked almost exclusively in the theatre prior to landing the role of Heather Haversham in Channel 4's Liverpool-based flagship soap opera Brookside. After four years in the role, during which time Heather had become one of the show's most popular characters, Burton began to "lose sympathy" with Heather and decided to leave. Following her departure her television work consisted mainly of guest appearances, with parts in a number of peak-time drama series including Minder, Inspector Morse, Boon, Medics, Van Der Valk, Stay Lucky and Lovejoy.
In 1993, Burton starred alongside Kevin Whately in Peak Practice. She played the role of Doctor Beth Glover in the medical drama series, based in Derbyshire's Peak District, for three series until her departure in 1995. In 1996 she then took the main role of Professor Sam Ryan in the highly acclaimed BBC drama Silent Witness; she held this role until 2004. Though her decision to portray Ryan as a reflective personality – sometimes staring into space – was satirised by the comedienne Jennifer Saunders, she helped lay the groundwork for what was to become one of the most popular BBC series, continuing to run, albeit without her, until her return in 2021.
After Silent Witness, she took on the title role of Prosecutor Helen West in a series based on Frances Fyfield's novels. She also played Aunt Polly in a 2003 remake of Pollyanna and Commander Clare Blake in Lynda La Plante's drama, The Commander.
In 2010, Burton appeared in the sixth series of BBC drama Waterloo Road as new headteacher Karen Fisher,Waterloo Road Press Release, bbc.co.uk; accessed 12 August 2015. and departed the show in 2011.Amanda Burton quits Waterloo Road, digitalspy.co.uk; accessed 12 August 2015. She took part in BBC1's Celebrity Masterchef and made it through to the semi-finals. She appeared as gangster's wife Cherie Le Saux in ITV drama The Level in Autumn 2016. In 2020, she had a starring role as crime family matriarch Katherine Maguire in the third season of Marcella.
Personal life In 1976 Burton married theatre technician Jonathan Hartley, whom she met while at Manchester School of Theatre. They divorced in 1982. She married professional photographer Sven Arnstein in 1989, and the couple had two daughters before divorcing in 2004. Burton currently lives in Hastings, East Sussex (in 2016).
Charity Burton is an ambassador for The Children's Trust, a UK charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability.
Filmography Film Year Title Role 2009 Bronson Charlie's Mum 2017 The Dog with the Woman Alice Wilson 2020 Body of Water Susan
Television Year Title Role Notes 1982–1986 Brookside Heather Haversham Regular role; 249 episodes 1987–1988 Boon Margaret Daly Main role; 14 episodes 1988 Inspector Morse Mirella Lunghi Episode: "The Settling of the Sun"1989 Where There's A Will Alice Television film Frederick Forsyth Presents Nicola Episode: "A Casualty of War"1990 Medics Vikki Episode: "Jessica" Aithra 1 episode1991 Van der Valk Elly van Roekel Episode: "Doctor Hoffmann's Children" Stay Lucky Jane Higgs Episode: "The Food of Love" 1992 Lovejoy Bonnie Wright Episode: "Kids" 1993 Minder Prosecuting Counsel Episode: "Looking for Mr. Goodtime" 1993–1995 Peak Practice Dr. Beth Glover/Kerruish Regular role; 36 episodes 1996 Screen Two Rosie Willis Episode: "The Precious Blood" 1996–2004, 2022 Silent Witness Prof. Sam Ryan Regular role; 61 episodes 1998 Lynn Television film 1999 Forgotten Rachel Monroe/Carla Hayden 3 episodes 2000 Little Bird Rachel Lewis Television film 2001 Laura Tracey 2 episodes2002 Helen West 3 episodes 2003 Pollyanna Aunt Polly Television film 2003–2008 Commander Clare Blake Main role; 17 episodes 2009 Agatha Christie's Marple Sister Clotilde Episode: "Nemesis" 2010–2011 Waterloo Road Karen Fisher Regular role; 28 episodes 2015 Midsomer Murders Carole Latimer Episode: "Murder by Magic" 2016 Cherie Le Saux 6 episodes2020 White House Farm June Bamber Marcella Katherine Maguire 8 episodes 2021 Anne Boleyn Anne Shelton 3 episodes
Presenter Year Title Notes 2013 Amanda Burton: Killer Forensics Discovery
Awards and nominations Year Organisation Category Nominated work Result1998National Television AwardMost Popular ActressSilent Witness1999 TV Quick AwardBest Actress2001National Television AwardMost Popular Actress20032004IFTA AwardBest Actress in a TV Drama2011TV Quick AwardBest ActressWaterloo Road
References and notes
External links