Sally

Knyvette

Sally Knyvette is a British Actress, Director, Voice Artist, & Teacher who has been fortunate enough to spend a lifetime working in the profession she loves. Born Sally James to a doctor in Horsham, West Sussex, she is best known for her role as Jenna Stannis in the cult BBC sci-fi series Blake’s 7, and Kate Sugden in Emmerdale. She has built a richly varied career which includes acting & directing in theatre, voice work and teaching, both in drama schools and privately. Her real love has always been the stage. She started out working in REP Theatre, where she worked hard for 7 years and was inspired by the excitement of live performance.

“It was where I began, and where I continue to return”. Her stage career has taken her to the West End and many theatres across the country, including memorable productions with Mike Alfreds, whose inventive approach to storytelling has had a tremendous influence. “Working with Mike changed my approach to acting. His methods of working have been inspirational.

He has taught me to be:

“Different Every Night“

“His rigorous insistence on storytelling & the importance of truth and spontaneity in all performances has transformed my work over the years” Whether performing, directing, or teaching, her passion remains the same:

‘Exploring the many ways stories can move, inform, inspire and connect us’.

Theatre

Productions Include:

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel- Jean – Lucy Bailey
5 Characters in search of a good nights sleep- Helen -Mike Alfreds
King lear -Goneril-Johnathan Millar
Presidential Suite -Mdme Chataigne- John T Brinkley
Collette Collage -Collette – David Phipps Davis
Vinegar Tom Joan – Cobden club- Tom Patton
Filumena -Diana- Piccadilly Theatre – Sir Peter Hall
Hamlet – Ophelia-Mervyn willis
THE COUNTRY WIFE -Mrs Fidget-Lawrence Boswell
DIVINE RIGHT -Madame Speaker Sarah Pointer/Jenny – Bill Alexander
HOW THE OTHER HALF LOVES – Fiona -Ian Masters
HANDFUL OF DUST -Mrs Rattery/Polly Cockpurse/Babs Caroline-Mike Alfreds
THE DEARLY BELOVED -Caroline-Mike Alfreds
HAMLET- Ophelia – John Southworth
DANGEROUS OBSESSION-Sally-David Fleishman
OVERRULED -Mrs Juno-Ken Parrott
HAVING A BALL-The Surgeon- Bob Thompson
RULE OF THE GAME -Mrs Lindo – Ken Parrott
TIME AND TIME AGAIN-Janet – John Southworth
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEIG EARNEST-Gwendolyn
SAWN OFF AT THE KNEES -Julie -Chris Wilkinson
THE COCKTAIL PARTY -Celia -John Southworth
KING LEAR -Cordelia -Giles Block

TV

She has appeared in a wide range of television productions:

Blake's 7 (2 series),
Emmerdale ( 3 years)
Holby City,
The Safe House,
Family Affairs,
A Touch of Frost,
Unfinished Business,
Casualty,
East Enders,
Dalziel and Pascoe,
Daisies in December,
Coronation Street,
The Brief,
A Chance to Sit Down,
The Politician's Wife,
Adored,
The Bill,
Big Deal,
Doctors,
Burning,
Breakaway Girls,
Squadron,
Who Pays the Ferry Man
General Hospital,
Z Cars,
The Sweeney,
Beryl’s Lot.

After leaving Blake's 7, Knyvette studied for an English and Drama BA degree at the University of London.

She then decided to explore directing and made a film based on Guy de Maupassant's short story ‘Sur le lit’- renamed ‘In the Bedroom’ with Diana Kent and Terry Taplin. This film won her a bursary to go to the ‘National Film School’ in Beaconsfield, where she made another film, 'The Emperor's Waltz’. She was then encouraged to pursue a career in Film/TV directing. However, 'life events' took over as she was trying to have a family.

Directing

She started directing in 2011 when she assisted Jack Gold in directing Twelve Angry Men at The Tricycle Theatre.

Inspired by this, she went on to:

Direct her own productions of:

Twelve Angry Men at Pentameters

Are You Now Or Have You Ever Been by Eric Bentley at The Tricycle Theatre.

Inherit the Wind – by Jerome Lawrence/Robert E Lee at The Tricycle Theatre

To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee at The Tricycle Theatre.

Judgment at Nuremberg by Abbey Mann at The Tricycle Theatre.

A World Elsewhere by Alan Franks at Theatre 503

Burning Bridges by Amy Schindler at Theatre 503

Directed at Drama Schools:

Summer Folk – Maxim Gorky at BADA

A Midsummer Nights Dream – Shakespeare at GSA

Hard Times- Charles Dickens (adapted by Stephen Jeffreys) at City Lit

Twelfth Night – Shakespeare at RADA.

A dramatised reading of Clare McIntyre’s adaptation of Beware of Pity by Stephan Zweig, at RADA,with Tom Burke .

Voice Work

Sally has voiced numerous documentaries, video games, animated projects, commercials & poetry during her career. Amazingly, she continues to voice Jenna (46 years on!! ) in the “Big Finnish Audio” versions of Blake’s Seven!

She has voiced amongst other things:

Doctorman Allen in the Doctor Who's 'Spare Parts'.
Queen Carmilla in Castlevania's:
- 'Lords of Shadow' and its sequel.
The Matriarch in 'Sound Warriors' Molinaire
Warhammer '40,000 Space Marine'.
Carissa Cantrecht - 'Shadows: Awakening'
Countess Galo - 'Venna’s Planet'
Emiliana Perfetti - 'Laytons Mystery journey'
- Katrielle and the Millionaires Conspiracy

Image Gallery

Step into the world of Sally Knyvette and discover moments from a remarkable career. From her unforgettable performances in Blake’s 7 to numerous roles on stage and screen, this gallery celebrates the talent, passion and charm that have defined her journey. Each image tells a story, offering a glimpse into the artistry and personality behind the icon.