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Anna Acton
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.
Acton was born as Anna Smith on 29 January 1977 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. She holds both British and American citizenship. Her interest in acting began as a child in her friend's back garden, where her friend's mother held a small drama group.
Acton is married to actor and former Family Affairs co-star Ben Hull. They got married in 2007. The couple reside in Buckinghamshire and have two daughters.
Acton made her professional acting debut in a production of Cor, Blimey! at the Watford Palace Theatre in 2000. 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. She remained in the role until 2005, during which time she received a nomination for Best Actress at the British Soap Awards.
Following her role in Family Affairs, Acton was cast as Rochelle Barratt in the ITV1 procedural drama The Bill in 2005. She also appeared in two episodes of Doctors in 2006 and 2008, as well as an episode of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. In 2007, she starred as Louise Martin in two episodes of HolbyBlue, followed by a role in Harley Street in 2008. From 2013 to 2015, Acton played the role of Joy in the CBeebies programme Topsy and Tim.
In 2014, she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, marking her second role in the soap. She portrayed DC Emma Summerhayes, a police officer investigating Lucy Beale's (Hetti Bywater) murder, until 2015 when the character was killed off. From 2015 to 2016, Acton appeared in the BBC medical series Casualty as Nikki Chisom. In 2018, she appeared in Birches, a UK-based feature based on the novel Silver Birches by Adrian Plass.
In 2018, Acton returned to theatre work, appearing in The Gulf at the Tristan Bates Theatre. A year later, she appeared in a production of The Permanent Way at the Vaults in London. In 2021, Acton appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Vicki. In 2023, she returned to Casualty, this time in the guest role of Piper Fulley. 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. 2026 saw her appear in the ITV1 thriller series Gone.
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Anna Acton
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.
Acton was born as Anna Smith on 29 January 1977 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. She holds both British and American citizenship. Her interest in acting began as a child in her friend's back garden, where her friend's mother held a small drama group.
Acton is married to actor and former Family Affairs co-star Ben Hull. They got married in 2007. The couple reside in Buckinghamshire and have two daughters.
Acton made her professional acting debut in a production of Cor, Blimey! at the Watford Palace Theatre in 2000. 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. She remained in the role until 2005, during which time she received a nomination for Best Actress at the British Soap Awards.
Following her role in Family Affairs, Acton was cast as Rochelle Barratt in the ITV1 procedural drama The Bill in 2005. She also appeared in two episodes of Doctors in 2006 and 2008, as well as an episode of the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks. In 2007, she starred as Louise Martin in two episodes of HolbyBlue, followed by a role in Harley Street in 2008. From 2013 to 2015, Acton played the role of Joy in the CBeebies programme Topsy and Tim.
In 2014, she was cast in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, marking her second role in the soap. She portrayed DC Emma Summerhayes, a police officer investigating Lucy Beale's (Hetti Bywater) murder, until 2015 when the character was killed off. From 2015 to 2016, Acton appeared in the BBC medical series Casualty as Nikki Chisom. In 2018, she appeared in Birches, a UK-based feature based on the novel Silver Birches by Adrian Plass.
In 2018, Acton returned to theatre work, appearing in The Gulf at the Tristan Bates Theatre. A year later, she appeared in a production of The Permanent Way at the Vaults in London. In 2021, Acton appeared in an episode of the BBC soap opera Doctors as Vicki. In 2023, she returned to Casualty, this time in the guest role of Piper Fulley. 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. 2026 saw her appear in the ITV1 thriller series Gone.