Ruby-May Martinwood made a striking debut on BBC’s Father Brown in 2022 and has since become a beloved fixture on the show. She plays Brenda Palmer, Father Brown’s (Mark Williams) housekeeper, a character with a complex and compelling backstory.
Brenda’s journey is far from ordinary. Once involved in petty crime and time spent in borstal, she distrusts authority. However, her arrival in Kembleford marked the beginning of a remarkable transformation. When Brenda first appeared in season nine, she was a murder suspect, but Father Brown ultimately uncovered the true culprit.
In season 10, Brenda became a main cast member, and Martinwood has appeared in most episodes since, winning over viewers with her nuanced portrayal.
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Fans curious about Martinwood’s career will be interested to know she has been passionate about the performing arts from a young age. She joined the Hype Dance Company at five and later trained at the prestigious Nottingham Television Workshop, a renowned institution that counts stars like Samantha Morton, Vicky McClure, and Felicity Jones among its alumni. She further developed her musical theatre skills at Bird College.
Martinwood’s first notable role came in the BBC and FX period drama Taboo, where she portrayed Winter, a street urchin entangled in the dark and dangerous world of Tom Hardy’s James Delaney. Winter’s tragic demise left a significant mark on the story, impacting Delaney’s character profoundly. Fans eagerly await the second season of Taboo, which is currently in development.
Following Taboo, Martinwood appeared in the BBC daytime soap Doctors and short films like Round My Way and Mr Wong’s Lullaby. She also guest-starred in BBC’s Death in Paradise, playing Layla Carpenter opposite Ralf Little’s Detective Neville Parker. In the season 11 episode, the Saint Marie police investigate the murder of a reggae rap artist following a sound check, delivering yet another intriguing storyline.
Most recently, Martinwood featured in the gritty British film RideBy, which explores a harrowing tale of girl gang warfare.
Ruby-May Martinwood is set to reprise her role as Brenda in the upcoming 13th season of Father Brown, with filming scheduled this year in the Cotswolds.
Reflecting on her role, Martinwood shared, “What I love most about playing Brenda is that she’s down-to-earth, feisty, smarter than she knows, and incredibly innocent, yet sharp when it comes to solving murders. It’s always fun to play a character who’s a little bit naughty and a bit of a terror. Brenda’s been through a lot and carries a heavy burden for someone so young, so I enjoy showing those different layers.”
Father Brown is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer.