Lucy Punch found herself in floods of tears while filming ITV’s new show SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters – but who is she, and what’s she famous for?

The Amandaland actress even struggled to speak after one very close encounter with a shark while swimming in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Although, we can’t really blame her!

Here’s everything you need to know about Lucy, her latest TV role in SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, and whether she’s related to her Amandaland co-star Joanna Lumley.

‘At times it was very scary’

Lucy Punch is one of seven brave celebrities starring in the ITV series. And they will all find themselves nose-to-nose with the terrifying and often deadly creatures.

After climbing back into the boat in episode one of SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters, Lucy sobbed: “That was just… that was amazing.”

She has since admitted: “At times it was very scary. It feels dangerous and they’re huge and intimidating. But I was surprised at how exhilarating and sometimes even how peaceful the shark encounters were. I was in awe of these magnificent fish.”

Who is Lucy Punch on SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters?

Lucy is an English actress with a career spanning 25 years. She is probably best known for playing Amanda Hughes in the smash hit BBC sitcom Motherland and its spin-0ff series, Amandaland. Earlier this year, the BBC confirmed that Lucy will reprise the role for a second series of Amandaland following the success of series 1.

Lucy is currently appearing in ITV’s SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters alongside six other stars; Sir Lenny Henry, Helen George, Dougie Poynter, Rachel Riley, Ade Adepitan and Ross Noble. Each week, they will be seen braving the waters in the Bahamas to swim with sharks.

What else has Lucy Punch been in?

Despite hailing from London, Lucy’s early acting jobs were in the US. Her first role was as Queen Stephanie in an episode of the TNT show The New Adventures of Robin Hood. Sticking Stateside, Lucy also appeared in teen sitcom Rentford Rejects.

Lucy later began picking up small parts in British shows. These included Let Them Eat Cake, Days Like These, Midsomer Murders and BBC Two‘s Vexed. She also landed some film roles, too. In 2001, Lucy starred as Anne Hathaway’s on-screen sister in Ella Enchanted. The actress also bagged parts in the 2007 films Hot Fuzz and St Trinian’s.

But it was ITV medical comedy-drama Doc Martin that gave Lucy her first big break on the small screen. Lucy played the part of Doc Martin’s first receptionist Elaine Denham. But sadly, her starring role alongside Martin Clunes was not to last.

Lucy’s mystery Doc Martin exit

Doc Martin’s original surgery receptionist Elaine was popular among the villagers in Portwenn, despite her strong-willed nature. Lucy’s character would notoriously spend much of her working day chatting on the phone.

The character appeared in six episodes of the first series, but was not brought back for the second. Elaine was replaced by receptionist Pauline Lamb, played by actress Katherine Parkinson. 

Lucy – who put on a West Country accent for the role – has never addressed why she left Doc Martin. Fans, however, guessed it was so she could return to the US. Sure enough, her film roles followed her exit from the show.

How old is SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters star Lucy Punch? Where does Lucy live?

Lucy Punch is currently 47 years of age. She was born on December 30, 1977, to parents Johanna and Michael Punch and grew up in London.

She attended the private at Godolphin and Latymer School in Hammersmith. Lucy later enrolled at University College London, but dropped out to start her acting career.

Lucy currently lives in Los Angeles in the US with her family. Earlier this year, they had to be evacuated from their home due to the LA Wildfires. Thankfully, her property was left unscathed.

SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters star Lucy Punch: Who is she married to?

Lucy is not married, but she is in a long term relationship with artist Konstantinos ‘Dinos’ Chapman. The couple have been together since 2014 and have two young sons together.

Dinos is one half of the former British visual art duo The Chapman Brothers. Together with his older brother Jake, the pair would create art based on deliberately shocking subject matters. Early pieces were based on disfigurement and torture.

Lucy previously dated Grace and Marvel actor James D’Arcy for three years.

Are Lucy Punch and Joanna Lumley related?

The casting of Dame Joanna Lumley as Amanda’s mother in Amandaland is so good that fans often ask if they’re related. But Lucy Punch is not related to Joanna Lumley.

Ab Fab icon Joanna plays condescending and narcissistic Felicity in Amandaland and Motherland. She constantly undermines Amanda and often clashes with her. Over the years, fans have realised Amanda is the way she is due to her upbringing.

Dame Joanna said about working with Lucy: “She’s so, so talented. Very beautiful, incredibly sweet-natured, and meticulous in her work. She challenges herself and is a true, serious actor with brilliant comedic timing.”

Read more: ITV confirms Rose Ayling-Ellis will be back as ‘headstrong Alison’ in Code of Silence series 2

Lucy Punch stars in SHARK! Celebrity Infested Waters from Monday, July 14, 2025 at 9pm on ITV1/ ITVX.