Why She Left Paradise: The Shocking Truth About Sara Martins' Death in Paradise Exit
Sara Martins played Detective Camille Bordey on Death in Paradise from 2011 to 2014. Discover her journey from ballet dancer to international star. Read now!
Introduction
Sara Martins walked away from one of British television's most beloved shows in January 2015. Her character, Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, left the island paradise in episode four of series four to start a new life in Paris. For fans who had watched Martins bring intelligence, warmth, and complexity to the role since 2011, the decision felt bittersweet.
But this wasn't the end of her story—it was a turning point. The Portuguese-French actress had spent nearly four years on the sunny shores of Guadeloupe, where Death in Paradise was filmed. She'd created a character that viewers loved. She'd built chemistry with her co-star that audiences still talk about today. And she knew it was time to grow.
"The only way to grow in life is to take risks, even if it means losing something you love, or leaving a place that's comfortable," Martins explained when she announced her departure. That statement captured something real: the tension between staying safe and reaching for something bigger. In 2025, as fans continue to discover Death in Paradise through streaming services, Martins' decision to leave looks less like an ending and more like a brave career move that paid off.
Why Camille Bordey Mattered to Death in Paradise
Camille Bordey wasn't just another character on a detective show. She was the heart of Death in Paradise during its early years.
When the series started in 2011, Martins played a young detective working alongside DI Richard Poole, played by Ben Miller. Their dynamic was electric. Richard was uptight, British, and uncomfortable with the island heat. Camille was capable, warm, and rooted in the Caribbean culture. They balanced each other. Fans loved the tension between them—the chemistry, the respect, the subtle romantic undertones that never quite got resolved.
Camille was more than just the love interest, though. She was intelligent. She solved crimes. She understood the local community in ways Richard couldn't. She translated culture and language. She made the show feel real, grounded in actual Caribbean life rather than just a exotic backdrop for a British detective.
When Ben Miller left after series three, the dynamic shifted. Kris Marshall joined as DI Humphrey Goodman. Humphrey showed romantic interest in Camille. Many fans felt uncomfortable with this storyline. They believed Camille belonged with Richard. The chemistry didn't feel the same. Some viewers admitted they struggled watching later seasons because of this change.
For Martins, staying would have meant being trapped in a storyline that didn't feel right to her either. Leaving gave her freedom. It also gave the show permission to evolve. In 2021, she and Ben Miller reunited for a special two-part Death in Paradise episode. Seeing Camille and Richard together again reminded everyone why that original pairing worked so brilliantly. She even made a guest appearance in series 13, appearing via video call. These returns proved that Camille Bordey's legacy never really left the island.
The Barrier-Breaker Behind the Character
Sara Martins' path to playing Camille Bordey started long before Death in Paradise. It started with ballet, discrimination, and a refusal to accept "no" as a final answer.
Born on August 19, 1977, in Faro, Portugal, Martins is of Cape Verdean descent. Her family moved to France when she was three years old. She grew up between two cultures, speaking Portuguese at home and French outside it. As a child, she trained in ballet seriously. She was talented enough to become the first person of African descent to join the Lyon Opera ballet company. This was a massive achievement. It was also a devastating limitation.
The Paris Opera, the highest stage in French ballet, had a strict unwritten rule: the corps de ballet had to "look alike." There were no other Black dancers. No matter how talented Martins was, she wouldn't be allowed to advance. The door was closed not because of her ability, but because of her skin color.
That rejection could have crushed her. Instead, she pivoted. At age 20, she enrolled at École de théâtre Les Enfants Terribles in Paris. She studied acting. She earned her degree from the prestigious French National Academy of Dramatic Arts (Conservatoire National Supérieur d'Art Dramatique). In 1995, playwright and director Roger Planchon hired her for his production of "Le Radeau de la Méduse" at the Théâtre National Populaire in Villeurbanne. That theatrical debut launched everything that followed.
When Martins arrived on the Death in Paradise set, she brought this history with her. She knew what it meant to break barriers. She knew how to make space for herself where doors had been closed. That experience shaped how she played Camille—a woman who was competent, who didn't need validation, who belonged exactly where she stood. Fans felt that authenticity. They responded to it. That's why Camille Bordey became so important to so many people.
The Injury That Almost Ended It All
During the first series of Death in Paradise, Martins faced a moment that could have ended her time on the show before it really began.
While filming a stunt, she tore her Achilles tendon. The injury was serious. An Achilles tendon tear is the kind of injury that can end athletic careers. It requires months of recovery and rehabilitation. For an actress working on a tropical island, far from home, dealing with the physical demands of action sequences, a torn Achilles tendon was a genuine crisis.
But Martins recovered. She continued filming. She pushed through the pain and the rehabilitation to stay with the show. That toughness, that refusal to quit when things got hard, became part of her story on Death in Paradise. It also shaped how fans thought about her—as someone who was genuinely committed to the role, who wouldn't let obstacles stop her.
During this time, Martins also noticed something interesting about herself: some of her mannerisms are distinctly French. Working with a British crew, she saw these behaviors reflected back to her. The gestures, the expressions, the way she moved through space—all of these things were shaped by growing up in France. She hadn't fully noticed them until she was working with people from a different culture. That cultural self-awareness became another layer to how she played Camille, a character who lived between worlds just as Martins did.
After Paradise: Building an International Career
When Martins left Death in Paradise in 2015, she didn't disappear. She built an impressive international career that proved her decision to leave was exactly right.
She's now appeared in over 70 films and television series across multiple languages and countries. She works in European productions, American productions, and everything in between. Her biggest 2024 project was the historical epic "Those About to Die" on Peacock. She plays Cala, a Numidian mother desperately searching for her enslaved children in ancient Rome. The series stars Anthony Hopkins. Critics praised Martins' performance for its raw emotion and maternal strength. She brought authenticity to a historical character in ways that showed her years of acting training and experience.
Before that, she appeared in Woody Allen's "Coup de Chance" (2023) as Julia. She had a two-episode arc in the Amazon series "Citadel" (2023) playing Sandra. Her work in the French TV series "Alexandra Ehle" as Diane Dombres continued from 2018 through 2025, spanning 13 episodes. In France, she remained a household name. She appeared in the British series "Father Brown" in 2018, playing the wife of criminal Flambeau. Other notable projects include the French TV series "Je te promets" (2022-2023) and various French films showcasing her versatility across comedy, drama, and thriller genres.
She learned English as a teenager through U2 lyrics. That unconventional education paid off—she's now fluent in Portuguese, French, and English, allowing her to work seamlessly across European and American productions.
At 47 years old, Martins is entering a new phase of her career where maturity and experience enhance every performance. She lives in Paris now, her home base between international filming. She continues choosing diverse, challenging roles that showcase her range.
Reunions and Legacy: When Camille Came Back
In 2021, something unexpected happened. Sara Martins and Ben Miller reunited for a special two-part Death in Paradise episode. Fans had waited years for this moment. Seeing Camille and Richard Poole together again—even briefly—reminded everyone why the original pairing worked so brilliantly. The chemistry was still there. The respect was still there. The story felt complete in a way that nothing else on the show had felt since Miller left.
That reunion episode became one of the most talked-about moments in Death in Paradise history. It proved that some characters and some pairings are so strong that they stay with audiences even after years have passed. Martins' willingness to return, to revisit the role, showed that she carried Camille Bordey with her even as she moved forward with her career.
She also made a guest appearance in series 13, episode 1, appearing via video call with Neville. These returns kept Camille alive in the show's world. They also validated Martins' original decision to leave. By stepping away, she'd made room for the show to evolve. By returning occasionally, she proved that Camille Bordey's legacy never really left the island.
Social media shows Martins actively engaging with fans. Her Instagram has over 9,000 followers who receive updates on her projects, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and personal moments. She maintains active Facebook and Twitter accounts as well, staying connected to the international fanbase Death in Paradise created.
The Little Girl Who Conquered Television
The story of Sara Martins is the story of someone who refused to accept limits.
She was the little girl who learned ballet in Lyon and became the first person of African descent to join the Lyon Opera ballet company. She was the young woman who faced discrimination in Paris and heard "no" from the institution she wanted to join. She was the teenager who taught herself English through rock lyrics. She was the actress who tore her Achilles tendon mid-career and kept going anyway.
She was Detective Camille Bordey, a character who solved crimes and earned respect on a Caribbean island. She was a performer who created chemistry with her co-stars that audiences still remember and talk about in 2025. She was the actress who made the brave decision to leave a hit show because she knew staying would limit her growth.
And now she's an international star working with legendary directors, appearing in productions across multiple countries and languages, choosing roles that challenge her and showcase her range. She's thriving. And fans couldn't be happier watching her journey continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sara Martins leave Death in Paradise?
Sara Martins left Death in Paradise in January 2015. Her character, Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, departed in episode four of series four. Martins had played the role from 2011 to 2014, making her one of the show's most important early characters. She announced her departure to pursue new opportunities and take her career in new directions.
Why did Sara Martins leave Death in Paradise?
Martins explained her decision by saying: "The only way to grow in life is to take risks, even if it means losing something you love, or leaving a place that's comfortable." She wanted to challenge herself with different roles and expand her career internationally. Staying on the show would have limited her growth as an actress. Since leaving, she's appeared in over 70 films and television series across multiple languages and countries.
Did Sara Martins return to Death in Paradise?
Yes. In 2021, Martins reunited with co-star Ben Miller for a special two-part Death in Paradise episode. She also made a guest appearance in series 13, episode 1, appearing via video call with Neville. These returns proved that Camille Bordey's legacy stayed with the show even after Martins moved on to other projects.
What has Sara Martins done since leaving Death in Paradise?
Since 2015, Martins has built an impressive international career. Her biggest 2024 project was "Those About to Die" on Peacock, where she plays Cala, a Numidian mother in ancient Rome, alongside Anthony Hopkins. She's also appeared in Woody Allen's "Coup de Chance" (2023), the Amazon series "Citadel" (2023), and the French TV series "Alexandra Ehle" (2018-2025). She continues working across French, British, and American productions.
What happened to Camille Bordey after Sara Martins left?
Camille Bordey left the island to start a new life in Paris in the show's storyline. In later seasons, other characters joined the show, and the dynamic changed. However, Camille remained important to fans. Her occasional returns in special episodes and guest appearances kept her memory alive in the Death in Paradise world.
Where is Sara Martins now in 2025?
Sara Martins lives in Paris, which serves as her home base between international filming projects. She's now 47 years old and continues choosing diverse, challenging roles across European and American productions. She's active on social media, with over 9,000 Instagram followers who receive updates on her projects and personal moments. She remains a household name in France and an international star recognized for her work in television and film.
Conclusion
Sara Martins' story on Death in Paradise is more than just a four-year stint on a television show. It's a story about a woman who created a character so important that audiences still talk about her in 2025, years after she left. Camille Bordey was intelligent, warm, and capable. She solved crimes. She earned respect. She created chemistry with her co-star that felt genuine and real. She represented something important on the show—a grounding force, a cultural bridge, a woman who belonged exactly where she stood.
But Martins' real story is even bigger than Camille Bordey. It's about a ballet dancer who refused to accept discrimination. It's about an actress who took a risk and left a hit show because she knew staying would limit her. It's about someone who has built a career spanning over 70 productions across multiple languages and countries. It's about a woman who learned English through U2 lyrics and grew up speaking Portuguese and French, who trained at prestigious academies, who tore her Achilles tendon and kept going anyway.
The fact that Martins has continued to return to Death in Paradise for special episodes and guest appearances proves that some legacies never really leave. Camille Bordey changed the show. She changed what audiences expected from detective dramas. And she launched Sara Martins into an international career that continues to evolve and expand.
What's your favorite Camille Bordey moment? Do you think the show was different after she left? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and keep up with Sara Martins' latest projects on Flickcore.us!
