Ladies of Minder
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- Actress
- Music Department
Rula Lenska was born on 30 September 1947 in St. Neots, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Royal Flash (1975), Queen Kong (1976) and Seven Dials Mystery (1981). She was previously married to Dennis Waterman and Brian Deacon.- Actress
- Composer
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Born in Detroit and grew up in the nearby suburb of Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Moved to England to pursue music career. Had tremendous success as a rock singer in Britain and worldwide, but only managed one hit in her native America. Was reportedly asked to audition for the part of Happy Days (1974)'s "Leather Tuscadero" after one of the show's producers saw her picture on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine hanging the wall of his daughter's bedroom. Currently lives in Germany with her second husband, concert promoter Rainer Haas.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
June Whitfield had a long and successful career that has included musical theatre, films and numerous radio and television performances. Her mother was into amateur dramatics and June had elocution and dancing lessons from an early age. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in theatre. One of her earliest experiences was working with Wilfred Pickles, whose great comic talent and gift for timing made quite an impression on her.
She became a household name on the radio comedy "Take It From Here" in 1953, a time when radio was far more popular than television. When television overtook radio in popularity, June made a successful transition. Over the next few years she worked with most of the biggest names in comedy, including Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Harry H. Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell, Ronnie Barker, Richard Briers, Eric Morecambe and Dick Emery.
She became a television double-act with Terry Scott on Happy Ever After (1974) and Terry and June (1979). She also appeared in three installments of the popular Carry On film series, Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Abroad (1972) and Carry on Girls (1973).
By the 1980s, June Whitfield was viewed by some members of the alternative comedy scene as representing the kind of traditional, safe comedy they were reacting against. However, she still had her talent of perfect comic timing and her range of voices, which enabled her to continue working. She moved back to more theatre and radio, including The News Huddlines, a satirical radio show fronted by Roy Hudd. In 1992 she appeared in Carry on Columbus (1992), a failed attempt to resurrect the Carry On series. The same year she started a more successful venture, Absolutely Fabulous (1992), which became one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade and put her back into the spotlight.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Samantha Womack was born on 2 November 1972 in Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Kingsman: The Golden Circle (2017) and EastEnders (1985). She has been married to Mark Womack since 17 May 2009. They have two children. She was previously married to Mauro Mantovani.- Wanda Ventham was born on 5 August 1935 in Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for UFO (1970), Invasion: UFO (1974) and Sherlock (2010). She has been married to Timothy Carlton since April 1976. They have one child. She was previously married to James Tabernacle.
- Actress
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Gwyneth was born in London to English/Welsh parents who both worked for the BBC - her father, Colin, directed The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971) and Late Night Line-Up (1964) - but they weren't keen on her becoming an actress. She didn't go to drama school but had acting lessons at her school. She made her acting debut in the Theatre Upstairs at London's Royal Court Theatre in 'Live Like Pigs', playing the Cockney daughter of a gypsy family. Her television work includes a toothpaste commercial but she's best known for playing Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses (1981). She made her film debut at the age of 12 in Nothing But the Night (1973). Tonyman 5- Actress
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Patricia Quinn was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. She was beginning to break into television when she was offered the role of "the Usherette/Magenta" in Richard O'Brien's "Rocky Horror Show", the role she would become best known for. Patricia continued to work hard after "Rocky Horror" and soon became a household name going on to star in countless productions alongside some of the biggest names in entertainment. Over the years, Quinn has proved that she can carry off anything with her unique and versatile style and an impressive resume spanning over film, television and theatre. There is only one Patricia Quinn.- Actress
- Producer
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Natascha McElhone was born in Walton on Thames, London. She attended several schools, Camden School for Girls being the last.
Natascha McElhone established herself as a talented leading actress when she left drama school in 1993 to play the lead in her first film, Merchant Ivory's Surviving Picasso, opposite Anthony Hopkins.
She quickly followed this with Peter Weir's film, The Truman Show; Alan J. Pakula's The Devil's Own, with Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford; and John Frankenheimer's action epic Ronin, in which she co-starred with Robert De Niro. She also played Rosalind to Kenneth Branagh's Berowne in his musical version of William Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Lost.
In 2003, McElhone co-starred with George Clooney in Steven Soderbergh's futuristic love story, Solaris. McElhone starred in TNT's mini-series The Company, a Golden Globe-nominated drama. In 2005, she starred in NBC's Emmy-nominated mini-series, Revelations.
Natascha McElhone stars opposite David Duchovny in the Golden Globe-winning Showtime series Californication (2007).
McElhone also stars in the children's fantasy film, The Secret Of Moonacre Manor, with Ioan Gruffud. She shared the title role in Mrs Dalloway with Vanessa Redgrave directed by Oscar winning director Marleen Gorris. McElhone's other major film credits include City Of Ghosts, with Matt Dillon and Gérard Depardieu; Laurel Canyon, with Christian Bale and Francis McDormand; and Ladies In Lavender, with Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith.
She has most recently starred in The Kid and in two other British feature films 'The Theatre Of Dreams' with Toby Stephens and Brian Cox and in Julian Fellowes' adaptation of 'Romeo And Juliet' to be released March 2013. She has just completed filming 'The Sea' starring with Rufus Sewell, Ciaran Hinds and Charlotte Rampling also to be released in 2013.- Actress
- Music Department
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Jan Francis was born on 5 August 1947 in Westminster, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Dracula (1979), Just Good Friends (1983) and The Good Companions (1980). She has been married to Thomas Ellice since 1977. They have two children.- Janet Mahoney - now better known by her stage name of Janet Fielding - was born in Brisbane, Australia, in 1953. She gained A levels in Physics, Chemistry and Maths and joined Queensland University, where she first took up acting. After leaving university she worked with an English writer/director named Albert Hunt, who in 1977 brought her to England in one of his shows.
Once in England, she joined Ken Campbell at the Science Fiction Theatre of Liverpool and appeared in productions including "The Warp" and "The End is Nigh." Following this she won a small part in an episode of the Hammer House of Horror (1980) series. She was then cast in Doctor Who (1963) as the Australian airline stewardess Tegan Jovanka in Tom Baker's final serial Logopolis: Part One (1981), and became the longest-running companion of Peter Davison's Doctor, appearing until Resurrection of the Daleks: Part Two (1984). After leaving the series, she appeared in episodes of the ITV series Shelley (1979) and Minder (1979) and in productions of "The Collector" and the pantomime "Aladdin" in the theatre.
In 1991, she gave up acting to work as an administrator in the pressure group Women in Film and Television, where she stayed for three-and-a-half years. She then became a director of Marina Martin Associates, an actors' agency, representing amongst others the Eighth Doctor, Paul McGann. - Actress
- Soundtrack
Liza Goddard was born on 20 January 1950 in Smethwick, Sandwell, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Doctor Who (1963), Woof! (1989) and The Intruders (1969). She was previously married to David Cobham, Alvin Stardust and Colin Baker.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Marina Sirtis was born in London, England, to Greek parents, Despina (Yianniri), a tailor's assistant, and John Sirtis. Her parents did not want her to become an actress. As soon as Marina completed high school, she secretly applied to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After her graduation, she worked in musical theater, repertory and television. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles, California to boost her career. For six months, she auditioned for roles but was unsuccessful. Just before she planned to go back home, she got the role of Counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). After the series ended, she reprised her role for a string of successful Star Trek films: Star Trek: Generations (1994), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), Star Trek: Insurrection (1998), and Star Trek: Nemesis (2002). In 1992, Sirtis married rock guitarist Michael Lamper. She occasionally attends Star Trek conventions so that her loving fans can meet her, and she can meet the fans.- Actress
- Music Department
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Beryl Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in industrial Manchester, England. She left home at the age of 16 to go and work in a shop. She lasted 6 weeks. She applied for and was accepted in a revue in the Summer season in Bridlington. She had no formal training but joined the National Theater in London as a comedy actress. Her first big success came in the BBC radio show "Educating Archie" (a ventriloquist - on the radio). She played the naughty schoolgirl, Monica, and later, the Brummie Marlene. Her film roles were few and far between, but always well received. She transferred her Tony award winning performance of the lesbian radio star to the screen in The Killing of Sister George (1968). But she was best known and loved for her (slightly tipsy) older ladies such as in The Beiderbecke Tapes (1987) and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979).- Actress
- Writer
Sheila Ruskin was born on 28 March 1946. She is an actress and writer, known for Mackenzie (1980), Doctor Who (1963) and I, Claudius (1976). She was previously married to David Wood.- Irish-born Orla Brady studied acting at the Ecole Phillippe Gaulier in Paris. Upon returning to Dublin, she won the role of Adela in the House of Bernarda Alba at the Gate Theatre. Since then, she has been working on both sides of the Atlantic with a career mix of television, film, and stage to her credit. Ms. Brady was married in 2002 and when she isn't filming or off on safari, she likes horseback riding, reading, and has a great love of animals.
- Caroline trained at Elmhurst Ballet School, and started working in film, theatre and television from the age of 17. She is probably best known for her roles as running characters: Charlotte Cavendish in 'Lovejoy', Georgina Channing in 'Judge John Deed' and Marilyn Fox in 'Casualty'. Caroline was married to actor Patrick Drury until 1996, with whom she has two adult daughters.
- Sara was born and raised in Edinburgh Scotland. After spending some time in England, she trained at The Central School of Speech and Drama in London, and made London her home. Her work has been diverse, ranging from classical tragic heroines like "Natalya Petrovna" in Turgenyev's "Month in the Country" for the RSC; Gwyneth Paltrow's overbearing sister in "Proof" for its London premiere; to comic characters like the louche "Stella" in the TV series Sugar Rush (2005).
Now based in Twickenham, she is separated from actor Aden Gillett, with whom she has 2 children. - Actress
- Soundtrack
One of four children, Blackman was born in London's East End, to Edith Eliza (Stokes), a homemaker, and Frederick Thomas Blackman, a statistician employed with the Civil Service. She received elocution lessons for her 16th birthday (at her own request), and later attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, which she paid for by working as a clerical assistant in the Civil Service. She was also a dispatch rider for the Home Office during World War II, playing an important role in the war effort.
Blackman received her first acting work on stage in London's West End as an understudy in "The Guinea Pig". She continued with roles in "The Gleam" (1946) and "The Blind Goddess" (1947), before moving into film. She debuted with Fame Is the Spur (1947), starring Michael Redgrave.
Blackman suffered a nervous breakdown following her divorce from Bill Sankey, a man 12 years her senior, who's jealousy, fraudulent business practices, and emptying of her bank accounts took it's toll. After hospitalisation Blackman began counselling, which would last for years, and began rebuilding her career.
TV series work also came her way again, most notably the highly popular The Avengers (1961), co-starring Patrick Macnee as John Steed. As the leather-clad "Catherine Gale", Blackman showcased her incredible beauty, self-confidence, and athletic abilities. Her admirable qualities made her not only a catch for the men, but also an inspirational figure for the 1960s feminist movement.
Blackman took on the role of Greek goddess Hera in popular movie adventure Jason and the Argonauts (1963) with Ray Harryhausen and melodrama Life at the Top (1965) with Laurence Harvey. She then played "Pussy Galore" in the classic James Bond film Goldfinger (1964). Blackman went toe to toe with Sean Connery's womanizing "007" and created major sparks on screen.
Blackman continued to work consistently in films and tv, while also appearing on stage where she earned rave reviews as the blind heroine of the thriller "Wait Until Dark" as well as for her dual roles in "Mr. and Mrs.", a production based on two of Noël Coward's plays. She also enjoyed working with her second husband, actor Maurice Kaufmann, in the play "Move Over, Mrs. Markham" and the film thriller Fright (1971). She proved a sultry-voiced sensation in various musicals productions such as "A Little Night Music", "The Sound of Music", "On Your Toes", and "Nunsense."
In the new millennium, Honor was seen in such films as Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Color Me Kubrick (2005), Reuniting the Rubins (2010), I, Anna (2012) and Cockneys vs Zombies (2012), as well as the British TV serieses Water, Water, Everywhere (1920) The Royal (2003) Coronation Street (1960), long running series Casualty (1986) and finally You, Me & Them (2013), her last role after her retirement several years earlier.
Divorced from Kaufmann in 1975 (although they remained friends until his death, Blackman even cared for him during his 13 year battle with cancer), Blackman never remarried, revealing in an interview that she simply preferred single life, "Basically I'm a shy person and I like my own company". Unable to conceive, the couple adopted two children, Lottie and Barnaby, in '67 and '68 respectively.
The ever-lovely and eternally glamorous star continued to find regular work into her 90s, including co-starring in the long-running English hit comedy series The Upper Hand (1990) and performing her one-woman stage show, "Wayward Women"
Honor Blackman died on April 5, 2020, in Lewes, Sussex. She was 94.- Born in London, England, Amanda Pays is the daughter of show business agent and actor Howard Pays and former actress Jan Miller. An aunt, Mandy Miller, won fame as a child star of the '50s film Crash of Silence (1952) . When she was eight, Pays started school at a nearby convent and it was there that she demonstrated her early skills as an actress. Possessing a distinctively throaty voice, she was invariably cast in the male roles in the all-girls school productions. At her mother's suggestion, Amanda sent a Polaroid picture to a modeling agent and almost instantly found herself enjoying a successful career which, for the next four years, took her around the world. Then, at twenty-two, she suddenly tired of what she called "clotheshorsing" and decided to jump into the acting field. Intensive study at London's Academy of Live and Recorded Arts led to her professional debut opposite George Segal in The Cold Room (1984), an HBO production written and directed by James Dearden, who later wrote Fatal Attraction (1987). Since then, Pays had appeared on stage, screen and television in her native England and in America. Her credits include the London fringe production of "Fire Eaters," Thames Television's Minder on the Orient Express (1985), Lady Victoria in Oxford Blues (1984) opposite Rob Lowe, as the host of the ground-breaking television experiment Max Headroom (1987), Max Headroom (1985), as Sarah in the ABC miniseries A.D. (1985), opposite Ava Gardner and James Mason and as Sister Nicole in Off Limits (1988), starring Willem Dafoe and Gregory Hines.
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Lilian Ridgway, known professionally as Lynda Baron, was an English actress, best known for playing Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the BBC comedy series Open All Hours (1976-1985) and its sequel, Still Open All Hours (2013-2016).
From 1993 to 1997, she played Auntie Mabel in BBC children's programme Come Outside and in 2006, she starred as Linda Clarke in EastEnders, before returning from 2008 to 2009 and again in 2016.
Baron was born in Urmston, Lancashire. She was originally trained as a dancer at the Royal Academy of Dance. Early in her career, she appeared in repertory theatre and several West End venues.
Baron's early television roles included small parts in Crossroads (1964), Up Pompeii (1970), Z-Cars (1971) and the British horror film Hands of the Ripper (1971). Baron appeared on television in BBC-3 (1965), a series in the vein of That Was The Week That Was, involving some of the same performers. She also alternated with Annie Ross as the resident singer on Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life (1965). Baron has taken part in the BBC science fiction series Doctor Who three times. She was heard as a singer in the 1966 serial The Gunfighters. She appeared in front of the cameras as Captain Wrack in the 1983 serial Enlightenment, and again in 2011 in Closing Time as Val.
Baron is best known for playing Nurse Gladys Emmanuel in the popular BBC comedy series Open All Hours with Ronnie Barker and David Jason which ran for four series in 1976, 1981 to 1982 and in 1985, and was subsequently voted eighth in Britain's Best Sitcom in 2004.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Baron co-starred in the ITV sitcom Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt! and the forgotten BBC sitcom A Roof Over My Head. She had small parts in Minder and Last of the Summer Wine. In 1986, she acted in a party political broadcast for the SDP-Liberal Alliance.
Baron also appeared in the 1987 Christmas special of The Two Ronnies. Baron then went on to appear in the BBC Two comedy series KYTV.
In the 1990s, Baron played Auntie Pat in five episodes of the ITV sitcom The Upper Hand (1992-93). Baron then went on to star in the children's television series Come Outside (1993-97) playing Auntie Mabel, an everyday woman living in a bungalow, set in Denham flying round on various adventures in her spotted aeroplane with her dog Pippin.
In 1997, Baron played Renee Turnbull in Coronation Street and took guest roles in Dinnerladies (1998), The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (1998), Sunburn (1999), Nancherrow (1999) and Goodnight Sweetheart (1999).
Baron continued to work regularly on television and the stage in the 2000s, with credits including Fat Friends (2000-2005), The Bill (2000), Doctors (2000, 2006, 2010, 2011 and 2014), Peak Practice (2001), Holby City (2002 and 2006), Down to Earth (2005), Rome (2005) and Casualty (2009).
Baron briefly appeared in the BBC One soap opera EastEnders in 2006 as Linda Clarke, the mother of Jane Beale. In September 2008, it was announced that Baron would be returning to EastEnders.
She appeared regularly in the series from November 2008 to February 2009. On 8 April 2016, it was announced that Baron would return to the soap once again alongside John Partridge. She appeared on screen in May and June 2016.
In August 2010, Baron appeared in an episode of Agatha Christie's Marple on ITV. In September 2010, Baron appeared in a one-off television drama The Road to Coronation Street on BBC Four, a programme looking back at the early days of the British television soap opera Coronation Street. Baron portrayed actress Violet Carson who played Ena Sharples in the soap.
Baron was nominated for the 2011 British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role.
On 26 December 2013, Baron reprised her role in a special one-off episode of Open All Hours on BBC One, entitled Still Open All Hours.
In December 2016 Baron made a guest appearance in a Christmas special of Citizen Khan and in January 2017 she appeared in an episode of Father Brown.
In 1966, Baron married her husband, John M. Lee. They had two children, Sarah and Morgan.- Lesley Joseph was born on 14 October 1945 in Finsbury Park, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Birds of a Feather (1989), Night & Day (2001) and Celebrity Juice (2008).
- Kika Markham was born in 1940 in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Killing Me Softly (2002), Outland (1981) and Franklyn (2008). She was previously married to Corin Redgrave.
- Penny Downie was born in Australia. She was determined to make it overseas and her role in Minder (1979), with George Cole and Dennis Waterman, was her big break. She's never looked back, and is regularly seen in TV work. She was known to have a good ear and able to pick up accents, quickly. Her English accent is flawless today.
- Sharon Duce was born on 17 January 1950 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Outland (1981), Rogue Trader (1999) and Funny Man (1980).
- Pam St. Clement was born on 11 May 1942 in Harrow-on-the-Hill, Middlesex, England, UK. She is an actress, known for EastEnders (1985), Hedda (1975) and Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time (1993). She was previously married to Andrew Gordon.
- Rachel Davies was born in Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK. She is known for Doctor Who (1963), Band of Gold (1995) and The Last Detective (2003).
- Mel Martin was born on 7 March 1947 in Chelsea, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for White Hunter Black Heart (1990), Persuasion (1971) and Do You Remember? (1978). She has been married to John Duttine since 1998. She was previously married to Paul Ridley.
- Actress
- Producer
She had boarding school education and always wanted to act but her parents were against it.. She did a grooming course in modeling during school holidays and was subsequently offered a modeling course. Her parents refused to let her attend a drama school in London so she accepted the modeling course in Manchester and established herself as a successful model. Her first television appearance was when she was at school and was voted 'Britains Most Glamorous Schoolgirl'.Her first real break came when she was contracted as the resident hostess on 'Sale of the Century' , a popular television show. She later extended her talents to acting appearing in such as 'Gems' and 'Allo, Allo'- Born in Scotland, raised in Surrey by her Scottish grandparents. Kim was trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London. An early break came in playing the lead in the TV mini-series 'Cover Her Face'. First film credit was "Stealing Heaven". Kim has gone on to work extensively in film, TV, and theatre in both the UK and USA.
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- Producer
Amanda Burton was born and raised in Derry, Northern Ireland. Leaving aged 18 to train as an actress at Manchester Polytechnic School of Theatre. Amanda has since become one of Britain's most respected and admired actresses often taking on leading strong roles in dramas. She is the mother of two daughters Phoebe (b. 1989) and Brid (b. 1990) and lives in London.- Actress
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Susannah Doyle (born 5 July 1966) is an English actress, playwright and film director, best known for her roles as Joy Merryweather in Drop The Dead Donkey and as Avril Burke in Ballykissangel.
The daughter of the Irish actor Tony Doyle, she realized that she wished to follow in his footsteps when, aged about five or six, she was taken to see him work, often in tiny theaters with audience and actors close together. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Her big TV break came in 1991 with the role of Joy, the intelligent, acid-tongued secretary and foil to her corporate-speak boss, in the Channel 4 comedy Drop The Dead Donkey. Other TV roles followed, including two episodes of Soldier, Soldier in 1996 and A Touch of Frost in 1997. When her father died in 2000, the producers of Ballykissangel asked whether she would join the cast. She had reservations over her ability to cope emotionally but took on the part of Avril Burke. In 2001, she also appeared in an episode of Cold Feet and one of Pie in the Sky. In 2012 she appeared in an episode of Lewis. In 2012 she appeared in an episode of police comedy Vexed.
Since 2001, she has been pursuing parallel careers of script-writing and acting.
In 2016, she appeared in "Shut Up and Dance", an episode of the anthology series Black Mirror.- Actress
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- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Phyllida Law was born on 8 May 1932 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for The Time Machine (2002), Much Ado About Nothing (1993) and The Winter Guest (1997). She was previously married to Eric Thompson.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Although a prolific television character actress for almost half a century, Hilary Mason will be best remembered on screen as the blind, psychic Heather in the macabre supernatural thriller Don't Look Now (1973). The 1973 film starred Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland as John and Laura Baxter, a grieving couple holidaying in a wintry Venice after the death of their daughter, Christine, who was drowned in the garden pond while wearing a shiny, red mackintosh. When Laura meets the two spinster sisters in a restaurant toilet, she is shocked to be told that Heather has seen her daughter. "I've seen her and she wants you to know that she's happy," says the old woman:
I've seen your little girl, sitting between you and your husband, and she was laughing. Yes, oh, yes, she's with you, my dear, and she's laughing. She's wearing a shiny little mac. She's laughing, she's laughing - she's happy as can be.
Later, Laura attends a seance with the sisters and - when Heather gets what she claims to be a message from Christine - is disturbed to be told that her husband, John (Sutherland), is in danger. A skeptical John fails to heed the warning and in the final scenes of the film is murdered by a female dwarf in a red, hooded coat. Throughout this eerie film, based on a Daphne du Maurier short story, the director, Nicolas Roeg, leaves us unsure whether Mason's chilling character really is a psychic or a con artist, particularly in a scene showing the sisters laughing after convincing Laura that they have contacted her daughter.
Born in Birmingham in 1917, Mason won a scholarship to the London School of Dramatic Art before gaining repertory theater experience in Preston, Southport, York and Guildford. During the Second World War she performed with the troops entertainment organization Ensa.
Mason made her television debut as Mrs Drummond in the drama series Thunder in the West (1957), and played Mrs Yapp in the Midlands-based local council serial Swizzlewick (1964) and Mrs Timothy in the soccer soap United! (1965). She as well took two roles in Coronation Street (1960); following a bit-part as Mrs Ainsworth (1965), she was then Derek Wilton's mother (1976), who disapproved of her son's relationship with the dithering Mavis Riley and insisted it must end - to no avail.
Adept at character roles, Mason took eight different parts in Z Cars (1962), and another three in Dixon of Dock Green (1955), before playing Lady Boleyn in the acclaimed, six-part drama The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970) (starring Keith Michell in the title role), Mrs Nickleby in Nicholas Nickleby (1977), Mrs Gummidge in David Copperfield (1986), and Mrs Fagge in Great Expectations (1989).
In comedy, she acted Mrs Booth, exasperated mother to the chalk-and-cheese twin brothers, in My Brother's Keeper (1975) and Gladys in Maid Marian and Her Merry Men (1989), the children's series written by Tony Robinson - with Mason's real-life husband, the actor Roger Ostime, taking the role of Gladys's father in one episode. She also played Michael Palin's mother in the Ripping Yarns (1976) episode The Curse of the Claw (1977).
After her part in "Don't Look Now", Mason was cast in the horror films Sharon's Baby (1975) (acting Mrs Hyde, alongside Joan Collins as a stripper who gives birth to a "possessed" baby, 1975), Dolls (1986), Afraid of the Dark (1991), and Haunted (1995).
Mason also appeared twice in One Foot in the Grave (1990) during the 1990s.
She died in 2006 in Milton Keynes, England and left a husband of 50 years, Roger Ostime; they had married in 1955 in Surrey.- Eileen Way was born on 2 September 1911 in New Malden, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Vikings (1958), Kidnapped (1960) and Sean's Show (1992). She was married to Felix Warden Brown. She died on 16 June 1994 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.
- Christine Kavanagh was born on 24 March 1957 in the UK. She is an actress, known for Doctor Who (1963), National Theatre Live: Man and Superman (2015) and A Very British Coup (1988). She has been married to Jack Ellis since 1983. They have two children.
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Sarah Berger was born in 1960 in the UK. She is an actress and producer, known for An Inspector Calls (1982), Minder (1979) and T. Bag and the Rings of Olympus (1991).- Fiona Mollison was born on 9 January 1954 in Java, East Indies. She is an actress, known for The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015), Strangers (1978) and As Time Goes By (1992).
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- Producer
Eclectic, spade-jawed, auburn-haired British classical stage actress Diana Quick, of Anglo-Indian descent, specialized in aristocratic ladies and played various members of royalty (queens, baronesses, etc.) throughout her career. Having worked with most of the prominent British theatre companies (RSC, Royal Court, National, Old Vic, etc.), her extensive resume has included "Troilus and Cressida," "The Threepenny Opera," "Billy," "Mother Teresa Is Dead," "Ghosts," "The Old Neighbourhood," "The Sea," "King Lear," "Hamlet," "The Changeling, "The Women Pirates," "A Map of the World, "Tamburlaine," "Plunder," Phaedra Brittanica," "Mother Christmas," "Electra," "ANNA," "The Big Meal," "You Never Can Tell" and the one-woman play Midnight Your Time. More recently she appeared in "The Model Apartment (2018).
Diana was born in London on November 23, 1946, the third of four children. Her parents were amateur theatre players. She took an interest in acting too while attending Dartford Grammar School for Girls in Kent and appeared in school plays ("Arms and the Man"). She became a member of an amateur dramatic society in and earned her first isolated film credit in an unbilled teen role with The Brothers Karamazov (1958). In 1964, Diana attended Oxford University where she dedicated herself to extensive training. She subsequently became the first female president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society.
The 70's began with a recurring role as Gloria in the TV comedy series The Best Things in Life (1969), and a small role in the elegant film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). She continued on TV with guest appearances on such shows as "Six Days of Justice," "The Protectors," "Bedtime Stories," 'Kolchak: The Night Stalker" and "Private Afffairs." She returned to film in the latter half of the decade with support/featured roles in The Duellists (1977), The Big Sleep (1978), The Odd Job (1978), Ordeal by Innocence (1984), Nineteen Nineteen (1985), Max My Love (1986), Vroom (1990), Nostradamus (1994), The Leading Man (1996) and Vigo (1998).
Diana enjoyed her finest TV hour with her portrayal of Lady Julia Flyte in the critically-acclaimed mini-series Brideshead Revisited (1981), and received a BAFTA TV Award nomination for her efforts. She then continued with TV roles in The Woman in White (1982), as well as "The Phantom of the Opera" (as Madame Bianchi), and the TV series "Network 7," "Screenplay," "Minder," "The Justic Game" and "Alas Smith and Jones."
The millennium provided her a number of elegant character roles on the large and small screen, including the film comedy crimer Saving Grace (2000); the dramatic fantasy The Discovery of Heaven (2001); the historical romancer The Affair of the Necklace (2001); a co-star role in the romance drama AKA (2002); the heavier dramas Revengers Tragedy (2002), Mother's Milk (2011); Love/Loss (2010) and Side by Side (2013); and the historical dramedy The Death of Stalin (2017). She also has written and directed for TV.
Once briefly wed (1974-1978) to Scots-born actor Kenneth Cranham, whom she met at the National Youth Theatre, Diana once had a long-standing relationship (1971-2008) with actor Bill Nighy and, with him, had one child, actress/daughter Mary Nighy. Quick spent a number of years researching her paternal family's life in India, which was published in 2009 entitled A Tug on the Thread: From the British Raj to the British Stage.- Actress
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Best known for playing the perpetually-ditzy blonde bimbo in several installments of the "Carry On" franchise, buxom Liz Fraser (born Elizabeth Joan Winch above a corner shop in south London) studied at RADA on a scholarship and first acted in repertory theatre and television before breaking into films. Her first role of note was Cynthia, the daughter of radical left-wing shop steward Fred Kite in The Boulting Brothers comedy I'm All Right Jack (1959) (the film which made Peter Sellers a star). In a second outing with Sellers, (Two Way Stretch (1960), she played his girlfriend Ethel; up next were eight guest appearances on Hancock's Half Hour (1956). By that time, her screen personae were firmly established as scatterbrained blondes or feisty gum-chewing working-class Cockneys. Though she often managed to rise above her material, the typecasting sadly continued through a series of dreadful low-brow '70s sex comedies in the 'Adventures' and 'Confessions' series, which represented a significant step-down from the "Carry Ons" and did nothing for her reputation.
Liz attempted to change her image by playing straight dramatic roles in The Family Way (1966) and Up the Junction (1968) (as the mother) and her later career prospered as a fine character actress with guest spots on The Professionals (1977), Minder (1979), Foyle's War (2002), and Midsomer Murders (1997), along with a string of successes on the West End stage. In her private life, she was known to be fond of animals, and she loved to play bridge and ladies' bowls at the exclusive Hurlingham club in Fulham. Her financial astuteness brought substantial gains at the stock market, which she in turn developed into a healthy property portfolio. She always spoke fondly of her co-stars, many of whom she regarded as her close 'mates' during the sixties, in particular Sidney James, Joan Sims, Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper.- Helen Masters was born in 1964 in England, UK. She is an actress, known for Wycliffe (1993), The Affair of the Necklace (2001) and Belonging (2004).
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Deborah Grant was born on 22 February 1947 in London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for London Has Fallen (2016), Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976) and Bergerac (1981). She was previously married to Gregory Floy and Jeremy Child.- Sherrie Hewson was born on 17 September 1950 in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Coronation Street (1960), In Loving Memory (1969) and Oh Doctor Beeching! (1995). She was previously married to Ken Boyd and Hector Blamey.
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Janine Drzewicki was born in the Lancashire seaside town of Morecambe to an English mother and a Polish father. She attended school in Nottingham and later moved to London to train as an actress at the E 15 theatre school. Shortly after leaving she was given a couple of small roles in television dramas but had no agent, and placed an advert in the 'Spotlight' agency catalogue with a photograph. As a result she was approached by the BBC to test for a play about incest, entitled Diane (1975). Although she was in her early 20s the part was that of a 13-year-old girl but her audition was sufficiently convincing to win her the role. The door thus opened to her for more TV and stage roles and, whilst she was appearing in 'Don Juan' at Hampstead Theatre, London, she was spotted by Mike Leigh who offered her the part of Angie in the stage production of Abigail's Party (1977), which she repeated in the television version. A familiar face in television comedy series, she has nonetheless been given very little of note in the cinema, playing typically small roles as mad women in Dracula (1979) and The Madness of King George (1994). Married to the actor Paul Bentall, she has two sons and two daughters, one being the actress Ruby Bentall, and lives in London.- Actress
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Georgina Hale was an accomplished stage actress who made many memorable forays in cinema, most notably in the films of Ken Russell, especially her performance as Alma Mahler, in a wonderful and visually rich biopic on composer Mahler (1974) which she won a BAFTA (British Academy Award) for. Two other standout performances were in Russell's notorious The Devils (1971) and the Twiggy musical "The Boyfriend" in which she played Fay, camping it up, in a backstage lesbian sub plot. She made in-joke cameos in two further Russell films: Lisztomania (1975) and Valentino (1977). Unfortunately, roles dwindled after her BAFTA win, for some reason, and she made some bad movie choices such as The World Is Full of Married Men (1979) (the film version of Jackie Collins's novel of the same name) and McVicar (1980), as well as the occasional stunner such as Butley (1974), written by playwright Simon Gray.
She appeared in many of Gray's stage plays (many were filmed for British television with her in starring roles) and she continued to work in British theatre. She made many guest appearances in UK television series including: Upstairs, Downstairs (1971), The Protectors (1972), Lady Killers (1980), Minder (1979), Boon (1986), One Foot in the Grave (1990), Murder Most Horrid (1991), The Vicar of Dibley (1994), three episodes of Doctor Who (1963) and many many others. She starred in two television series: Budgie (1971) (a successful series in the 1970s) and, in the early 1990s, a cult children's series based around a witch-like figure called "T. Bag".
Most recently, she had appeared in a comic role in Preaching to the Perverted (1997) in which her character pointed out that sometimes one has to debase one's self to further one's career. This film didn't much further her career (at age 55, she did a Sharon Stone under-table leg trick) but it added to her growing reputation as one of the UK's favorite cult actresses. She died in 2024, aged 80.- Sue Holderness was born on 28 May 1949 in Hampstead, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Only Fools and Horses (1981), The Green Green Grass (2005) and Dear John.... (1986). She is married to Mark Piper. They have two children.
- Sandy Ratcliff was born on 2 October 1948 in Islington, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for EastEnders (1985), The Final Programme (1973) and Danger UXB (1979). She was married to Peter Wright. She died on 7 April 2019 in London, England, UK.
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Sara Sugarman was born in Rhyl, Denbighshire, Wales, UK. Sara is an actor and director, known for Vinyl (2012), Very Annie Mary (2001) and Sid and Nancy (1986). Sara was previously married to David Thewlis.- Geraldine Alexander was born in 1960 in Leamington Spa, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Bridgerton (2020), The Child in Time (2017) and Extras (2005).
- Sylvia Kay was born on 16 May 1936 in Altrincham, Cheshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Wake in Fright (1971), Just Good Friends (1983) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955). She was married to Christopher Douglas and Ted Kotcheff. She died on 18 January 2019 in London, England, UK.
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June Brown served in the Wrens and was classically trained at the Old Vic Drama School. She enjoyed a long career in the theatre, television and the cinema. The actor Nigel Hawthorne described her as "one of the most beautiful creatures I've seen on stage" after seeing her performance as Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler." Aside from her EastEnders (1985) fame as Dot Cotton, she appeared as "Lady Macbeth" opposite Albert Finney and directed "Double D" at the 1993 Edinburgh Festival.- Actress
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She was born in Sunderland but raised just down the coast in Peterlee where she was educated at Peterlee Comprehensive. At 14 she joined the local drama group which led to a part in the children's tv series 'Quest of Eagles' and appeared in some television commercials including one as a shop assistant in a 'Mates' condom ad and one for Carlsberg Lager. At 17 she auditioned for 3 drama schools and was turned down by all of them but she didn't mention to them that she was a member of the National Youth Theatre or that she had been on TV. She moved to London at 18 intending to go to art college but a year later still wanting to act she paid for acting lessons to learn the techniques she felt she needed. Only twice she says that she was affected by nerves, the first was when she was taking her driving test, the other was when she was up for a BAFTA Award She's directed a short film 'Speed', about car thieves for Tyne Tees Television.- Actress
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Linda was born in London. She is the daughter of a comedy magician, agent and comedy band leader. After leaving school at an early age, and a brief spell in club comedy Linda started her acting career in repertory theatre. She appeared in everything from Shakespeare to farce, in various theatre up and down the country. This was followed by the leading part in Tom Stoppard's Dirty Linen in the West End, and then a spell with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her television and film work is extensive, she was regular in the hit HiDeHi comedy series, but has worked in many top television dramas. She is also the author of a series of successful crime novels.- Susannah Corbett was born in 1968 in London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), First Knight (1995) and Peak Practice (1993).
- Ann Lynn was born on 7 November 1933 in Fulham, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Just Good Friends (1983), A Shot in the Dark (1964) and Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973). She was married to Anthony Newley. She died on 30 August 2020 in Oxfordshire, England, UK.
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Diane Keen was born on 29 July 1946 in London, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Sweeney! (1977), Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987) and The Athena Syndrome.- Frances Cuka was born in 1936 in London, to Joseph and Letitia Cuka. The family eventually moved to Hove, where Frances was educated at Brighton and Hove High School. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, then made her stage debut in 1955 in 'Meet Mr. Callaghan' in Warrington. Following work with several repertory companies, she joined the Theatre Workshop and appeared with them at the Zurich Festival and the Moscow Art Theatre in 1957. She then played the part of Jo in 'A Taste of Honey' in 1958 at the Theatre Royal, Stratford, East London, transferring with it to the West End then Broadway, followed by an American tour. Her further West End appearances included 'Vanity Fair', 'Sweet Bird of Youth', 'Waters of the Moon', 'The Wild Duck' and a number with the R.S.C. in 'Days in Trees', 'Travesties,' and 'Nicholas Nickelby.' She made her television debut in 1964 in Twelve Good Men (1964) of The Hidden Truth (1964) series, which was followed by episodes of Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), The Informer (1966), The Champions (1968), Within These Walls (1974), Crown Court (1972), Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987), The Bill (1984), Doctors (2000), and Casualty (1986) amongst others. She made her film debut in the little-known comedy Over the Odds (1961) in 1961 and didn't appear on screen again until 1970, when she played Bob Cratchit's wife in the musical version of Scrooge (1970). The best known of her films is Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), in which she played Catherine of Aragon.
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Toyah has successfully combined acting and singing for 40 years to critical acclaim. This year The Telegraph called her "absolutely brilliant!" in her latest film role as Barbara in Steve Oram's Aaaaaaaah! (2015). She has a passion for independent film and experimentation, having been a muse of the late director Derek Jarman. Toyah has always balanced her acting/TV work with a career as a rock singer. The band called "Toyah" were very successful, particularly in the UK, in the early 1980s. Toyah's unique voice, musical style, and personality contributed to her being voted Best Female Singer at the 1983 British Rock and Pop awards.- Actress
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Vicki trained at the Aida Foster Theatre School and quickly won a variety of roles in film, television and on stage but it was her portrayal of Yvette in the hit BBC series Allo Allo that gained her worldwide recognition. Vicki played Yvette for all nine series with the Allo Allo stage play taking her on national and international tours to Australia and New Zealand smashing box office records, not to mention four seasons in the West End at the Palladium, Prince of Wales and Dominion theatres. Renowned for her versatility, Vicki began her extensive acting career playing leading straight roles in Softly Softly, The Professionals, Minder and Play for Today but her wonderful gift for comedy timing soon brought her to the roles we are most familiar with. On TV she has worked with the greatest names in comedy including Les Dawson, The Two Ronnies, Ken Dodd and Kenny Everett, and has appeared in such series as Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads, Are you Being Served and Come Back Mrs Noah, her role in the latter being directly instrumental in her winning the part of Yvette in Allo Allo. She has also made guest appearances on countless chat and game shows including Noel's Houseparty, where she played the role of Noel's amorous next door neighbour for three seasons, This Morning, Generation Game, Give Us A Clue, Through The Keyhole, All Over The Shop, Today's The Day, Loose Lips, The Weakest Link, Stars Reunited, Britain's Best Sitcom, Comedy Connections and the documentary Pantoland. Added to this she is also an accomplished presenter and is frequently sought after today as a speaker at corporate functions. She also regularly hosts charity events around the country. Film credits include: - The Greek Tycoon, The Likely Lads, Alfie Darling, Sweet William, Spectre, The Last Days of Pompeii, George and Mildred, The Priest of Love, Queen Kong, The Sentinel, Four on Four and The Colour of Funny. In the year 2000, Vicki embarked on a totally new venture working with English Sinfonia. Not only did she perform with them at The Cressing Temple Festival but also narrated Edith Sitwell poetry to William Walton's Façade at the orchestra's home venue, bringing a sparkling new dimension to the work which will long be remembered. Extensive theatre work has taken her from drama to pantomime, musicals to comedy. She played opposite Dudley Moore in Play It Again Sam at the Globe Theatre- London, the leading roles of Vera in Doctor In The House, Mina in
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Hetty Baynes was born in 1956 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK. She is an actress and writer, known for Cordelia (2019), The Casual Vacancy (2015) and The Hour (2011). She was previously married to Ken Russell.- Julia St John was born on 3 August 1956 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Brittas Empire (1991), The Young Victoria (2009) and Jab Tak Hai Jaan (2012). She has been married to Peter McEnery since 1997.
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Jackie Collins was born on 4 October 1937 in London, England, UK. She was an actress and writer, known for Danger Man (1960), The Saint (1962) and The Stud (1978). She was married to Oscar Lerman and Wallace Austin. She died on 19 September 2015 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Diana Malin was born on 19 June 1957. She is an actress, known for Minder (1979), Play for Today (1970) and Little Dorrit (1987).
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Patricia Maynard was born on 16 February 1942 in Beighton, near Sheffield, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Doctor Who (1963), The Last of the Mohicans (1971) and Minder (1979).- Penny Morrell was born on 4 February 1938 in England, UK. She was an actress, known for The End of the Affair (1999), EastEnders (1985) and Armchair Theatre (1956). She was married to George Cole. She died on 3 January 2020 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.