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IMDbPro

Vivien Merchant(1929-1982)

  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Ian Holm, Cyril Cusack, Michael Jayston, Vivien Merchant, Terence Rigby, and Paul Rogers in The Homecoming (1973)
A film version of Genet's play. Two house cleaners, Solange and Claire, hate their employers and, while they are out, take turns at dressing up as Madame and insulting her.
Play trailer3:05
The Maids (1975)
2 Videos
8 Photos
Vivien Merchant was an English actress, primarily known for dramatic roles on stage and on film. She was born in Manchester, Lancashire in 1929 as Ada Brand Thomson. Her stage name 'Vivien Merchant' was chosen by Ada herself. "Vivien" in reference to actress Vivien Leigh (1913-1967), and "Merchant" reportedly in reference to her brother who was a seaman. She started her acting career in 1942, as an adolescent. She appeared regularly on repertory theatre in the 1940s, and had progressed to appearing in leading roles by the early 1950s. She had a romantic relationship with fellow actor Harold Pinter (1930-2008), and they were married in 1956. In 1958, she gave birth to their only child, Daniel Pinter.

As Pinter became a celebrated playwright, Merchant was regularly cast in productions of his plays. She made her film debut in the comedy-drama "Alfie" (1966), an adaptation of a play by Bill Naughton. For her role as "Lily Clamacraft", she received a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles, and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress but lost to Sandy Dennis. While continuing her successful theatrical career, Merchant appeared in few subsequent films. Among the best remembered of them is the thriller "Frenzy" (1972), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. She essentially appeared in a comic relief role, as the wife of Chief Inspector Oxford. Her final film role was as the Madame in "The Maids" (1975). In the film, two housemaids constantly fantasize about killing their employer (the Madame), but are reluctant to perform the actual murder.

While Merchant's career was relatively successful, her marriage was not. Pinter was an unfaithful husband. From 1962 to 1969, Pinter maintained a long-term relationship with fellow writer and journalist Joan Bakewell (1933-). In 1975, Pinter started a new affair with historian and novelist Antonia Fraser (1932-). He told his wife about the affair, and Merchant started verbally attacking Fraser both in private and in public. Pinter divorced Merchant in 1977, and married Fraser in 1980.

Merchant was left depressed by her divorce, and started heavily drinking in an attempt to drown her sorrows. Her alcoholism caused a decline in her health, and eventually led to her death in 1982. She was only 53-years-old at the time of her death.
BornJuly 22, 1929
DiedOctober 3, 1982(53)
BornJuly 22, 1929
DiedOctober 3, 1982(53)
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • Nominated for 1 Oscar
    • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

Photos8

Sean Connery and Vivien Merchant in The Offence (1973)
Dirk Bogarde and Vivien Merchant in Accident (1967)
Stanley Baker and Vivien Merchant in Accident (1967)
Dirk Bogarde and Vivien Merchant in Accident (1967)
Sean Connery and Vivien Merchant in The Offence (1973)
Michael Bates, Alec McCowen, and Vivien Merchant in Frenzy (1972)
Michael Bates, Alec McCowen, and Vivien Merchant in Frenzy (1972)

Known for

Anna Massey in Frenzy (1972)
Frenzy
7.4
  • Mrs. Oxford
  • 1972
Alfie (1966)
Alfie
7.0
  • Lily Clamacraft
  • 1966
The Homecoming (1973)
The Homecoming
6.8
  • Ruth
  • 1973
The Maids (1975)
The Maids
6.3
  • Madame
  • 1975

Credits

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IMDbPro

Actress

  • Don Henderson, Diane Keen, Peter Sallis, and Don Warrington in Crown Court (1972)
    Crown Court
    • Her Honour Justice Forester-Phillips
    • TV Series
    • 1982
  • A Tale of Two Cities (1980)
    A Tale of Two Cities
    • Miss Pross
    • TV Mini Series
    • 1980
  • Martin Jarvis in Breakaway (1980)
    Breakaway
    • Isabel Black
    • TV Series
    • 1980
  • Bernard Hepton, Angela Richards, and Clifford Rose in Secret Army (1977)
    Secret Army
    • Mlle. Gunet
    • TV Series
    • 1977
  • Ben Kingsley, Rosemary Leach, and Puneet Sira in The Velvet Glove (1977)
    The Velvet Glove
    • Elizabeth Fry
    • TV Series
    • 1977
  • Richard Chamberlain in The Man in the Iron Mask (1977)
    The Man in the Iron Mask
    • Maria Theresa
    • TV Movie
    • 1977
  • The Lover
    • Sarah
    • TV Movie
    • 1977
  • The Maids (1975)
    The Maids
    • Madame
    • 1975
  • Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)
    Softly Softly: Task Force
    • Maggie Jarman
    • TV Series
    • 1973
  • The Homecoming (1973)
    The Homecoming
    • Ruth
    • 1973
  • BBC Play of the Month (1965)
    BBC Play of the Month
    • Jane Noble
    • Dona Ana
    • Evelyn Daly
    • TV Series
    • 1968–1973
  • The Offence (1973)
    The Offence
    • Maureen
    • 1973
  • A War of Children (1972)
    A War of Children
    • Nora Tomelty
    • TV Movie
    • 1972
  • Anna Massey in Frenzy (1972)
    Frenzy
    • Mrs. Oxford
    • 1972
  • Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter O'Toole in Under Milk Wood (1971)
    Under Milk Wood
    • Mrs. Pugh
    • 1971

Videos2

Trailer
Trailer 3:05
Trailer
Accident Trailer
Trailer 2:16
Accident Trailer

Personal details

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  • Born
    • July 22, 1929
    • Manchester, England, UK
  • Died
    • October 3, 1982
    • London, England, UK(acute alcoholism)
  • Spouse
    • Harold Pinter1956 - 1980 (divorced, 1 child)
  • Other works
    (1950s) Much-loved leading lady at the Intimate Theatre, (London repertory)
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Articles

Did you know

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  • Trivia
    Pinter began having an affair with writer/historian Antonia Fraser in 1975. Vivien, battling problems with alcohol, cited Antonia in her divorce action despite the fact the marriage had been crumbling since the mid-60s. Vivien and Pinter finally divorced in 1980 and Pinter married Antonia in December of that same year. Vivien was unconsolable and died two years later of liver cirrhosis.

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