Angela Pleasence

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Angela Pleasence
Angela Pleasence Symptoms headshot.jpg
Pleasence in 1974
Born
Daphne Anne Angela Pleasence

(1941-09-30) 30 September 1941 (age 83)
Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1964–present
Parent(s) Donald Pleasence
Miriam Raymond

Daphne Anne Angela Pleasence (born 30 September 1941) is an English actress. Trained in theatre, Pleasence's first major film role came in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973), followed by roles in horror films such as From Beyond the Grave and Symptoms (1974).

Contents

She worked extensively in television productions and British miniseries throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She had minor roles in the films The Search for John Gissing (2001), Gangs of New York (2002), and The Gigolos (2005).

Biography

Pleasence was born in Chapeltown, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, [1] to Miriam Raymond and actor Donald Pleasence. [2] She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and made her stage debut in 1964 as Titania in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. [3] She appeared extensively in London theatre productions throughout the 1970s. [3]

She is known for her performance as Catherine Howard in the 1970 BBC serial The Six Wives of Henry VIII . Other television credits include Dixon of Dock Green , Les Misérables , The Barchester Chronicles (alongside her father), Mansfield Park , Silas Marner , Midsomer Murders , Whitechapel , Agatha Christie's Poirot and Agatha Christie's Marple . In 1978, she voiced the role of Ophelia in a BBC radio play production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead .

She is also noted for her roles in horror films of the 1970s, including From Beyond the Grave , Symptoms and The Godsend . She made a guest appearance in the parody series Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible satirising her earlier performances.

She has also appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1984 holiday television film A Christmas Carol , Sister Cecilia in Stealing Heaven (1988), a crowd member in Martin Scorsese's 2002 crime drama Gangs of New York , Elizabeth I in the 2007 Doctor Who episode "The Shakespeare Code", and Winnie in the BBC drama Happy Valley (2016).

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1968 Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Scruffy Girl
1969 Destiny of a Spy Peace GirlTelevision film
1973 The Love Ban Mick's Secretary
Hitler: The Last Ten Days Traudel
1974 From Beyond the Grave Emily UnderwoodSegment 2: 'An Act of Kindness'
Symptoms Helen Ramsey
1978 Les Misérables Fantine Television film
1980 The Godsend The Stranger
1984 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past Television film
1985 Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe Molly FarrenTelevision film
1988 Stealing Heaven Sister Cecilia
1989 Somewhere to Run Anita FitzpatrickTelevision film
1991 The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish Louis' Sister
1996SeptemberLottieTelevision film
The ShamanShamanShort film
1997The Pig's FamilyRosyShort film
1998 Cider with Rosie CrabbyTelevision film
2001 The Search for John Gissing Johanna Frielduct
2002 Gangs of New York Woman Accomplice
2005WaverleyWaverleyShort film
2006 The Gigolos Joy
2011 Your Highness Mother

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre GinnyEpisode: "The Madam"
1966Seven Deadly SinsEileenEpisode: "The Erpingham Camp"
1967Sir Arthur Conan DoyleMaidEpisode: "The Chemistry of Love"
Seven Deadly VirtuesCarolEpisode: "The Whole Truth"
1968 Coronation Street Monica SuttonRecurring role; 4 episodes
1969 The Wednesday Play LizEpisode: "Birthday"
The PossessedMarie ShatovMiniseries; 2 episodes
The Expert TinaEpisode: "One Life: More or Less"
Plays of TodayJacksonEpisode: "The Ladies: Joan"
The Wednesday Play Beatrice GraysonEpisode: "The Last Train through the Harecastle Tunnel"
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Catherine Howard Miniseries; 2 episodes
Paul Temple Betty MartinEpisode: "Letters from Robert"
1974 Play of the Month JuliaEpisode: "The Wood Demon"
Aquarius JeanEpisode: "Oh Lovely Wall"
1975 Play for Today Nell HamerEpisode: "Breath"
Churchill's People JorildEpisode: "The Conquerors"
A LegacyClara von Felden/von BerninMiniseries; 4 episodes
1976 Dixon of Dock Green Alice BenfieldEpisode: "Alice"
1979Murder at the WeddingPam AppleyardMiniseries; 3 episodes
1981The Walls of Jericho Elsie Inglis Miniseries; 2 episodes
1982 The Barchester Chronicles Mrs. GrantlyMiniseries; 7 episodes
1983 Mansfield Park Lady BertramMiniseries; 6 episodes
1986 Girls on Top R.S.C Actress #2Episode: "Mr. Yummy Brownie"
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna ClaraMiniseries; 2 episodes
1993 Casualty SoniaEpisode: "Everybody Needs Somebody"
1994The English ProgrammeAnita FitzpatrickEpisode: "Somewhere to Run"
1995 The Bill Mrs. SadlerEpisode: "In the Midnight Hour"
1997 Crime Traveller Mrs. BeavisEpisode: "The Broken Crystal"
1998 Midsomer Murders Doris WinstanleyEpisode: "Death of a Hollow Man"
2001 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible LizzyEpisode: "Scream Satan Scream!"
2003 The Bill MarthaEpisode: "Cross Transfer"
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Miss HartnellEpisode: "The Murder at the Vicarage"
2006 Doctors Amy EdgeworthEpisode: "A Slip of the Mind"
2007 Doctor Who Queen Elizabeth I Episode: "The Shakespeare Code"
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot NannyEpisode: "Appointment with Death"
2009 Casualty CatherineEpisode: "All You Need Is Love"
2011 The Sarah Jane Adventures Mystic MagsEpisode: "The Curse of Clyde Langer"
2013 Whitechapel Louise IverSeries regular; 6 episodes
2016 Happy Valley WinnieRecurring role; 2 episodes

References

  1. Hill 1993, p. 161.
  2. Gussow, mel (3 February 1995). "Donald Pleasence, Virtuoso Actor, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. 1 2 "Angela Pleasence Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 26 May 2015.

Bibliography