Felicity Montagu

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Felicity Montagu
Born
Felicity Jane Montagu

(1960-09-12) 12 September 1960 (age 64)
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Alan Nixon
(m. 1984;div. 2006)
Children2

Felicity Jane Montagu (born 12 September 1960) is an English actress. [1] She is best known for playing Lynn Benfield, the long-suffering assistant of Alan Partridge.

Contents

Early life

Montagu was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire. [2] She attended Loughborough University and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. [3]

Career

Film

Montagu's reputation in comedy character parts was enhanced by her performance in Bridget Jones's Diary as Perpetua, Bridget's unpleasant colleague. [4] She also appeared in the 2006 film Confetti as highly strung magazine editor Vivien Kay-Wylie. [5] She appeared in the film I Want Candy in which she plays the mother of an ambitious teenager. [6] She appeared in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008). [5] In 2013, she reprised her role as Lynn Benfield for the Alan Partridge film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa , [7] and Mrs Mainwaring in the 2016 Dad's Army film. [8] In 2016, Montagu reprised her role as Miss Adolf from the Hank Zipzer series in the TV movie Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe . [9]

Television

In 2004 and 2005, Montagu starred in the ITV comedy drama Doc Martin as Caroline Bosman, the radio presenter of Radio Portwenn. She played Lynn, the faithful but put-upon personal assistant in I'm Alan Partridge , and the vicar's wife Sue in Nighty Night . In 2006, she took the leading role of housewife and gang queen Barbara Du Prez in the comedy series Suburban Shootout . [5] Her other television credits include Mapp & Lucia , The Bill , Lovejoy , Health and Efficiency , Wish Me Luck , Tumbledown , Harry Enfield's Television Programme , 2point4 Children , A Touch of Frost , My Life as a Popat , Johnny and the Bomb , Peak Practice , The Queen's Sister , Coogan's Run , Doc Martin , Lead Balloon , Alexei Sayle's Stuff , Skins , Hank Zipzer , M.I. High , The Durrells , The End of the F***ing World , Rab C. Nesbitt , and Sally4Ever . [10] In 2020, she appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef . [11]

Theatre

After graduating from drama school, Montagu was cast in the Terry Johnson play Unsuitable for Adults at the Bush Theatre. [12] She went on to work at the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal National Theatre. [3] After a long hiatus due to her screen work, Montagu returned to the stage when she starred as Melanie alongside Rowan Atkinson in the 2013 West End production of Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre. [12] In 2017, she appeared at the Liverpool Playhouse in a stage adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as Mrs Bennet, alongside Matthew Kelly as Mr Bennet. [13]

Radio

Montagu has also been a regular voice on a range of comedy programmes on BBC Radio 4 since the mid-1980s. Her credits include Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency , Delve Special , Ayres on the Air, Dial M For Pizza , Old Harry's Game , The Million Pound Radio Show , Revolting People , and No Commitments .

Personal life

Montagu married Alan Nixon in 1984. They divorced in 2006. The couple have two children, Olivia and Luke. Felicity and Olivia worked together in 2016 in the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, where they played a fictional mother and daughter. [12]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV AntheaEpisode: "Episode #1.5"
1985 Coming Through Jesse ChambersTV film
1986 We'll Think of Something CeliaEpisode: "You Know Who Your Friends Are"
Who Dares Wins Pregnant Woman2 episodes
1987–1989 Ffizz Griselda12 episodes
1988 Tumbledown TriciaTelevision film
1988 This is David Lander Linda TimsonEpisode: "Reduced to Tears"
1988–1989 Alexei Sayle's Stuff Various Roles7 episodes
1989 Norbert Smith, a Life Cecilia JohansonTelevision film
1990 Wish Me Luck Nicole Dissard7 episodes
Harry Enfield's Television Programme Thirties PlayerEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
1991 The Bill PearceEpisode: "Furthers"
Josie Jacklyn2 episodes
Casualty Karen Forrester2 episodes
Paul Merton: The Series Various CharactersEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
1992 Lovejoy Deborah FrobisherEpisode: "Out to Lunch
2Point4 Children JaniceEpisode: "I'm Going Slightly Mad"
Funny Business PerformerEpisode: "Visual Comedy"
1993 Bonjour la Classe Parent 2Episode: "Red Card"
KYTV Horsey WomanEpisode: "Get Away with You"
1993–1995 Health and Efficiency Dr. Kate Russell12 episodes
1994 A Touch of Frost Anne ButlerEpisode: "Nothing to Hide"
The All New Alexei Sayle Show Various CharactersEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
1995 Coogan's Run Florence MullingerEpisode: "Handyman for All Seasons"
1995–1998 Smith & Jones Various3 episodes
1997 Brass Eye Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)Episode: "Animals"
Holding the Baby JaneEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
Hospital!SallyTelevision film
Harry Enfield and Chums Woman in Cholmondeley-Warner FilmEpisode: "Harry Enfield and Christmas Chums"
1997–2002 I'm Alan Partridge Lynn Benfield12 episodes
1998 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Susan DentEpisode: "Blood Relations"
Babes in the Wood SashaEpisode: "Christmas Special"
1999 All Along the Watchtower Mrs. CarterEpisode: "Keeping the Peace"
Acts of Passion RosemaryEpisode: "Hungry"
People Like Us VariousEpisode: "The Estate Agent"
2000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries Ruby LarkinEpisode: "The Rising of the Moon"
City Central Jenny WilsonEpisode: "Everything Must Go"
Trust Beth SimpsonTelevision film
Peak Practice Marian LowtherEpisode: "On a Clear Day"
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Perpetua
Mr CharityMrs. GilbertEpisode: "You and Whose Tsunami?"
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible LaviniaEpisode: "And Now the Fearing..."
2003 The Eustace Bros. Ginny TopleyEpisode: "Episode #1.5"
Blackball Astronomer
The Crouches EileenEpisode: "Uncle Sonny"
Hear the Silence Mary WattTelevision film
2004–2005 Nighty Night Sue Forks10 episodes
2004–2007 My Life as a Popat Ivy Saviour5 episodes
2004–2013 Doc Martin Caroline Bosman7 episodes
2005 The Afternoon Play Marjorie GoldblumEpisode: "The Singing Cactus"
Bremner, Bird and Fortune UnknownEpisode: "Episode #7.6"
The Queen's Sister Gillian FlemingTelevision film
Planet Sketch Various (voice)26 episodes
2006 Johnny and the Bomb Mildred Seeley2 episodes
Uncle Dad Mrs. FarquharsonTelevision series
My Family LydiaEpisode: "Dentally Unstable"
Confetti Vivian
2006–2007 Suburban Shootout Barbara du Prez11 episodes
2007 I Want Candy Val, Joe's Mum
Daphne Director, 'September Tide'Television film
2008 M.I. High Big Sister/Mary TaylorEpisode: "Big Sister"
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Clipboard Nazi
2009No Holds BardPaula PickfordTelevision film
Off the Hook Danny's Mum/Mrs. Gordon2 episodes
Outnumbered Mrs. BainEpisode: "The Robbers"
2010 Skins AnneEpisode: "Emily"
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Ms WhiteheadEpisode: "The Snooker Player, the Black Canadian, the Turkish Terrorist, and the Peanut"
2011 North by Northamptonshire Jan (voice)Radio series
Lead Balloon LibbyEpisode: "Off"
Happy ClapperCathShort film
Comedy Showcase MerielEpisode: "Chickens"
Chickens MerielEpisode: "Pilot"
Rab C. Nesbitt Reverend BiddulphEpisode: "Stool"
2011–2012 Little Crackers Mrs. Peters/Mrs. Phipps2 episodes
2012ParentsMaryEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
Just DessertsCarolShort film
2012–2013 Watson & Oliver Various2 episodes
2013 It's Kevin VariousEpisode: "Episode #1.2"
Playhouse Presents MegEpisode: "Stage Door Johnnies"
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Lynn Benfield
You, Me & ThemMagsEpisode: "Three Dinners"
2014 The Slammer Polly MeadowsEpisode: "Polly Meadows"
[[The Boy in the Dress (film}|The Boy in the Dress]]Miss PriceTelevision film
Mapp & Lucia Godiva "Diva" Plaistow3 episodes
2014–2016 Hank Zipzer Miss Adolf38 episodes
2015Funny ValentinesIsabelEpisode: "Last Chance"
Two DownMrs. Hannon
BBC Comedy FeedsJoyEpisode: "Fishbowl"
2016 Dad's Army Elizabeth Mainwaring
The Alan DimensionWendy (voice)Short film
Brief Encounters Joan5 episodes
Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe Miss AdolfTelevision film
2016–2019 The Durrells Cousin Prue4 episodes
2017HuskMotherShort film
Porridge Caroline HawleyEpisode: "The Witness"
The End of the F***ing World JocelynEpisode: "Episode #1.6"
Chinese BurnSueEpisode: "Pilot"
2017-2018 The Tunnel Winnie Miles6 episodes
2018 Urban Myths Paula Strasberg Episode: "Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder"
Vanity Fair Arabella Briggs4 episodes
ButterflyAlice2 episodes
Zapped Head LibrarianEpisode: "Book"
Sally4Ever Eleanor7 episodes
Death on the Tyne DeniseTelevision film
It's Me, Sugar Paula Strasberg Short film
2019The Road to BrexitJill SpillerTelevision film
LasagneBettyShort film
Four Weddings and a Funeral Duffy's MomEpisode: "New Jersey"
National Theatre Live: A Midsummer Night's Dream Quince
2019–2021 This Time with Alan Partridge Lynn Benfield12 episodes
2020 Resistance Mrs. Garner (Emma's Mother)
Heart to HeartHen HolliganShort film
Miss Marx Helen Demuth
2021The AnnouncementPatriciaShort film
Censor Valerie
Brassic Lesley AnneEpisode: "Episode #3.1"
Landscapers Patricia Wycherley3 episodes
2022 Sister Boniface Mysteries Canoness BasilEpisode: "Lights, Camera, Murder!"
Hullraisers Gloria2 episodes
The TrainTina4 episodes
2023Tom JonesBridget AllworthyEpisode: "Episode #1.1"
Black Ops Superintendent Edwards6 episodes
2023–present Beyond Paradise Margo Martins20 episodes
2025 Father Brown Judith SkeltonEpisode: "The Puzzle of Banburismus"
2025 Not Going Out YvonneEpisode: "Campervan"

References

  1. Maltin, Leonard (5 August 2008). Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide . Penguin. pp.  275–. ISBN   9780452289789 . Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  2. "This page no longer exists". Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Felicity Montagu". TVGuide.com.
  4. "BBC Radio 4 - Comedy - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Felicity Montagu". www.bbc.co.uk.
  5. 1 2 3 "Felicity Montagu". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  6. "I Want Candy (2007) - Stephen Surjik | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" via www.allmovie.com.
  7. "'Alan and Lynn have magic together': Felicity Montagu on This Time with Alan Partridge". inews.co.uk. 25 March 2019.
  8. Murphy, Amy (26 October 2014). "Dad's Army film: First photos of Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones and Bill Nighy released". the Independent .
  9. "BAFTA Kids TV Preview: Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe". www.bafta.org. 18 October 2016.
  10. "Felicity Montagu". www.aveleyman.com.
  11. Darvill, Josh (28 June 2020). "Celebrity MasterChef 2020 line up of celebrity contestants revealed". TellyMix. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. 1 2 3 Groves, Nancy (15 September 2016). "Pride and Partridge: Felicity Montagu's comedy gold with Coogan and Austen". The Guardian .
  13. "Pride and Prejudice | Cambridge Live". www.cambridgelive.org.uk.