24th November 1912 – 24th May 1992
Fact File
She was a well-liked British television and stage performer. Throughout numerous seasons at Stratford Upon Avon, she performed in the the roles of Goneril in King Lear, Constance in King John, and Queen Margaret in Richard III. Throughout the Second World War she trained in repertory and toured North Africa and Italy performing for the troops.
In 1948 she wedded fellow actor Gregory Moseley.
She appeared in a single season at the Old Vic in 'The Mousetrap', and in 1981 finished her stage career in the production of "Anyone for Denis" at the Whitehall Theatre in London's West End.
She was famous for her portrayal of headmistress Doris Ewell in the LWT comedy series "Please Sir!" , a few years later playing Mrs Pugh Critchley in 'All Gas and Gaiters' (1970-71), additionally as a role in the brief sitcom 'Wild, Wild Women' (1969) and she is also fondly remembered as the partially and more important selectively deaf Mrs. Richards in the 1975 episode of "Fawlty Towers" called ‘Communication Problems.
In After Henry both on the radio (1985-88), and soon after television (1988–92), playing the domineering , mother ,Eleanor of Sarah (Prunella Scales), who lives her in a flat in Sarah's big house.
Her film roles were infrequent, but she is credited in 'The Great Muppet Caper', playing John Cleese's wife, and had a small part in' Prick Up Your Ears', the film biography based on the life of playwright Joe Orton.
Related Video
Credits
After Henry (TV series)
Eleanor Prescott
1992 Land of Hope and Gloria (TV series)
Nancy Princeton
1988 Thompson (TV series)
– Episode #1.5 (1988)
1984-1988 Me and My Girl (TV series)
Nell Cresset
1987 Prick Up Your Ears
Anthea's Mother
1987 Screen Two (TV series)
Miss Wilbraham
– East of Ipswich (1987) … Miss Wilbraham
1986 Full House (TV series)
Mrs. Hatfield
– If at First You Don't Succeed (1986) … Mrs. Hatfield
1985 Alice in Wonderland (TV series)
The Queen of Hearts
– The Mock Turtle's Story, the Lobster Quadrille and Who Stole the Tarts? (1985) … The Queen of Hearts (voice)
– A Mad Tea Party and the Queen's Croquet Ground (1985) … The Queen of Hearts (voice)
1984 The Fainthearted Feminist (TV series)
Mother
1983 Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime (TV series)
Rachel Logan
– The House of Lurking Death (1983) … Rachel Logan
1983 All for Love (TV series)
Mrs. Davidson
– Down at the Hydro (1983) … Mrs. Davidson
1982 Anyone for Denis? (TV movie)
Rear Admiral
1982 Play for Today (TV series)
Miss Tunstall
– Intensive Care (1982) … Miss Tunstall
1981 The Great Muppet Caper
Dorcas
1981 Janet and Company (TV series)
– Episode #1.3 (1981)
1981 Barriers (TV series)
Miss Morton
– Episode #1.8 (1981) … Miss Morton
1980 How's Your Father? (TV series)
– The Promotion (1980)
1979 Ripping Yarns (TV series)
Lady Bartlesham
– Roger of the Raj (1979) … Lady Bartlesham
1979 Fawlty Towers (TV series)
Mrs. Alice Richards
– Communication Problems (1979) … Mrs. Alice Richards
1978 Doris and Doreen (TV movie)
Dorothy Binns
1978 Rising Damp (TV series)
Mother
– Pink Carnations (1978) … Mother
1978 Mixed Blessings (TV series)
Aunt Dorothy
– The Housewarming (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
– You Haven't Got Much, Have You? (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
– Welcome to the Family (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
1978 The Ghosts of Motley Hall (TV series)
Alexandra
– Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 2 (1978) … Alexandra
– Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 1 (1978) … Alexandra
1977 Jubilee (TV series)
– Silver Lining (1977)
1976 Well Anyway (TV series)
The Countess
– Be That as It May (1976) … The Countess
1976 Des O'Connor Entertains (TV series)
– Episode dated 4 June 1976 (1976)
1976 Wodehouse Playhouse (TV series)
Lady Bassett
– Strychnine in the Soup (1976) … Lady Bassett
1976 Yus My Dear (TV series)
Mrs. Hartington
– Brother Benny (1976) … Mrs. Hartington
1975 Upstairs, Downstairs (TV series)
Mrs. Waddilove
– Noblesse Oblige (1975) … Mrs. Waddilove
1975 The Les Dawson Show (TV movie)
Various Characters
1975 Crown Court (TV series)
Susan Halls
– Matron: Part 1 (1975) … Susan Halls
1968-1972 Please Sir! (TV series)
Doris Ewell
– The Fixer (1972) … Doris Ewell
– The Price War (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Blodwyn All Over (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Please Give Generously (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Cup Fever (1972) … Doris Ewell
See all 55 episodes »
1970-1971 All Gas and Gaiters (TV series)
Grace Pugh-Critchley
1971 Please Sir!
Doris Ewell
1970 Never Say Die (TV series)
Sister Brooding
– The New Sister (1970) … Sister Brooding
1970 Comedy Playhouse (TV series)
Smythe
– Meter Maids (1970) … Smythe
1970 W. Somerset Maugham (TV series)
Lady Brancaster
– The Human Element (1970) … Lady Brancaster
1969 Wild, Wild Women (TV series)
Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.6 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.4 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.1 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
1965-1967 The Wednesday Play (TV series)
Angela Walker / Isobel
– Fall of the Goat (1967) … Isobel
– The Confidence Course (1965) … Angela Walker
1967 Boy Meets Girl (TV series)
Germaine
– Goodnight Pelican (1967) … Germaine
1966 Who Killed the Cat?
Mrs. Sandford
1966 Seven Deadly Sins (TV series)
Hotel Receptionist
– A Temporary Typist (1966) … Hotel Receptionist
1965 Night Train to Surbiton (TV mini-series)
Manageress
– Episode #1.1 (1965) … Manageress
1964 Detective (TV series)
Mrs. Blayne
– End of Chapter (1964) … Mrs. Blayne
1963 Maigret (TV series)
– Poor Cecile! (1963)
1962 Dial RIX (TV series)
Mrs. Hathaway
– No Plums in the Pudding (1962) … Mrs. Hathaway
1962 Hotel Paradiso (TV movie)
Angelique
1962 She Knows, Y'Know
Euphemia Smallhope
1961 The Pocket Lancer (TV movie)
Countess of Clarencourt
1954-1958 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series)
Mrs. Dangerfield / Mrs. Ralston
– Brian Rix Presents #2: Nothing But the Truth (1958) … Mrs. Ralston
– Halcyon Days (1954) … Mrs. Dangerfield
1956 Rex Milligan (TV series)
Mrs. Pinkney
– The Bogus Formula (1956) … Mrs. Pinkney
1956 Lord Emsworth and the Little Friend (TV movie)
Lady Constance
1955 St. Ives (TV series)
Miss Gilchrist
– The Assembly Ball (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– Amersham Place (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– A la Belle Flora (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– Lion Rampant (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
1951 Young Wives' Tale
Nurse
Eleanor Prescott
1992 Land of Hope and Gloria (TV series)
Nancy Princeton
1988 Thompson (TV series)
– Episode #1.5 (1988)
1984-1988 Me and My Girl (TV series)
Nell Cresset
1987 Prick Up Your Ears
Anthea's Mother
1987 Screen Two (TV series)
Miss Wilbraham
– East of Ipswich (1987) … Miss Wilbraham
1986 Full House (TV series)
Mrs. Hatfield
– If at First You Don't Succeed (1986) … Mrs. Hatfield
1985 Alice in Wonderland (TV series)
The Queen of Hearts
– The Mock Turtle's Story, the Lobster Quadrille and Who Stole the Tarts? (1985) … The Queen of Hearts (voice)
– A Mad Tea Party and the Queen's Croquet Ground (1985) … The Queen of Hearts (voice)
1984 The Fainthearted Feminist (TV series)
Mother
1983 Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime (TV series)
Rachel Logan
– The House of Lurking Death (1983) … Rachel Logan
1983 All for Love (TV series)
Mrs. Davidson
– Down at the Hydro (1983) … Mrs. Davidson
1982 Anyone for Denis? (TV movie)
Rear Admiral
1982 Play for Today (TV series)
Miss Tunstall
– Intensive Care (1982) … Miss Tunstall
1981 The Great Muppet Caper
Dorcas
1981 Janet and Company (TV series)
– Episode #1.3 (1981)
1981 Barriers (TV series)
Miss Morton
– Episode #1.8 (1981) … Miss Morton
1980 How's Your Father? (TV series)
– The Promotion (1980)
1979 Ripping Yarns (TV series)
Lady Bartlesham
– Roger of the Raj (1979) … Lady Bartlesham
1979 Fawlty Towers (TV series)
Mrs. Alice Richards
– Communication Problems (1979) … Mrs. Alice Richards
1978 Doris and Doreen (TV movie)
Dorothy Binns
1978 Rising Damp (TV series)
Mother
– Pink Carnations (1978) … Mother
1978 Mixed Blessings (TV series)
Aunt Dorothy
– The Housewarming (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
– You Haven't Got Much, Have You? (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
– Welcome to the Family (1978) … Aunt Dorothy
1978 The Ghosts of Motley Hall (TV series)
Alexandra
– Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 2 (1978) … Alexandra
– Skeleton in the Cupboard: Part 1 (1978) … Alexandra
1977 Jubilee (TV series)
– Silver Lining (1977)
1976 Well Anyway (TV series)
The Countess
– Be That as It May (1976) … The Countess
1976 Des O'Connor Entertains (TV series)
– Episode dated 4 June 1976 (1976)
1976 Wodehouse Playhouse (TV series)
Lady Bassett
– Strychnine in the Soup (1976) … Lady Bassett
1976 Yus My Dear (TV series)
Mrs. Hartington
– Brother Benny (1976) … Mrs. Hartington
1975 Upstairs, Downstairs (TV series)
Mrs. Waddilove
– Noblesse Oblige (1975) … Mrs. Waddilove
1975 The Les Dawson Show (TV movie)
Various Characters
1975 Crown Court (TV series)
Susan Halls
– Matron: Part 1 (1975) … Susan Halls
1968-1972 Please Sir! (TV series)
Doris Ewell
– The Fixer (1972) … Doris Ewell
– The Price War (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Blodwyn All Over (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Please Give Generously (1972) … Doris Ewell
– Cup Fever (1972) … Doris Ewell
See all 55 episodes »
1970-1971 All Gas and Gaiters (TV series)
Grace Pugh-Critchley
1971 Please Sir!
Doris Ewell
1970 Never Say Die (TV series)
Sister Brooding
– The New Sister (1970) … Sister Brooding
1970 Comedy Playhouse (TV series)
Smythe
– Meter Maids (1970) … Smythe
1970 W. Somerset Maugham (TV series)
Lady Brancaster
– The Human Element (1970) … Lady Brancaster
1969 Wild, Wild Women (TV series)
Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.6 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.4 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
– Episode #1.1 (1969) … Mrs. Harcourt
1965-1967 The Wednesday Play (TV series)
Angela Walker / Isobel
– Fall of the Goat (1967) … Isobel
– The Confidence Course (1965) … Angela Walker
1967 Boy Meets Girl (TV series)
Germaine
– Goodnight Pelican (1967) … Germaine
1966 Who Killed the Cat?
Mrs. Sandford
1966 Seven Deadly Sins (TV series)
Hotel Receptionist
– A Temporary Typist (1966) … Hotel Receptionist
1965 Night Train to Surbiton (TV mini-series)
Manageress
– Episode #1.1 (1965) … Manageress
1964 Detective (TV series)
Mrs. Blayne
– End of Chapter (1964) … Mrs. Blayne
1963 Maigret (TV series)
– Poor Cecile! (1963)
1962 Dial RIX (TV series)
Mrs. Hathaway
– No Plums in the Pudding (1962) … Mrs. Hathaway
1962 Hotel Paradiso (TV movie)
Angelique
1962 She Knows, Y'Know
Euphemia Smallhope
1961 The Pocket Lancer (TV movie)
Countess of Clarencourt
1954-1958 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV series)
Mrs. Dangerfield / Mrs. Ralston
– Brian Rix Presents #2: Nothing But the Truth (1958) … Mrs. Ralston
– Halcyon Days (1954) … Mrs. Dangerfield
1956 Rex Milligan (TV series)
Mrs. Pinkney
– The Bogus Formula (1956) … Mrs. Pinkney
1956 Lord Emsworth and the Little Friend (TV movie)
Lady Constance
1955 St. Ives (TV series)
Miss Gilchrist
– The Assembly Ball (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– Amersham Place (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– A la Belle Flora (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
– Lion Rampant (1955) … Miss Gilchrist
1951 Young Wives' Tale
Nurse