Jessica Benton

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Jessica Benton (Date of birth 1942) is a British actress, mainly known for her role in the BBC series The Onedin Line.

She had some minor roles on TV such as "Z Cars" in 1970. "The Juggler of Notre Dame" (1970) She also appeared in Upstairs, Downstairs (1971) "Lady Cynthia" in the episode "The Path of Duty", The Duchess of Duke Street(1976) as Eleanor Prentice in the episode "A Lesson in Manners" and Thomas and Sarah (1979) playing "Grace Laughton" in the episode "Birds of a Feather".

This led her to the starring role in the Onedin Line playing Elizabeth Onedin / Frazer / Lady Fogarty. For nearly a decade from 1971 to 1980 Jessica was one of the best known actresses in the UK.

The end of the Onedin Line was also unfortunately the end of Jessica's fame. There was one last foray into bustles and corsets in 1992. A drama-documentary shot in Austria in which she played Queen Anne. Jessica also did a selection of plays at Salisbury Playhouse, but decided to leave the acting profession to concentrate on her family and the many animals she has at home. After 4 years training Jessica is now and has been for some years, a full time alcohol and drugs counselor.

Jessica lives in the English countryside and is married to the renowned British landscape landscape photographer Charlie Waite. They have a daughter Ella.

Anne Stallybrass and Peter Gilmore, who she co-starred with in the Onedin Line, have remained life-long friends and Anne is Ella's godmother.