Claire Davenport

Claire Davenport
Born Claire Bernice Davenport
(1933-04-24)24 April 1933
Sale, Cheshire, England, UK
Died 25 February 2002(2002-02-25) (aged 68)
London, England, UK
Occupation British actress
Years active 1961 - 1994

Claire Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English actress well known for her "junoesque" form and who was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique.[1]

Life and career

She was born Claire Bernice Davenport on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire and began acting in 1961 with a theatre role in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in Oxford.[2]

Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi (as the Yarna d'al' Gargan, originally billed as Fat Dancer), The Return of the Pink Panther, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate, Carry On Emmannuelle, The Tempest, and The Elephant Man. On television she appeared in Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses among others.[3] She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language.[4] Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.[5]

Death

She suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s, which stopped her working. Claire Davenport died in London on 25 February 2002[3] (not 4 March as often stated), aged 68, from renal failure.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1963 Ladies Who Do Passerby Uncredited
1969 Crossplot Wedding guest
1970 Some Will, Some Won't Blowzy Woman
1971 On the Buses Peggy
1973 The Best Pair of Legs in the Business Eating lady
1975 The Return of the Pink Panther Masseuse
1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Mrs Bakewell Uncredited
Intimate Games Fat stripper
1978 Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse Mrs Buchanan
Jubilee First Customs Lady
Adventures of a Plumber's Mate Belinda
Carry On Emmannuelle Blonde in pub
1979 The Tempest Sycorax
Birth of the Beatles Nude
1980 The Elephant Man Fat Lady
1982 Trail of the Pink Panther Hotel Maid Uncredited
1983 Screamtime Mrs. Harlett Uncredited
Return of the Jedi Fat Dancer
1989 War Requiem Charge Sister / Britannia
1990 Camping English camper

Partial Television roles

Title Year Role
Bulldog Breed 1962 Landlady
The Rag Trade 1963 Myrtle
Doctor Who 1964 The Empress
Love Story 1964 Miss Denning
Crossroads 1964 Miss Montgomery
The Sullivan Brothers 1965 Mrs Melvin
The Baron 1966 Anna Lubovitch
Gideon's Way 1966 Helen
Ways with Words 1966 Woman in restaurant
George and the Dragon 1968 Samantha
ITV Playhouse 1968 Mrs Mosscrop
Theatre 625 1968 Mrs Bliss
Boy meets Girl 1968 Nurse Vileski
Armchair Theatre 1969 Mrs Kapodis
W. Somerset Maugham 1970 Rosa
The Other Reg Varney 1970 Various characters
Play for Today 1971 Nurse
The Misfit 1971 Boris
Queenie's Castle 1971 Glenda
Stage 2 1972 Woman
Menace 1972 Barmaid
On the Buses 1973 Mrs Webb
The Song of Songs 1973 Neighbour
Hey Brian! 1973 Woman
Pollyanna 1973 Mrs Spencer
Shoulder to Shoulder 1974 Nurse Pine
Fawlty Towers 1975 Mrs Wilson
Don't Drink The Water 1975 Bertha
Couples 1976 Mrs Bagley
George and Mildred 1976 Shop assistant
The Fuzz 1977 Miss Bullock
Angels 1978 Doreen Smith
George and Mildred 1978 Gloria Rumbold
Mind Your Language 1979 Eva
Metal Mickey 1981 Cavewoman
Alice in Wonderland 1986 The Duchess

Notes

  1. ↑ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). "The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition". Oxford University Press – via Google Books.
  2. ↑ Noble 1982, p. 356.
  3. 1 2 "Claire Davenport".
  4. ↑ "Repent at Leisure (1979)".
  5. ↑ Davenport on IMDb.

Bibliography


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