Deddie Davies

Deddie Davies
Born Gillian Nancy Davies
(1938-03-02)2 March 1938
Bridgend, Wales, UK
Died 21 December 2016(2016-12-21) (aged 78)
Occupation Actress
Years active 1967–2016

Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016[1]) was a Welsh character actress.[2]

Biography

Davies was born in Bridgend, Wales.[2] She trained at RADA and is most familiar to television viewers for comedy roles in a host of series, including The Rag Trade, That's My Boy, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Chance in a Million.[2][3]

She appeared in non-comedic roles in series such as The Bill, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga and Grange Hill.[2] Her film roles include that of Nell Perks in The Railway Children (1970), and The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972).[2]

In her later life, Davies was concerned for issues facing the elderly. In May 2007 she had musical success as a member of superannuated pop group The Zimmers. Their cover version of "My Generation" highlighted the plight of the elderly, and reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart.[4] In 2008, Davies investigated the quality of life in elderly care facilities by posing as the aunt of a BBC reporter, being admitted to a rest home, and spending five days there.[5] She recorded her experiences and treatment and concluded that life in many facilities was a "slow death", featuring inactivity, loneliness and minimal interpersonal interaction. Davies' research was reported on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.[6][7] She became a trustee and recorded a video for UK registered charity Compassion in Care.[8]

From 2012, she appeared as Marj Brennig in the British TV series Stella.[9][10]

She died on 21 December 2016, aged 78.[11]

Filmography

TV

Year Title Character Production Company Notes
1973 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Miss Thomas BBC One Series 1[12]
1978 The Mayor of Casterbridge Nancy BBC Two Series of 7 episodes; also broadcast in the U.S.[13]
1984 Titus Andronicus Nurse BBC [14]
1984–1986 Chance in a Million [15]
1985–1986 That's My Boy Miss Parfitt Yorkshire Television
1993 Time After Time Auntie Dot London Weekend Television [16]
1997 Cows Cook Channel 4 [16]
2007 Sensitive Skin Deddie BBC Two Series 2[17]
2011 The Catherine Tate Show BBC Two [18]
2012 The Neighbourhood BBC North Comedy pilot, screened at BBC’s Salford Comedy Festival[19]
2012-2016 Stella Marj Sky 1 Series 1-5

Film

Year Title Character Notes
1970 The Railway Children Nell Perks
1972 The Amazing Mr Blunden Miss Meakin [20]
1986 The Canterville Ghost Aunt Caroline [21]
Murder at the Vicarage Mrs Salisbury BBC film based on the novel by Agatha Christie[22]
1990 The Purity of the Turf (U.S)

The Village Sports Day at Twing (U.K.)

Serving Lady Based on stories by P.G. Wodehouse[23]
1988 Consuming Passions Mrs Coot
2010 Bad Night for the Blues Dorothy Short film
2011 Swinging with the Finkels Older woman
2014 Pride Old Lady

References

  1. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/jan/02/deddie-davies-obituary
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Association, Press (2016-12-21). "Railway Children actor Deddie Davies dies aged 78". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  3. Eddie Pedder (1985). Who's Who on Television, 3rd Edition. Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-907965-31-8.
  4. "Never too old! Pensioners The Zimmers fight for their right to party on BGT as one older lady catches Simon Cowell's eye". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  5. "BBC NEWS | UK | Care home life is 'slow death'". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  6. Ceci, Christine (2012). Perspectives on Care at Home for Older People. New York: Routledge. p. 39.
  7. "BBC NEWS | UK | Deddie Davies". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  8. Compassion in Care
  9. Stella cast list
  10. Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  11. Kathryn Williams, "Stella and The Railway Children actress Deddie Davies dies at the age of 78", Wales Online, 21 December 2016
  12. "The Hospital Visit, Series 1, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em – BBC One". BBC. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  13. Niemeyer, Paul (2003). Seeing Hardy: Film and Television Adaptations of the Fiction of Thomas Hardy. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 263.
  14. Howell, Jane; Sutton, Shaun; Ranson, Malcolm; Simpson, Dudley George; Lavers, Colin; Anthony, Chick; Wilders, John; Burrough, Tony; Davies-Prowles, Paul (1984-01-01). Titus Andronicus. New York, N.Y.: Ambrose Video Publishing.
  15. Blethyn, Brenda; Callow, Simon (2013-01-01), Chance in a million: the complete series., retrieved 2016-12-23
  16. 1 2 Perry, Christopher (2015). The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936–2015. Lulu. p. 230.
  17. "Three Lost Loves, Series 2, Sensitive Skin – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  18. "Nan's Christmas Carol, The Catherine Tate Show – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  19. "BBC – BBC Comedy presents four comedy pilots at Salford Sitcom Showcase – Media Centre". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-12-22.
  20. Levinson, Barry; Jeffries, Lionel; Shingleton, Wilfrid; Darvas, Teddy; Fisher, Gerry; Bernstein, Elmer; Smith, Roy; Graves, Bryan; Moore, Pat (1972-01-01), The amazing Mr. Blunden, Hemdale Group, retrieved 2016-12-23
  21. Sherman, Fraser (2000). Cyborgs, Santa Claus and Satan: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Made for Television. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 31.
  22. Pitts, Michael (2004). Famous Movie Detectives III. Oxford, England: Scarecrow Press. p. 153.
  23. Taves, Brian (2006). P.G. Wodehouse and Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires and Adaptations. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 198.
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