Judy Cornwell
Judy Valerie Cornwell (born 22 February 1940) is an English actress best known for her role as Daisy in the successful British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995). She also played Anya Claus in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985). In her later years she became known for playing Miss Marple in many stage productions, including 'A Murder Is Announced' between 2014–2016
Judy Cornwell | |
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Born | Judy Valerie Cornwell 22 February 1940 Hammersmith, London, England |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1959–2016, 2020 |
Spouse(s) | John Kelsall Parry (m. 1960) |
Children | 1 |
Website | http://www.judycornwell.com/ |
Biography
Cornwell's father served in the RAF and she grew up in Britain, where she attended a convent school and Saint Michael Boarding school in Heacham, Norfolk, before moving to Australia, to which country her family emigrated. She has written about her childhood experiences in her autobiography Adventures of a Jelly Baby. She returned to Britain and became a professional dancer and comedian in her teens, working her act between the nudes at the Irving Theatre before becoming an actress. Her career includes roles in radio's The Navy Lark, the play Oh! What A Lovely War,[1] her own TV comedy series Moody and Pegg,[1] and several seasons with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Films and television
Cornwell's film roles include Santa Claus: The Movie (as Mrs. Claus) and Mad Cows. On television she has appeared in Dixon of Dock Green, Cakes and Ale, Bergerac, Doctor Who (the episode Paradise Towers), several episodes of Farrington of the F.O., The Famous Five, The Bill, Heartbeat, Miss Marple and Midsomer Murders. Cornwell also appeared in BBC soap opera EastEnders as Queenie Trott, the mean tyrant mother of lovable loser Heather Trott. In 1987, she appeared as the English spinster Rosemary Tuttle in the episode "Rumpole and the Official Secret" from Season 4 of Rumpole of the Bailey. She is best known, however, for her portrayal of lovable working class housewife Daisy in the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, which ran from 1990 to 1995. She also appeared in the new series of Birds of a Feather as a sister shopping in a supermarket in episode 8.
Published works
Cornwell's books include her autobiography Adventures of a Jelly Baby (ISBN 0-283-07001-3) published in 2005 which describes her childhood growing up in Britain during the war, and then in Australia where her family emigrated.
She has also published several novels, including Cow and Cow Parsley in 1985, Fishcakes at the Ritz in 1989, The Seventh Sunrise in 1994, and Fear and Favour in 1996.
Personal life
Cornwell married John Kelsall Parry on 18 December 1960, and they have a son, Edward. The couple reside in Brighton.[2]
Her grandmother was music hall singer Sarah Bonner.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1959 | Friends and Neighbours | 4th Girl | |
1965 | Dr. Terror's House of Horrors | Nurse | (segment "Disembodied Hand"), Uncredited |
1967 | Two for the Road | Pat | |
Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon | Lady Electra | ||
1968 | The Wild Racers | Pippy | |
1969 | Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? | Filigree Fondle | |
Cry Wolf | Stella | ||
1970 | Every Home Should Have One | Liz Brown | |
Country Dance | Rosie | ||
Paddy | Breeda | ||
Wuthering Heights | Nelly Dean | ||
1971 | Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? | Clarine | |
1985 | Santa Claus: The Movie | Anya Claus | |
1987 | Cry Freedom | Receptionist | |
1995 | Persuasion | Mrs. Musgrove | |
1999 | Mad Cows | Maddy's Mother |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974–1976 | Moody and Pegg | Daphne Pegg | 12 episodes |
1976 | Cakes and Ale | Rosie | 3 episodes |
1977 | Supernatural | Margaret Graham | Episode: "Viktoria" |
1980–1981 | The Good Companions | Elizabeth Trant | 9 episodes |
1982 | Look and Read | Mrs Watson | Episode: "'Fairground'" |
1983 | Jane Eyre | Mrs. Reed | 2 episodes |
1985 | There Comes a Time, | Vanessa James | 7 episodes |
1987 | Doctor Who | Maddy | Episode: "Paradise Towers" |
Dorothy L. Sayers Mysteries | Miss Booth | Episode: "Strong Poison" | |
Bergerac | Belle Young | Episode: "The Memory Man" | |
1990–1995 | Keeping Up Appearances | Daisy | Main role; 44 episodes |
1992 | Nice Town | Aunt Peggy | 3 episodes |
The Mirror Crack'd | Heather Badcock | Television film | |
1994 | Under the Hammer | 'Batty' | 1 episode |
1996 | Famous Five | Mrs. Baker | Episode: "Five on a Hike Together" |
1997 | Midsomer Murders | May Cuttle | Episode: "Death in Disguise" |
1998 | The Life and Crimes of William Palmer | Mrs. Palmer | 2 episodes |
1999 | Heartbeat | Isabelle Sheba Christie | Episode: "Shotgun Wedding" |
2000 | David Copperfield | Peggotty | Television film |
2007–2008 | EastEnders | Queenie Trott | 8 episodes |
2014 | Birds Of A Feather | Annie | Episode: "You Can't Always Get What You Want" |
2020 | Pointless | Herself | Contestant |
References
- Jones, Alison (29 October 2001). "Judy's latest touch of fate; Historic events run hand in hand with Judy Cornwell's career". The Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
- "Actress Judy Cornwell and husband John Parry celebrate their Golden Wedding". Sussex Life. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 2 January 2014.