Janina Faye

Janina Faye
Born
Janina Faye Smigielski

(1948-04-16) 16 April 1948 (age 76)
Hammersmith, London, England
Occupation(s)Actress, director
Years active1956–2000; 2007–2016[1]
Spouse
William Dexter
​
​
(m. 1967; died 1974)​

Janina Faye Smigielski (born 16 April 1948) is an English actress and director.

Biography

Early life

Faye was born in Hammersmith, London, England, a daughter of Florence Louisa Jonathan and Jan Smigielski. Her father was a Polish pilot from No. 303 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain.[2]

Career

Faye began her career as a child actress in 1956, and it includes theatre and television work in addition to many film appearances. She appeared in several major fantasy and horror films when she was young, such as Hammer Films' original version of Dracula (1958), as well as the same company’s Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) and The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960). In 1961 she appeared on stage as Helen Keller in the William Gibson play The Miracle Worker,[3] and in 1962 she appeared in the film thrillers Don't Talk to Strange Men and The Day of the Triffids.

In 1998, she teamed up with director Paul Cotgrove and Hammer co-star Ingrid Pitt to make the short British horror film Green Fingers, a story about a spinster whose garden has strange properties with an ability to grow anything, even things that are no longer living.

She often appears at signings.[4]

Filmography (selected)

Year Title Role Notes
1956 Circus Friends Minor role Uncredited
1957 Sea Wife Child on Ship Uncredited
1957 No Time for Tears
1957 The Story of Esther Costello Esther Costello, as a child
1957 Seven Thunders French child Uncredited
1958 Dracula Tania
1958 The Adventures of Hal 5 Moira
1958 The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw Young girl Uncredited
1958 Floods of Fear Young Girl Uncredited
1959 Room at the Top Young girl Uncredited
1959 The Headless Ghost Veronica Uncredited
1959 Bobbikins Bobbikins Voice, Uncredited
1960 Never Take Sweets from a Stranger Jean Carter
1960 The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Jane, deafmute child Uncredited
1960 The Hands of Orlac Child Uncredited
1962 Don't Talk to Strange Men Ann
1962 The Day of the Triffids Susan
1964 The Beauty Jungle Elaine Freeman
1967 Bindle (One of Them Days) Millie
1969 The Smashing Bird I Used to Know Susan
1969 The Dance of Death Judith
1973 John Keats: His Life and Death Fanny Brawne
1975–1983 Angels 2 guest roles
1983–1996 The Bill 2 guest roles
2008 Legends of Hammer Vampires (video) as Herself
2016 The One Show as Herself

References

  1. ^ "Janina Faye | Actress". IMDb. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Polish Fighter Pilots". Archived from the original on 9 August 2018.
  3. ^ "A Final Justification of Faith." Times [London, England] 10 Mar. 1961: 19
  4. ^ "Janina Faye Interview in the Cushing Confidential". janinafaye.com (Personal website). Retrieved 2 June 2011.


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