Margaret Courtenay (actress)

Margaret Courtenay
Publicity still c.1986
Born
Margaret Courtenay

(1923-11-14)14 November 1923
Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales
Died15 February 1996(1996-02-15) (aged 72)
Northwood, London, England
Alma materLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
OccupationActress
Years active1930–1996
Spouse
Ivan Pinfield
​
(m. 1947⁠–⁠1968)​
Children1

Margaret Courtenay (14 November 1923 – 15 February 1996) was a British actress best known for her British theatre roles during the 1970s and 1980s.[1][2] She was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.[3]

In 1976, Courtenay won the Laurence Olivier Award for Supporting Artist of the Year for her stage role in the play Separate Tables, by author Terence Rattigan, directed by Michael Blakemore, at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End.[4]

In 1991, Courtenay starred in the radio show ' The Secret Life of Rosewood Avenue '.

Courtenay retired at Denville Hall, a retirement home for professional actors set in Northwood in the London Borough of Hillingdon.[2] She died of cancer on 15 February 1996 at age 72.[5]

Stage work

Year Title Role Director Notes
1949
 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania St Martin's Theatre, West End, London.
1954
 A Midsummer Night's Dream Hippolyta Michael Benthall Metropolitan Opera House, Broadway, New York City.[6]
1956
 Romeo and Juliet Lady Capulet Robert Helpmann Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway, New York City.[7]
1956
 Troilus and Cressida Cassandra Elizabeth Butterfield Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway, New York City.[8]
1958
 Hamlet Gertrude Michael Benthall Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New York City.[9]
1958
 King Henry V Queen Isabel Michael Benthall Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New York City.[10]
1961–1962
 The Lady of the Camellias Robert Helpmann Old Vic Overseas Tour (12 July 1961 to 17 March 1962) : Australia and New Zealand. Starring Vivien Leigh in title role.
1962
 The Lady of the Camellias Robert Helpmann Old Vic Overseas Tour (29 March 1962 to 16 May 1962) : Latin America. Starring Vivien Leigh in title role.
1964
 King Lear Cordelia Royal Shakespeare Company (European/US Tour)
1964
 Alfie ! Ruby Gilchrist Calder Morosco Theatre, Broadway, New York City.[11]
1969
 Mame Vera Charles Lawrence Kasha The musical starred Ginger Rogers in title role, and ran for 14 months at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre (West End, London), with a special performance for Queen Elizabeth II.[12]
1971
 Ambassador Amelia Newsome Stone Widney Musical starring Howard Keel and Danielle Darrieux. It premiered on 19 October 1971, at Her Majesty's Theatre (West End, London).[13]
1971
 Separate Tables Mrs Railton-Bell Michael Blakemore At the Apollo Theatre, London, with John Mills, Jill Bennett and Raymond Huntley.
1976 : Laurence Olivier Award for Supporting Artist of the Year.
1972
 Macbeth Lady Macbeth Old Vic Theatre, London.
1973
 Habeas Corpus Muriel Wicksteed A comedy stage play first performed at the Lyric Theatre (West End, London), with Alec Guinness and Margaret Courtenay in the lead roles.[14]
1981
 Cards on the Table Ariadne Oliver Peter Dews Adapted to the stage by Leslie Darbon from Agatha Christie's novel, at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1981.[15]
1984
 42nd Street Maggie Jones Gower Champion Musical that premiered on 8 August 1984, at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre (West End, London).[16]
1987
 Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Aldwych Theatre, London.
1987
 Follies Hattie Walker Mike Ockrent London revival, starring Diana Rigg, which ran for 644 performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre (West End, London).[17]
1988
 The Musical Comedy murders of 1940 Elsa von Grossenkneuten Peter Fargo A John Bishop comedy spoof, that premiered at the Greenwich Theatre, London.[18][19]
1990
 Look Look Michael Frayn
1990
 Show Boat Parthy Ann Hawks Ian Judge A Royal Shakespeare Company revival, at the London Palladium (West End, London).[20]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes
1955 Touch and Go Secretary Michael Truman
1968 Hot Millions Mrs. Hubbard Eric Till Uncredited, A crime fiction filmed at MGM-British Studios, and starring Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith.
1968 Isadora Raucous Woman Karel Reisz Uncredited, A biographical film telling the story of American dancer Isadora Duncan.
It stars Vanessa Redgrave, James Fox and Jason Robards.
1969 Arthur? Arthur! Samuel Gallu Clare Brownjohn
1972 Under Milk Wood Mrs. Waldo Andrew Sinclair A British film starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O'Toole.
1972 Ooh… You Are Awful W.P.O. Cliff Owen
1975 Royal Flash Dutchess Irma Richard Lester Starring Malcolm McDowell as Flashman.
1976 The Incredible Sarah Madame Nathalie Richard Fleischer A British drama film starring Glenda Jackson portraying Sarah Bernhardt.
1980 Oh! Heavenly Dog Lady Chalmers Joe Camp A comedy film released by 20th Century Fox, starring Chevy Chase, Jane Seymour and Omar Sharif.
1980 The Mirror Crack'd Mrs Dolly Bantry Guy Hamilton An all stars cast, namely Angela Lansbury, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Geraldine Chaplin, Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson.
1986 Duet for One Sonia Randvich Andrei Konchalovsky A British film starring Julie Andrews and Alan Bates.

Television

Year Title Role Director Notes
1963 The House Under the Water Lucrezia Tregaron Dafydd Gruffydd Eight episodes, aired on BBC1
1971 Bel Ami Madame Walter John Davies 5 episodes aired on BBC 2[21]
1974 Thriller Claire John Sichel Season 3, Episode 1: "A Coffin for the Bride" originally broadcast on ITV starring Michael Jayston and Helen Mirren
1978 Mind Your Language Miss Hardacre Vince Powell Season 1, Episode 6: "Come Back All Is Forgiven " originally broadcast on ITV starring Barry Evans and Zara Nutley
1980 Only When I Laugh Mrs. Binns Vernon Lawrence Season 2, Episode 5: "The Visitors" originally broadcast on ITV and starring James Bolam, Peter Bowles and Christopher Strauli.
1981 Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years Maxine Elliott Ferdinand Fairfax An 8-part drama Miniseries, originally broadcast on ITV, and starring Robert Hardy in the title role.
1983 Don't Wait Up Lady Cranbourne Harold Snoad A British sitcom, aired on BBC1, and starring Nigel Havers, Tony Britton and Dinah Sheridan.
1983–87 Never the Twain Lady Deveraux Peter Frazer-Jones, Robert Reed A British sitcom, created by Thames Television for the ITV network.
1984 Fresh Fields Margaret Richardson Peter Frazer-Jones A British sitcom starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers.
1986 Paradise Postponed Lady Naboth Alvin Rakoff A TV serial based on a novel by John Mortimer.
1986 Executive Stress Shirley Lee Sheffield John Howard Davies A British sitcom, aired on ITV, and starring Penelope Keith.
1987 The Two Mrs. Grenvilles Madame Sophia John Erman A NBC television miniseries, starring Ann-Margret and Claudette Colbert.
1987 Vanity Fair Miss Pinkerton Diarmuid Lawrence A BBC Pebble Mill production set in the time of the Napoleonic Wars.
1992 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side Miss Knight Norman Stone The 12th episode of BBC's series Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson as Jane Marple.[22]
1994 The House Of Windsor Lady Sharpcott Graeme Harper 6 episodes, aired on ITV

References

  1. ^ "Margaret Courtenay - Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  2. ^ a b "Margaret Courtenay". BFI. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018.
  3. ^ "Search - RSC Performances - Shakespeare Birthplace Trust". collections.shakespeare.org.uk.
  4. ^ London Theatre Guide (2008). The Society of London Theatre (ed.). "The Laurence Olivier Awards : Full List of Winners, 1976-2008" (PDF). www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2016..
  5. ^ "OBITUARY : Margaret Courtenay". The Independent. 16 February 1996.
  6. ^ "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Romeo and Juliet" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Troilus and Cressida" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  9. ^ "Hamlet" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  10. ^ "King Henry V" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  11. ^ "Alfie !" Original Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  12. ^ "Mame" cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  13. ^ "Ambassador" Original London cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  14. ^ Other works for Alan Bennett : (1973) Alan Bennett's "Habeas Corpus" performed at the Lyric Theatre in London, on the Internet Movie Database.
  15. ^ Kabatchnik, Amnon (2012). "Cards on the Table (1981), Leslie Darbon (England)". In Scarecrow Press (ed.). Blood on the Stage, 1975-2000: Milestone Plays of Crime, Mystery, and Detection. Scarecrow Press. p. 193. ISBN 978-0810883550. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  16. ^ "42nd Street" 1984 London revival cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  17. ^ 1987 London revival of "Follies" : West End cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  18. ^ The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, on www.Aboutmaria.com : The Maria Friedman website. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  19. ^ Legended stage stills of Margaret Courtenay, on www.Tumblr.com. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  20. ^ 1990 RSC revival of "Show Boat" : West End cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.
  21. ^ Ellen Baskin (1996). Serials on British Television, 1950-1994. Scolar Press. p. 107.
  22. ^ Agatha Christie's Miss Marple : The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side : Overview, full cast & crew, on the Internet Movie Database.