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 as 'Mabel' in 'The Rag Trade' 1977-1978.

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's 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
1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Mrs Best TVS "Country Weekend"
1993 Time After Time Auntie Dot London Weekend Television [16]
1997 Cows Cook Channel 4 [16]
2007Sensitive SkinDeddieBBC TwoSeries 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]
2012-2016StellaMarjSky 1Series 1-5

Film

Year Title Character Notes
1970The Railway ChildrenNell Perks
1972The Amazing Mr BlundenMiss 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]
1988Consuming PassionsMrs Coot
2010Bad Night for the BluesDorothyShort film
2011Swinging with the FinkelsOlder woman
2014PrideOld 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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