Claire Davenport

Claire Bernice Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English actress well known for her "junoesque" form and who was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique.[1]

Claire Davenport
Born
Claire Bernice Davenport

(1933-04-24)24 April 1933
Sale, Cheshire, England
Died25 February 2002(2002-02-25) (aged 68)
London, England
OccupationBritish actress
Years active1961 - 1994

Life and career

Davenport was born on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire, and began acting in 1961 with a theatre role in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in Oxford.[2]

Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi (as Yarna d'al' Gargan, originally billed as "Fat Dancer"), The Return of the Pink Panther, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate, Carry On Emmannuelle, The Tempest, and The Elephant Man. On television she appeared in Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses among others.[3] She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language.[4] Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.[5]

Death

She suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s, which stopped her working. Claire Davenport died in London on 25 February 2002[3] (not 4 March as often stated), aged 68, from kidney failure.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1963Ladies Who DoPasserbyUncredited
1969CrossplotWedding guest
1969Carry On Again DoctorWedding GuestUncredited
1970Some Will, Some Won'tBlowzy Woman
1971On the BusesPeggy
1973The Best Pair of Legs in the BusinessEating lady
1975The Return of the Pink PantherMasseuse
1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom JonesMrs BakewellUncredited
Intimate GamesFat stripper
1978 Rosie Dixon - Night NurseMrs Buchanan
JubileeFirst Customs Lady
Adventures of a Plumber's MateBelinda
Carry On EmmannuelleBlonde in pub
1979 The TempestSycorax
Birth of the BeatlesNude
1980The Elephant ManFat Lady
1982Trail of the Pink PantherHotel MaidUncredited
1983 ScreamtimeMrs. HarlettUncredited
Return of the JediFat Dancer
1989War RequiemCharge Sister / Britannia
1990CampingEnglish camper

Partial Television roles

By The Sword Divided 1983 - 1985 Mrs Dumfrey

TitleYearRole
Bulldog Breed1962Landlady
The Rag Trade1963Myrtle
Doctor Who1964The Empress
Love Story1964Miss Denning
Crossroads1964Miss Montgomery
The Sullivan Brothers1965Mrs Melvin
The Baron1966Anna Lubovitch
Gideon's Way1966Helen
Ways with Words1966Woman in restaurant
George and the Dragon1968Samantha
ITV Playhouse1968Mrs Mosscrop
Theatre 6251968Mrs Bliss
Boy meets Girl1968Nurse Vileski
Armchair Theatre1969Mrs Kapodis
W. Somerset Maugham1970Rosa
The Other Reg Varney1970Various characters
Play for Today1971Nurse
The Misfit1971Boris
Queenie's Castle1971Glenda
Stage 21972Woman
Menace1972Barmaid
On the Buses1973Mrs Webb
The Song of Songs1973Neighbour
Hey Brian!1973Woman
Pollyanna1973Mrs Spencer
Shoulder to Shoulder1974Nurse Pine
Fawlty Towers1975Mrs Wilson
Don't Drink The Water1975Bertha
Couples1976Mrs Bagley
George and Mildred1976Shop assistant
The Fuzz1977Miss Bullock
Angels1978Doreen Smith
George and Mildred1978Gloria Rumbold
Mind Your Language1979Eva
Metal Mickey1981Cavewoman
Alice in Wonderland1986The Duchess

Notes
  1. McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781526111968 – via Google Books.
  2. Noble 1982, p. 356.
  3. "Claire Davenport".
  4. "Repent at Leisure (1979)".
  5. Davenport on IMDb.

Bibliography
  • Noble, Peter, ed. (1982). 1982 Screen International Film And TV Year Book. London: King Publications.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)



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