Pathetic Facts

British actresses died in 2005

Here are 14 famous actresses from United Kingdom died in 2005:

Belita

Belita (October 25, 1923 Nether Wallop-December 18, 2005 Montpeyroux) also known as Maria Belita Jepson-Turner, The Ice Maiden, Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner or Belita Jepson-Turner was a British figure skater, dancer and actor.

Belita began skating at the age of four and won her first medal when she was only twelve. She went on to become one of the youngest skaters to ever compete in the Olympics at age 16, representing Great Britain in 1948. After retiring from skating, Belita turned to performing and appeared on the London stage in the musical "Gay's the Word" in 1951. She then made her way to Hollywood and landed a contract with RKO Pictures, where she starred in a number of films including "The Gangster" (1947) and "Never Let Me Go" (1953). Belita was known for her graceful movements on and off the ice and was a trailblazer for women in the film industry. In her later years, she moved to France and opened a skating rink in the Pyrenees.

Gabrielle Daye

Gabrielle Daye (October 2, 1911 Manchester-January 5, 2005 Essex) a.k.a. Gabrielle Laye or Gabrielle Day was a British actor.

Daye began her career on stage and later transitioned to film and television. She appeared in numerous films including "As You Like It" (1936), "The Saint in London" (1939), and "There's a Girl in My Soup" (1970). In addition to her acting career, Daye was also a skilled singer and appeared in several musicals on stage. She continued to act well into her 80s and was awarded an OBE for her contributions to the arts in 1995. Daye passed away at the age of 93 in her home in Essex.

Read more about Gabrielle Daye on Wikipedia »

Barbara Keogh

Barbara Keogh (April 21, 1929 Cheshire-October 25, 2005 London Borough of Camden) was a British actor.

Keogh began her acting career in the 1950s, initially appearing in TV shows and stage productions before transitioning to film. She appeared in numerous British films, including "Room at the Top," "The Entertainer," and "A Hard Day's Night," among others. Keogh was known for her versatility as an actor and her ability to portray a wide range of characters.

In addition to her work on-screen, Keogh was also a prominent stage actor, performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company and other notable theater companies throughout her career. She was widely respected for her dedication to her craft and her commitment to bringing authenticity to every role she played.

Throughout her career, Keogh received several accolades for her work, including a BAFTA nomination for her role in the film "One of Those Days." She continued to act until her death in 2005, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most talented and versatile actors of her time.

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Ursula Howells

Ursula Howells (September 17, 1922 Hammersmith-October 16, 2005 London) also known as Ursula Elizabeth Howells was a British actor.

She started her acting career in the 1940s and appeared in a variety of films, television shows, and stage productions over the course of her career. Some of her notable roles include appearances in the films "The Master of Bankdam" (1947), "Quatermass and the Pit" (1958), "Nike" (1960), and "The Heroes of Telemark" (1965). She also appeared on television in shows such as "The Avengers", "The Saint", and "Doctor Who". In addition to her acting work, she was also an accomplished painter and sculptor. Howells passed away in 2005 at the age of 83.

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Melanie Morse MacQuarrie

Melanie Morse MacQuarrie (June 13, 1945 London-February 1, 2005 Montague) a.k.a. Melanie Morse, Melanie Virginia Sydney Morse, Big Mel or Melanie Virginia Sydney Morse MacQuarrie was a British actor. She had two children, Vanessa Root Archer and Megan MacQuarrie.

Melanie Morse MacQuarrie began her career in the entertainment industry in the 1960s, initially working on the stage before making the transition to television and film. She appeared in a number of popular TV shows and movies, including "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Avengers". She was also known for her work in voice-over, lending her voice to various animated characters.

Aside from her work in entertainment, Morse MacQuarrie was also heavily involved in humanitarian causes and was an active supporter of several charities, including Amnesty International and the World Wildlife Fund. She also worked as a teacher and mentor to aspiring actors.

Morse MacQuarrie's life was tragically cut short when she passed away in 2005 at the age of 59 after a battle with cancer. She is remembered for her talent as an actor and her dedication to making a positive impact on the world.

Gretchen Franklin

Gretchen Franklin (July 7, 1911 Covent Garden-July 11, 2005 Barnes, London) was a British actor.

She began her acting career in the 1930s, performing on stage and in radio dramas. Franklin gained popularity in the 1950s through her roles in British television shows such as "The Benny Hill Show" and "Hancock's Half Hour".

Franklin is best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the long-running British soap opera "EastEnders". She played the character from 1985 until 2000, when her character was killed off. She was awarded a BAFTA nomination for her performance in "EastEnders".

Outside of acting, Franklin was an accomplished artist and exhibited her paintings in galleries around London. She was also a keen supporter of the charity Barnardo's, which provides support to vulnerable children in the UK.

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Kay Walsh

Kay Walsh (November 15, 1911 Chelsea-April 16, 2005 Chelsea) also known as Kathleen Walsh, Kathleen "Kay" Walsh or Kay was a British actor, dancer and screenwriter. Her child is called Gemma Jaques.

Kay Walsh began her career as a dancer and choreographer in London's West End. She then became an actor and appeared in films such as "Oliver Twist" (1948) and "The African Queen" (1951). She was also the screenwriter for the film "The Horse's Mouth" (1958), which was based on the novel by Joyce Cary.

In addition to her successful career in entertainment, Walsh had a passionate love life. She was married three times, first to actor Rex Harrison, then to David Lean (who directed her in "Brief Encounter"), and finally to Elliott Jaques. She had a daughter, Gemma, with Jaques.

Walsh continued to work in the entertainment industry until the 1980s, appearing on television shows such as "The Sweeney" and "Minder". She passed away in 2005 at the age of 93 in Chelsea, London.

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Mary Wimbush

Mary Wimbush (March 19, 1924 Kenton-October 31, 2005 The Mailbox) was a British actor. Her child is called Charles Marion-Crawford.

Mary Wimbush was best known for her work in the theatre and on radio. She was involved with the Royal Shakespeare Company for many years, performing in productions of Shakespeare's plays such as "The Tempest," "King Lear," and "Hamlet." Wimbush was also known for her role as Agatha Christie's famous detective Miss Marple in a series of BBC radio adaptations. In addition to her acting work, she was also a respected voice coach and established her own voice studio in London. Wimbush passed away in 2005 at the age of 81.

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Jan Holden

Jan Holden (May 9, 1931 Southport-October 11, 2005 London) a.k.a. Valerie Jeanne Wilkerson, Jack Holden or Jeanne Wilkinson was a British actor.

Holden began her acting career on the West End stage in the 1950s, appearing in productions such as "The Boy Friend" and "The Sound of Music." She also appeared in numerous television shows, including "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders."

In the 1970s, Holden became a noted voiceover artist, lending her voice to dozens of documentaries and commercials. She was also a lecturer and teacher, sharing her knowledge of acting with aspiring performers.

Holden continued to work in the entertainment industry until her death in 2005, at the age of 74. She was remembered by colleagues and fans alike for her talent, dedication, and passion for the craft of acting.

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Margaretta Scott

Margaretta Scott (February 13, 1912 London-April 15, 2005 London) also known as Margaretta Mary Scott or Margueretta Scott was a British actor. She had two children, Susan Wooldridge and Hugh Wooldridge.

Scott began her acting career in the 1930s, performing on stage and on screen. She appeared in several popular films such as "Things to Come" (1936), "The Thief of Bagdad" (1940), and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969). Scott was also a regular performer on British television, featuring in shows such as "The Adventures of Robin Hood" (1956-1960) and "Doctor Who" (1966).

Besides acting, Scott was also an accomplished writer and published several books, including a memoir titled "A. Scott: The Actor's Life" (1989). She was known for her eloquent speaking voice and later in life, she became a voiceover artist.

Scott passed away in London in 2005 at the age of 93. She had a successful career in the entertainment industry and is remembered as a talented actor and author.

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Kay Tremblay

Kay Tremblay (March 13, 1914 Glasgow-August 9, 2005 Stratford) also known as Kaye Tremblay or Katherine McAllister was a British actor.

Tremblay was best known for her work in the Stratford Festival in Canada, where she performed from the 1960s until the early 2000s. She made her professional debut in 1936 and appeared in numerous plays in the United Kingdom before moving to Canada in 1953. In addition to her work on stage, Tremblay appeared in several films and television shows. She was also a teacher at the National Theatre School of Canada and was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1994. Tremblay was married to fellow actor Douglas Rain, best known as the voice of HAL 9000 in the film "2001: A Space Odyssey," until his death in 2018.

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Mary Hayley Bell

Mary Hayley Bell (January 22, 1911 Shanghai-December 1, 2005 Denham) also known as Lady Mills was a British novelist, writer, screenwriter, actor and playwright. She had three children, Hayley Mills, Juliet Mills and Jonathan Mills.

Mary Hayley Bell was born in Shanghai, China where her father was working as a telegraph engineer. She spent her childhood in various places like Hong Kong, and later in England where she pursued her education. Bell began her career as an actress performing in productions like "Hay Fever" by Noël Coward and the film "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1939). However, her true passion was writing and eventually she shifted her focus towards that field.

As a writer, Bell was best known for her play "Whistle Down the Wind", which was adapted into a famous film in 1961 starring her daughter, Hayley Mills. She was also the author of several other successful plays such as "Duet for Two Hands" and "The Uninvited Guest". Bell's other notable works include her novels "The Christmas Tree" (1969) and "The Desert Crop" (1974), as well as her screenplays for films such as "The Story of Esther Costello" (1957) and "Sky West and Crooked" (1966).

Bell's legacy in the film industry was further recognized when she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995 for her services to drama. She passed away in 2005 at the age of 94, leaving behind a lasting impact on the theatrical and cinematic worlds.

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Betty Astell

Betty Astell (May 23, 1912 Brondesbury-July 26, 2005 Saint Peter Port) also known as Elizabeth Astell or Elizabeth "Betty" Julia Astell was a British actor. Her child is called Jill Fletcher.

Betty Astell began her acting career in the 1930s, appearing in several British films such as "The Vulture" and "The High Command". She also acted in stage productions, including plays by William Shakespeare and George Bernard Shaw. In the 1950s, Astell transitioned to television and appeared in popular shows such as "Hancock's Half Hour" and "The Benny Hill Show". She continued to act well into her seventies, with her final performance in the TV movie "The Countess Alice" in 1992. In addition to her acting career, Astell was also known for her charitable work and was awarded an MBE in 1997 for her services to the community.

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Gabrielle Brune

Gabrielle Brune (February 12, 1912 Bournemouth-November 27, 2014) was a British actor.

Brune grew up in London and began her acting career in the 1930s, appearing in a variety of stage productions. She later transitioned to film and television work, and became a familiar face to British audiences in the 1950s and 60s. She acted in numerous popular television programs, including "Z Cars" and "The Benny Hill Show", as well as in films like "The Adventures of Robin Hood" and "Hammer the Toff". Brune continued to act well into her nineties, and was one of the oldest living actors in the world at the time of her death in 2014 at the age of 102.

Read more about Gabrielle Brune on Wikipedia »