Deddie Davies

Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016)[1] was a Welsh character actress.[2]

Deddie Davies
Born
Gillian Nancy Davies

(1938-03-02)2 March 1938
Bridgend, Wales
Died21 December 2016(2016-12-21) (aged 78)
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2016

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 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" reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart.{[cn}} 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.[4] 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.[5][6] She became a trustee and recorded a video for UK registered charity Compassion in Care.[7]

From 2012, she appeared as Marj Brennig in the British TV series Stella.[8][9]

She died on 21 December 2016, aged 78.[10]

Filmography

TV
Year Title Character Production Company Notes
1973 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Miss Thomas BBC One Series 1 "The Hospital Visit"
1977-1978 The Rage Trade Mabel London Weekend Television
1978 The Mayor of Casterbridge Nancy BBC Two
1984 Titus Andronicus Nurse BBC [11]
1984–1986 Chance in a Million Doreen Little [12]
1985–1986 That's My Boy Miss Parfitt Yorkshire Television
1987 My Husband and I Bambi Bamber Yorkshire Television 15 episodes
1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Mrs Best TVS "Country Weekend"
1993 Time After Time Auntie Dot London Weekend Television [13]
1997 Cows Cook Channel 4 [13]
2007Sensitive SkinDeddieBBC TwoSeries 2[14]
2011 The Catherine Tate Show BBC Two [15]
2012 The Neighbourhood BBC North Comedy pilot, screened at BBC's Salford Comedy Festival[16]
2013 WhitechapelDorothy CadeCarnival Films3 episodes
2012–2016StellaMarjSky 1Series 1–5

Film
Year Title Character Notes
1970The Railway ChildrenNell Perks
1972The Amazing Mr BlundenMiss Meakin[17]
1986 The Canterville Ghost Aunt Caroline [18]
Murder at the Vicarage Mrs Salisbury BBC film based on the novel by Agatha Christie[19]
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[20]
1988Consuming PassionsMrs Coot
2010Bad Night for the BluesDorothyShort film
2011Swinging with the FinkelsOlder woman
2014PrideOld Lady

References
  1. Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. "Railway Children actor Deddie Davies dies aged 78". The Guardian. 21 December 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. Eddie Pedder (1985). Who's Who on Television, 3rd Edition. Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-907965-31-8.
  4. "BBC NEWS | UK | Care home life is 'slow death'". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. Ceci, Christine (2012). Perspectives on Care at Home for Older People. New York: Routledge. p. 39.
  6. "BBC NEWS | UK | Deddie Davies". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. "Videos | Compassion in Care". Compassionincare.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  10. Williams, Kathryn (21 December 2016). "Stella actress Deddie Davies dies at the age of 78". Walesonline. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. Howell, Jane; Sutton, Shaun; Ranson, Malcolm; Simpson, Dudley George; Lavers, Colin; Anthony, Chick; Wilders, John; Burrough, Tony; Davies-Prowles, Paul (1 January 1984). Titus Andronicus. New York, N.Y.: Ambrose Video Publishing.
  12. Blethyn, Brenda; Callow, Simon (1 January 2013), Chance in a million: the complete series., OCLC 862848950
  13. Perry, Christopher (2015). The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936–2015. Lulu. p. 230.
  14. "Three Lost Loves, Series 2, Sensitive Skin – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  15. "Nan's Christmas Carol, The Catherine Tate Show – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  16. "BBC – BBC Comedy presents four comedy pilots at Salford Sitcom Showcase – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  17. Levinson, Barry; Jeffries, Lionel; Shingleton, Wilfrid; Darvas, Teddy; Fisher, Gerry; Bernstein, Elmer; Smith, Roy; Graves, Bryan; Moore, Pat (1 January 1972), The amazing Mr. Blunden, Hemdale Group, OCLC 422869247
  18. Sherman, Fraser (2000). Cyborgs, Santa Claus and Satan: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Made for Television. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 31.
  19. Pitts, Michael (2004). Famous Movie Detectives III. Oxford, England: Scarecrow Press. p. 153.
  20. Taves, Brian (2006). P.G. Wodehouse and Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires and Adaptations. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 198.
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