Ann Beach
Ann Beach (7 June 1938 – 9 March 2017[1]) was a British actress.[2][3] She is perhaps best remembered for her supporting role as Sonia Barrett, the quirky next-door neighbour on the British comedy Fresh Fields, starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers.
Ann Beach | |
---|---|
Born | |
Died | 9 March 2017 78) | (aged
Occupation | Actress |
Spouse(s) | Francis Coleman (deceased) |
Children | Charlotte Coleman (deceased) Lisa Coleman |
Career
She won a scholarship to RADA at the age of 16. After leaving, she went on tour with Frankie Howerd in Hotel Paradiso, and then came to London in the title role of Emlyn Williams's Beth. This was not a success, but she was soon busily engaged in television work, until she went back to the stage in the Theatre Workshop company at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Among the parts she created there were Rosie in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be, and Miss Gilchrist in The Hostage. She then created the role of Barbara in Billy Liar at the Cambridge Theatre in September 1960. She was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company.[4]
Personal life
She was married to Francis Coleman. She was the mother of Charlotte Coleman and Lisa Coleman.[5][6][7]
Filmography
- Armchair Theatre (1958–1973, TV Series) as Penelope / Mrs. Drayton / Elaine Morris
- The City of the Dead (1960) as Lottie
- On the Fiddle (1961) as Iris[8]
- The Rag Trade (1961, TV Series) as Brenda
- The Fast Lady (1962) as Miss Timpkins
- The Sunday-Night Play: Worm's Eye View (1962) as Thelma
- Hotel Paradiso (1966) as Victoire, the Boniface's maid[8]
- Play of the Month (1966–1977, TV Series) as Mrs. Dainty Fidget / Violet / Anna Vyroubova / Gwen
- Half Hour Story (1967, TV Series) as Jennifer
- Sebastian (1968) as Pamela[8]
- Jackanory (1969, TV Series) as Storyteller
- The Wednesday Play (1969–1970, TV Series) as Music hall artist
- Steptoe and Son (1970, TV Series) as Daphne
- The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)as Receptionist[8]
- For the Love of Ada (1971, TV Series) as Alice Bingley
- Under Milk Wood (1972) as Polly Garter[8]
- The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1971, TV Series) as Mary Grandard
- The Man Outside (1972, TV Series) as Maudlin
- Play for Today (1972–1980, TV Series) as Morag / Shirley Ritchie / Valerie
- Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (1973) as Bridie
- Seven of One (1973, TV Series) as Doris
- Dawson's Weekly (1975, TV Series) as Mrs. Ffoulkes
- Shades of Greene (1975, TV Series) as Miss Sanderson
- Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976, TV Series) as Monica
- The Battle of Billy's Pond (1976) as Mrs. Bateson[8]
- Fred Basset (1976, TV Series) (voice)
- Rising Damp (1977, TV Series) as Mrs. Brent
- Brecht and Co (1979, TV Movie) as Member of Brecht's company / Widow Begbick / Polly Peacham
- The History of Mr. Polly (1980, TV Mini-Series) as Mrs. Johnson
- Tales of the Unexpected (1980, TV Series) as Miss Unwin
- Holding the Fort (1981, TV Series) as Muriel
- Only When I Laugh (1981, TV Series) as Helen Roper-Jones
- Oliver Twist (1982, TV Movie) as Mrs. Sowerberry [8]
- Nanny (1983, TV Series) as Miss Alice Casson
- Fresh Fields (1984–1986, TV Series) as Sonia Barrett
- Home to Roost (1990, TV Series) as Rita Higgs
- King Ralph (1991) as Miranda's Mother[8][9]
- French Fields (1991, TV Series) as Sonia
- Land of Hope and Gloria (1992, TV Series) as Freda
- Screen One (1992–1994, TV Series) Mrs. Leveller / Mrs. Chubb[8]
- Selected Exits (1993, TV Movie) as Mrs. E T[8]
- The Lifeboat (1994, TV Series) as Phyllis Shore
- Wycliffe (1998, TV Series) as Mrs. Wimble
- Notting Hill (1999) as William's Mother[8][9]
- People Like Us (1999, TV Series)
- Home Farm Twins (1999, TV Series) as Dotty Miller
- Peak Practice (2001, TV Series) as Eunice Gould
- Double Act (2002, TV Movie) as Gran
- Midsomer Murders (2005, TV Series) as Sonia Hardwick
- Cold Blood (2005, TV Series) as Lynn
- Foyle's War (2007, TV Series) as Hilda Greenwood[8]
- I Am Bob (2007, Short) as Friendly Old Lady (as Anne Beach)
- The History of Mr Polly (2007, TV Movie) as Mrs. Rumbold
- Holby Blue (2008, TV Series) as Annie
- Bad Night For The Blues (2010, Short) as Madge
- Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me (2011, TV Movie) as Freddie's Grandma
- One Chance (2013) as Elderly Woman (final film role)
References
- "Ann Beach obituary". The Guardian. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
- "Ann Beach". Movie-tv-episode-database.com. 7 June 1938. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- "Ann Beach - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- "Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353-354
- "Ann Beach – Biography". Imdb.com. 7 June 1938. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- Close (18 November 2001). "UK news in brief | UK news | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- "Charlotte Coleman, 33, Film Actress – The". New York Times. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- "Ann Beach - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies.nytimes.com. 18 January 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
- "Ann Beach Filmography – Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 12 July 2007. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
External links
- Ann Beach on IMDb
- https://web.archive.org/web/20081229142735/http://movie-tv-episode-database.com/cast-or-crew/Ann-Beach-38115/
- NYTimes.com
- https://web.archive.org/web/20120404085820/http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity/ann-beach/
- https://web.archive.org/web/20070712125210/http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1808925970
- http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ann-beach/credits/208582