Claire Bernice Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English character actress well known for 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
Occupationactress
Years active1961 - 1994

Life and career

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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 The Dick Emery Show, 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.[citation needed]

Death

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Davenport stopped working after suffering a series of strokes in the 1990s. She died at the age of 68 in London on 25 February 2002[3] (not 4 March, as often stated) from kidney failure.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 Ladies Who Do Passerby Uncredited
1969 Crossplot Wedding guest
1969 Carry On Again Doctor Wedding Guest Uncredited
1970 Some Will, Some Won't Blowzy Woman
1971 On the Buses Peggy
1973 The Best Pair of Legs in the Business Eating lady
1975 The Return of the Pink Panther Masseuse
1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Mrs Bakewell Uncredited
The Pink Panther Strikes Again Hotel Maid Scenes deleted
Intimate Games Fat stripper
1978 Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse Mrs Buchanan
Jubilee First Customs Lady
Adventures of a Plumber's Mate Belinda
Carry On Emmannuelle Blonde in pub
1979 The Tempest Sycorax
Birth of the Beatles Nude
1980 The Elephant Man Fat Lady
1983 Screamtime Mrs. Harlett Uncredited
Return of the Jedi Yarna d'al' Gargan
1989 War Requiem Charge Sister / Britannia
1990 Camping English camper

Partial television roles

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Year Title Role
1962 Bulldog Breed Landlady
1963 The Rag Trade Myrtle
1964 Doctor Who The Empress
1964 Love Story Miss Denning
1964 Crossroads Miss Montgomery
1965 The Sullavan Brothers Mrs Melvin
1966 The Baron Anna Lubovitch
1966 Gideon's Way Helen
1966 Ways with Words Woman in restaurant
1968 George and the Dragon Samantha
1968 ITV Playhouse Mrs Mosscrop
1968 Theatre 625 Mrs Bliss
1968 Boy meets Girl Nurse Vileski
1969 Armchair Theatre Mrs Kapodis
1970 W. Somerset Maugham Rosa
1970 The Other Reg Varney Various characters
1971 Play for Today Nurse
1971 The Misfit Boris
1971 Queenie's Castle Glenda
1972 Stage 2 Woman
1972 Menace Barmaid
1973 On the Buses Mrs Webb
1973 The Song of Songs Neighbour
1973 Hey Brian! Woman
1973 Pollyanna Mrs Spencer
1974 Shoulder to Shoulder Nurse Pine
1975 Fawlty Towers Mrs Wilson
1975 Don't Drink The Water Bertha
1976 Couples Mrs Bagley
1976 George and Mildred Shop assistant
1977 The Fuzz Miss Bullock
1978 Angels Doreen Smith
1978 George and Mildred Gloria Rumbold
1979 Mind Your Language Eva
1981 Metal Mickey Cavewoman
1983–1985 By the Sword Divided Mrs Dumfrey
1985 Minder Nigel's Mum
1986 Alice in Wonderland The Duchess

References

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  1. ^ McFarlane, Brian (16 May 2016). The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9781526111968.
  2. ^ Noble 1982, p. 356.
  3. ^ a b "Claire Davenport". Archived from the original on 25 April 2017.
  4. ^ "Repent at Leisure (1979)". Archived from the original on 29 July 2017.

Bibliography

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  • Noble, Peter, ed. (1982). 1982 Screen International Film And TV Year Book. London: King Publications.
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