Claire Davenport

Claire Davenport
Born Claire Bernice Davenport
(1933-04-24)24 April 1933
Sale, Cheshire, England, UK
Died 25 February 2002(2002-02-25) (aged 68)
London, England, UK
Occupation British actress
Years active 1961 - 1994

Claire Davenport (24 April 1933 – 4 March 2002) was an English actress well known for her "junoesque" form and who was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique.

Life and career

She was born Claire Bernice Davenport 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.[1]

Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi (as the 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. She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language. Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.[2]

Death

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

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1969 Crossplot Wedding guest
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
Intimate Games Fat stripper
1978 Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse Mrs Buchanan
Adventures of a Plumber's Mate Belinda
Carry On Emmannuelle Blonde in pub
Jubilee First Customs Lady
1979 Birth of the Beatles Nude
The Tempest Sycorax
1980 The Elephant Man Fat Lady
1983 Return of the Jedi Fat Dancer
Screamtime Mrs. Harlett Uncredited
1989 War Requiem Charge Sister / Britannia

Notes

  1. ↑ Noble 1982, p. 356.
  2. ↑ Davenport at the Internet Movie Database.

Bibliography

External links

"Claire Davenport". Find a Grave. Retrieved 28 August 2010. 


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