Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016) was a Welsh character actress.
Biography Davies was born in Bridgend, Wales. 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.
She appeared in non-comedic roles in series such as The Bill, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga and Grange Hill. Her film roles include that of Nell Perks in The Railway Children (1970), and The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972).
In her later life, Davies was concerned with 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. 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. 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. She became a trustee and recorded a video for UK registered charity Compassion in Care.
From 2012, she appeared as Marj Brennig in the British TV series Stella.
She died of ovarian cancer on 21 December 2016, aged 78.
Partial filmography
TV Year Title Character Original Network Notes1967The Forsyte SagaMillieBBC Two2 episodesVanity FairLady Crawley2 episodes1968Late Night HorrorYvonneEpisode: "The Kiss of Blood"1971Doctor at LargeMrs. CoatesLondon Weekend TelevisionEpisode: "Upton Sells Out"1972Both Ends MeetFlo7 episodesClochemerleMadame FouacheBBC Two7 episodes1973Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'EmMiss ThomasBBC OneEpisode: "The Hospital Visit"The Adventures of Black BeautyMiss HudsonLondon Weekend TelevisionEpisode: "Wild Justice"1975My Old ManBrideYorkshire Television1 episodeUpstairs, DownstairsMrs TibbittLondon Weekend Television Episode: "Noblesse Oblige"1977Just WilliamMiss FairmanEpisode: "Waste Paper Please"1977–78The Rag TradeMabel22 episodes1978Get Some In!AkelaThames TelevisionEpisode: "Labrador"The Mayor of CasterbridgeNancyBBC Two2 episodes1981You're Only Young TwiceFloYorkshire TelevisionEpisode: "Breakfast at Peabody's"1982A.J. Wentworth, B.A.Miss CoombesThames Television4 episodesThe Gentle TouchMiss ThingLondon Weekend TelevisionEpisode: "One of Those Days"SoloMrs McNallyBBC One1 episode1983Give Us a BreakPennyEpisode: "When It Rains, It Pours"Grange HillCook1 episode1984–86Chance in a MillionDoreen LittleChannel 46 episodesThat's My BoyMiss Edith Parfitt/Polly BennettYorkshire Television12 episodes1985The Pickwick PapersMrs. CluppinsBBC One2 episodesTitus AndronicusNurseBBC TwoTV Movie 1986Miss MarpleMrs. SalisburyBBC1Episode: "The Murder at the Vicarage"1987C.A.T.S. EyesMrs BestTVSEpisode: "Country Weekend"My Husband and IBambi BamberYorkshire Television15 episodesNo Place Like HomeMrs. DagwoodBBC OneEpisode: "Hero"The Growing Pains of Adrian MoleFlapperThames Television1 episode1989Forever GreenRoseLondon Weekend Television1 episode1990Close to HomeMiss TribleEpisode: "And Then There Was One"Jeeves and WoosterServing LadyGranada Television Episode: "The Purity of the Turf"You Rang M'Lord?Queen of DalmatiaBBC OneEpisode: "Royal Flush"1991The Upper HandMrs. OliveCentralEpisode: "Common Evidence"Trouble in MindCharlotteLondon Weekend TelevisionEpisode: "The Chance to Dream"1992Covington CrossSybilABCEpisode: "Blinded Passions"1992-4Waiting For God Sister SheilaBBC One4 episode1994–95Time After TimeAuntie DotLondon Weekend Television10 episodes1995Coogan's RunPost Office BarbaraBBC2Episode: "Handyman For All Seasons"1997CasualtyMarjorieBBC1Episode: “Monday Bloody Monday”1997CowsCookChannel 4TV Movie 1998DangerfieldMrs. RobinsonBBC OneEpisode: "The Last Picture"Keeping MumElsieEpisode: "The Picnic"2001Bernard's WatchAgnes BellCentral5 episodes2005My HeroMrs. OsborneBBC OneEpisode: "The First Husband's Club"Ultimate ForceSylviaITVEpisode: "Deadlier Than the Male" 2007 Sensitive Skin Deddie BBC Two Episode: "Three Lost Loves" 2009Midsomer MurdersMrs FullerITVEpisode: "The Great and The Good"The Catherine Tate ShowGailBBC Two1 episode 2011Land GirlsMiss Betty GandertonBBC OneEpisode: "Fight the Good Fight"White Van ManIreneBBC ThreeEpisode: "The Stand"2012The NeighbourhoodTBCBBC NorthComedy pilot, screened at BBC's Salford Comedy Festival2013Whitechapel Dorothy Cade ITV 3 episodes 2012, 2014–2016 Stella Marj Brennig Sky One Series 1,3–5
Film Year Title Character Notes 1970 The Railway Children Nell Perks 1972 The Amazing Mr Blunden Miss Meakin 1986The Canterville GhostAunt Caroline1988Consuming PassionsMrs Coot1990The FoolTBC 1997 Food of LoveVillage Woman 2010 Bad Night for the Blues Dorothy Short film 2011 Swinging with the Finkels Older woman 2014 Pride Old Lady
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