Margaret Courtenay (14 November 1923 – 15 February 1996) was a British actress best known for her British theatre roles during the 1970s and 1980s. She was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Born in Wales to a travelling agriculture salesman, she started acting when she was seven in 1930 in a production of The Trojan Women at Cardiff Little Theatre, where her mother acted. She attended Whitchurch Grammar School and then London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

In 1976, Courtenay won the Laurence Olivier Award for Supporting Artist of the Year for her stage role in the play Separate Tables, by author Terence Rattigan, directed by Michael Blakemore, at the Apollo Theatre in London's West End..

In 1991, Courtenay starred in the radio show ' The Secret Life of Rosewood Avenue '.

She was married to Ivan Pinfield and had a son before divorcing. Courtenay retired at Denville Hall, a retirement home for professional actors set in Northwood in the London Borough of Hillingdon. She died of cancer on 15 February 1996 at age 72.

Stage work

Year Title Role Director Notes A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania St Martin's Theatre, West End, London. A Midsummer Night's Dream Hippolyta Michael Benthall Metropolitan Opera House, Broadway, New York City."A Midsummer Night's Dream" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Romeo and Juliet Lady Capulet Robert Helpmann Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway, New York City."Romeo and Juliet" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Troilus and Cressida Cassandra Elizabeth Butterfield Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway, New York City."Troilus and Cressida" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Hamlet Gertrude Michael Benthall Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New York City."Hamlet" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. King Henry V Queen Isabel Broadway Theatre, Broadway, New York City."King Henry V" Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. The Lady of the Camellias Robert Helpmann Old Vic Overseas Tour (12 July 1961 to 17 March 1962) : Australia and New Zealand. Starring Vivien Leigh in title role. The Lady of the Camellias Old Vic Overseas Tour (29 March 1962 to 16 May 1962) : Latin America. Starring Vivien Leigh in title role. King Lear Cordelia Royal Shakespeare Company (European/US Tour) Alfie ! Ruby Gilchrist Calder Morosco Theatre, Broadway, New York City."Alfie !" Original Broadway cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Mame Vera Charles Lawrence Kasha The musical starred Ginger Rogers in title role, and ran for 14 months at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre (West End, London), with a special performance for Queen Elizabeth II."Mame" cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Ambassador Amelia Newsome Stone Widney Musical starring Howard Keel and Danielle Darrieux. It premiered on 19 October 1971, at Her Majesty's Theatre (West End, London)."Ambassador" Original London cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Separate Tables Mrs Railton-Bell Michael Blakemore At the Apollo Theatre, London, with John Mills, Jill Bennett and Raymond Huntley.1976 : Laurence Olivier Award for Supporting Artist of the Year. Macbeth Lady Macbeth Old Vic Theatre, London. Habeas Corpus Muriel Wicksteed A comedy stage play first performed at the Lyric Theatre (West End, London), with Alec Guinness and Margaret Courtenay in the lead roles.Other works for Alan Bennett : (1973) Alan Bennett's "Habeas Corpus" performed at the Lyric Theatre in London, on the Internet Movie Database. Cards on the Table Ariadne Oliver Peter Dews Adapted to the stage by Leslie Darbon from Agatha Christie's novel, at the Vaudeville Theatre in 1981. 42nd Street Maggie Jones Gower Champion Musical that premiered on 8 August 1984, at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre (West End, London)."42nd Street" 1984 London revival cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Aldwych Theatre, London. Follies Hattie Walker Mike Ockrent London revival, starring Diana Rigg, which ran for 644 performances at the Shaftesbury Theatre (West End, London).1987 London revival of "Follies" : West End cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016. The Musical Comedy murders of 1940 Elsa von Grossenkneuten Peter Fargo A John Bishop comedy spoof, that premiered at the Greenwich Theatre, London.The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, on www.Aboutmaria.com : The Maria Friedman website. Retrieved 2 February 2016.Legended stage stills of Margaret Courtenay, on www.Tumblr.com. Retrieved 2 February 2016. Look Look Michael Frayn Show Boat Parthy Ann Hawks Ian Judge A Royal Shakespeare Company revival, at the London Palladium (West End, London).1990 RSC revival of "Show Boat" : West End cast, on www.Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 3 February 2016.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Director Notes1955 Touch and Go Secretary Michael Truman 1968 Hot Millions Mrs. Hubbard Eric Till Uncredited, A crime fiction filmed at MGM-British Studios, and starring Peter Ustinov and Maggie Smith.1968 Isadora Raucous Woman Karel Reisz Uncredited, A biographical film telling the story of American dancer Isadora Duncan. It stars Vanessa Redgrave, James Fox and Jason Robards.1969 Arthur? Arthur! Samuel Gallu Clare Brownjohn 1972 Under Milk Wood Mrs. Waldo Andrew Sinclair A British film starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O'Toole.Ooh… You Are Awful W.P.O. Cliff Owen 1975 Royal Flash Dutchess Irma Richard Lester Starring Malcolm McDowell as Flashman.1976 The Incredible Sarah Madame Nathalie Richard Fleischer A British drama film starring Glenda Jackson portraying Sarah Bernhardt.1980 Oh! Heavenly Dog Lady Chalmers Joe Camp A comedy film released by 20th Century Fox, starring Chevy Chase, Jane Seymour and Omar Sharif.The Mirror Crack'd Mrs Dolly Bantry Guy Hamilton An all stars cast, namely Angela Lansbury, Kim Novak, Elizabeth Taylor, Geraldine Chaplin, Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson.1986 Duet for One Sonia Randvich Andrei Konchalovsky A British film starring Julie Andrews and Alan Bates.

Television Year Title Role Director Notes1963 The House Under the Water Lucrezia Tregaron Dafydd Gruffydd Eight episodes, aired on BBC11971 Bel Ami Madame Walter John Davies 5 episodes aired on BBC 21974 Thriller Claire John Sichel Season 3, Episode 1: "A Coffin for the Bride" originally broadcast on ITV starring Michael Jayston and Helen Mirren1978 Mind Your Language Miss Hardacre Vince Powell Season 1, Episode 6: "Come Back All Is Forgiven " originally broadcast on ITV starring Barry Evans and Zara Nutley1980 Only When I Laugh Mrs. Binns Vernon Lawrence Season 2, Episode 5: "The Visitors" originally broadcast on ITV and starring James Bolam, Peter Bowles and Christopher Strauli.1981 Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years Maxine Elliott Ferdinand Fairfax An 8-part drama Miniseries, originally broadcast on ITV, and starring Robert Hardy in the title role.1983 Don't Wait Up Lady Cranbourne Harold Snoad A British sitcom, aired on BBC1, and starring Nigel Havers, Tony Britton and Dinah Sheridan.1983–87 Never the Twain Lady Deveraux Peter Frazer-Jones, Robert Reed A British sitcom, created by Thames Television for the ITV network.1984 Fresh Fields Margaret Richardson Peter Frazer-Jones A British sitcom starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers.1986 Paradise Postponed Lady Naboth Alvin Rakoff A TV serial based on a novel by John Mortimer.Executive Stress Shirley Lee Sheffield John Howard Davies A British sitcom, aired on ITV, and starring Penelope Keith.1987 The Two Mrs. Grenvilles Madame Sophia John Erman A NBC television miniseries, starring Ann-Margret and Claudette Colbert.Vanity Fair Miss Pinkerton Diarmuid Lawrence A BBC Pebble Mill production set in the time of the Napoleonic Wars.1992 The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side Miss Knight Norman Stone The 12th episode of BBC's series Miss Marple, starring Joan Hickson as Jane Marple.Agatha Christie's Miss Marple : The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side : Overview, full cast & crew, on the Internet Movie Database.1994 The House Of Windsor Lady Sharpcott Graeme Harper 6 episodes, aired on ITV

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