Judy Valerie Cornwell (born 22 February 1940) is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Daisy in the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances (1990–1995). She also played Anya Claus in Santa Claus: The Movie (1985). In her later years she became known for playing Miss Marple in many stage productions, including A Murder is Announced between 2015 and 2016."Keeping Up Appearances star reveals she will retire from touring after Miss Marple". The Argus (22 April 2016). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
Biography Cornwell's father served in the RAF and she grew up in Britain, where she attended a convent school, with Penelope Keith. She attended Lewes County Grammar School for Girls. She later attended Saint Michael Boarding school in Heacham, Norfolk, before moving to Australia with her family. She has written about her childhood experiences in her autobiography Adventures of a Jelly Baby. She later returned to Britain and became a professional dancer and comedian in her teens, working her act between the nudes at Dhurjati Chaudhury's Irving Theatre Club, on Irving Street, off Leicester Square, London, before becoming an actress. Her career includes roles in radio's The Navy Lark, the play Oh! What A Lovely War, her own TV comedy series Moody and Pegg, and a season with the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Films and television Cornwell's film roles include Santa Claus: The Movie (as Anya Claus) and Mad Cows. On television she has appeared in Dixon of Dock Green, Cakes and Ale, Bergerac, Doctor Who (the serial Paradise Towers), several episodes of Farrington of the F.O., The Famous Five, The Bill, Heartbeat, The Royal, Miss Marple, Midsomer Murders and The Devil's Lieutenant. Cornwell also appeared in BBC soap opera EastEnders as Queenie Trott, the mean tyrant mother of lovable loser Heather Trott. In 1987, she appeared as the English spinster Rosemary Tuttle in the episode "Rumpole and the Official Secret" from Season 4 of Rumpole of the Bailey.
Cornwell is best known, however, for her portrayal of lovable working-class housewife Daisy in the sitcom Keeping Up Appearances, which ran for five series from 1990 to 1995.
Cornwell also appeared in an episode of Birds of a Feather in 2014.
Published works Cornwell's books include her autobiography Adventures of a Jelly Baby () published in 2005 which describes her childhood growing up in Britain during the war, and then in Australia where her family emigrated.
Cornwell has also published several novels, including Cow and Cow Parsley in 1985, Fishcakes at the Ritz in 1989, The Seventh Sunrise in 1994, and Fear and Favour in 1996.
Personal life Cornwell married John Kelsall Parry on 18 December 1960 and they have one son together. The couple resides in Brighton. There, Parry was a reporter for The Argus.
Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes1959 Friends and Neighbours 4th Girl 1965 Dr. Terror's House of Horrors Nurse (segment Disembodied Hand), uncredited1967 Two for the Road Pat Jules Verne's Rocket to the Moon Lady Electra 1968 The Wild Racers Pippy 1969 Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Filigree Fondle Cry Wolf Stella 1970 Every Home Should Have One Liz Brown Country Dance Rosie Paddy Breeda Wuthering Heights Nelly Dean 1971 Whoever Slew Auntie Roo? Clarine 1985 Santa Claus: The Movie Anya Claus 1987 Cry Freedom Receptionist 1995 Persuasion Mrs Musgrove 1999 Mad Cows Maddy's Mother
Television + Year Title Role Notes 1964 The Sullavan Brothers Helen 1 episode 1965 The Worker Mary 1 episode 1972 Man of Straw Guste Daimchen 4 episodes1974–1976 Moody and Pegg Daphne Pegg 12 episodes1976 Cakes and Ale Rosie 3 episodes1977 Supernatural Margaret Graham Episode: Viktoria1980–1981 The Good Companions Elizabeth Trant 9 episodes1982 Look and Read Mrs Watson Episode: Fairground1983 Jane Eyre Mrs Reed 2 episodesRumpole of the Bailey Miss Tuttle Season 4 Episode 3 Good Behaviour Mrs Brock 1 episode1984 The Devil's Lieutenant Rose von Siebert TV film1985 There Comes a Time Vanessa James 7 episodes1987 Doctor Who Maddy 3 episodes: Paradise TowersDorothy L. Sayers Mysteries Miss Booth Episode: Strong PoisonBergerac Belle Young Episode: The Memory Man1990–1995 Keeping Up Appearances Daisy Main role; 44 episodes1992 Nice Town Aunt Peggy 3 episodesThe Mirror Crack'd Heather Badcock TV film1994 Under the Hammer 'Batty' 1 episode1996 Famous Five Mrs Baker Episode: Five on a Hike Together1997 The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket Daisy TV film1998 Midsomer Murders May Cuttle Episode: Death in Disguise1998 The Life and Crimes of William Palmer Mrs Palmer 2 episodes1999 Heartbeat Isabelle Sheba Christie Episode: Shotgun Wedding2000 David Copperfield Peggotty TV film 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013 Doctors Lola Clinton / Agatha Dalrymple / Bertha Smith / Mo Donaldson 4 episodes2007–2008 EastEnders Queenie Trott 8 episodes2008 Keeping Up Appearances: Life Lessons from Onslow Daisy (archive footage only)2014 Birds of a Feather Annie Episode: You Can't Always Get What You Want2020 Pointless Herself Contestant2023 Keeping Up Appearances - 30 Years Of Laughs Herself/Daisy Documentary
References
External links
Judy Cornwell at the British Film Institute