Victoria Tennant (born 30 September 1950) is a British actress. She is known for her roles in the TV miniseries The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, in which she appeared as actor Robert Mitchum's on-screen love interest, Pamela Tudsbury, as well as her supporting roles in All of Me (1984), (1985), Flowers in the Attic (1987), (1990), and L.A. Story (1991).
Early life and education Tennant was born on 30 September 1950 in London, England, to Irina ( Baronova; 1919–2008) and Cecil Gordon Tennant (1910–1967). Her father, from a junior branch of a family of minor Yorkshire gentry resident at Kilnsey,A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain and Ireland, thirteenth edition, Sir Bernard Burke, ed. A. Winton Thorpe, The Burke's Publishing Co. Ltd, 1921, p. 1728 was a producer and talent agent for MCA; her mother was a Russian prima ballerina from Saint Petersburg who appeared with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Tennant's maternal grandfather, Mikhail Baronov, was a senior officer in the Imperial Russian Navy; his wife, the former Lydia Vishniakova, was a general's daughter. Tennant has a sister, Irina, and a brother, Robert, both of whom were seriously injured in a car crash in 1967 that killed their father. Tennant's godfather was the actor Laurence Olivier.
Like her mother, Tennant trained in ballet, first at the Elmhurst Ballet School and then (for two years) at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
Career After a number of roles in British and other European films, including The Ragman's Daughter (1972) and Inseminoid (1981), Tennant emigrated to the United States. She went to appear in films Strangers Kiss (1983), All of Me (1984) with Steve Martin, her future husband, and The Holcroft Covenant (1985). She starred as Pamela Tudsbury in the ABC miniseries The Winds of War in 1983, receiving Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. She reprised her role in the sequel miniseries War and Remembrance (1988).
In 1987, Tennant starred in the neo-noir crime thriller Best Seller and the psychological drama film Flowers in the Attic playing the leading role. In 1990 she appeared in the dystopian drama film The Handmaid's Tale and was lead actress in the horror film Whispers. In 1991, Tennant starred alongside Steve Martin in the romantic comedy film, L.A. Story. She wrote the script for the 1996 romantic comedy film, Edie & Pen.Rooney, David (27 May 1996) "Edie & Pen", Variety, p. 70 The following years, Tennant appeared mostly in the smaller-scale films and guest-starred in television series including Diagnosis: Murder, JAG, Scrubs and Monk.
In 2014, Tennant published a memoir about her mother titled Irina Baronova and The Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, published by the University of Chicago Press.Victoria Tennant Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, University of Chicago Press, 15 October 2014 г. The book was presented at the Bel Air Country Club in Bel Air, Los Angeles."Blue Ribbon Book" (21 Nov 2014) The Beverly Hills Courier, Vol. 49, No. 46, p. 8
Personal life Tennant's first marriage was to Peppo Vanini, a nightclub owner who owned the Xenon nightclub. They married in 1969 and divorced in 1976.Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television (2008)
She dated Matthew Chapman from 1978 until 1982, but ended their relationship upon meeting Steve Martin. She married Martin in 1986, but they divorced in 1994.
Since 1996, Tennant has been married to Kirk Justin Stambler.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1972Doris Randall1980Dinner Party Guest1981Inseminoid Barbra1981Sphinx Lady Carnarvon1982Ich bin dein KillerAnnette Dorberg1983Strangers KissCarol Redding / Betty1984All of Me Terry Hoskins 1985Helden von Tiebolt / Helden Tennyson 1987Best SellerRoberta Gillian1987Flowers in the Attic Corinne Dollanganger1989Fool's MateAlice Gordon1990Aunt Lydia1990WhispersHilary1991L.A. StorySarah McDowell 1992The PlagueAlicia Rieux 1996Edie & Pen Blonde with DogWriter and producer1998Bram Stoker's Legend of the MummyMary 2008Mrs. Woodman 2009Irene in TimeEleanor Jensen 2010Dante's Inferno: An Animated EpicBeatrice (voice)Video 2013Cold TurkeyElizabeth Utley 2013Louder Than WordsLydia Thorsby 2018Alex & the ListBarbaraFilmed in 2013
Television Year Title Role Notes1979Sherlock Holmes and Doctor WatsonHelen StonerEpisode: "The Case of the Speckled Band"1981La Guerre des insectesHelen CurtissTV film1982Tales of the UnexpectedBerniceEpisode: "Who's Got the Lady?"1983Pamela TudsburyTV miniseries1983DempseyEstelle TaylorTV film1983ChiefsTrish LeeTV miniseries1985George Burns Comedy Week MaggieEpisode: "The Funniest Guy in the World"1986Under SiegeGloria GarryTV film1986ValentinaEpisode: "Red Snow"1986Alfred Hitchcock PresentsBrideEpisode: "Deadly Honeymoon"1988MaigretVictoria PortmanTV film1988–89War and RemembrancePamela Tudsbury12 episodes1989Voice of the HeartFrancesca CunninghamTV film1989Act of WillAudraTV series1994"Review: 'Snowy River: The Mcgregor Saga the Race (31 Aug 1993) VarietyAnita HargravesRecurring role (5 episodes)1997Diagnosis: Murder"H’w’d talks on tragedy" (3 Sep 1997) VarietyVictoria LarkinEpisode: "Deadly Games"1999ProvidenceDr. ToyntonEpisode: "Blind Faith"2001IreneEpisode: "Dancin'"2001Sister Mary Explains It All"Review: 'Sister Mary Explains It All (24 May 2001) VarietyBitter DivorceeTV film, also producer2004JAGMarta SperlingEpisode: "The Man on the Bridge"2007ScrubsMaggie KentEpisode: "My Scrubs"2008MonkMs. BensonEpisode: "Mr. Monk Paints His Masterpiece"2009Susan RedmanEpisode: "Infected"2011William & KateCeliaTV film
Music Hussy – theme song lyrics
References
External links