Nicola Mary Pagett (15 June 1945 – 3 March 2021), known professionally as Nicola Pagett, was a British actress, known for her role as Elizabeth Bellamy in the 1970s TV drama series Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1973), as well as being one of the leads in the sitcom Ain't Misbehavin' (1994–1995). Her film appearances included Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), Frankenstein: The True Story (1973), Operation Daybreak (1975), Privates on Parade (1983) and An Awfully Big Adventure (1995).
Early life Born in Cairo, Egypt, Nicola Pagett spent most of her childhood out of Britain—in Hong Kong, Cyprus and Japan, the family moving with her father who worked for a major oil company. She was educated at Saint Maur International School, in Yokohama, Japan. In 1962, Pagett entered Britain's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she studied for two years.
Career In 1964, Pagett appeared in several productions with Worthing Repertory Company and the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre. Then her performance in the television play The Girl in the Picture caught the attention of Sir Robert Helpmann who cast her to tour with Vivien Leigh in the stage play La Contessa.
In 1965, she appeared in the Incorporated Television Company (ITC) production of Gideon's Way, episode 10, "How to Retire without Really Working" in an uncredited role as girl at railway station. Also in 1965, under the name Nicola Paget, she appeared in Gideon's Way series 1 episode 15 called "The Alibi Man".
She also appeared in the British TV series Danger Man in an episode called "The Mirror's New". She appeared in The Persuaders! in the episode "The Long Goodbye", and two episodes of Special Branch.
Between 1971 to 1973 she appeared as Elizabeth Bellamy in the British series Upstairs, Downstairs.
This was followed in 1975 by an appearance in the British television police drama, The Sweeney. Pagett appeared in the episode Stoppo Driver in which she played the character of Sara Prince, part of a family of criminals involved in the kidnap of the wife of Detective Constable Brian Cooney, a Flying Squad driver.
In May 1976, she appeared as Bella Manningham in Gas Light at the Criterion Theatre, London, with Peter Vaughan and Anton Rodgers.
She played the title role in the 1977 BBC adaptation of Anna Karenina and gave a memorable performance in David Nobbs's TV series A Bit of a Do. She appeared in films such as The Viking Queen (1967), Come Back Peter (1969), Anne of the Thousand Days (1969), There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Frankenstein: The True Story (1973), Operation Daybreak (1975), Oliver's Story (1978), Privates on Parade (1983), Scoop (1987) and An Awfully Big Adventure (1995). She appeared in leading roles (as the young Irish bride Conor) in the 1980 Australian mini-series The Timeless Land and Sonia Drysdale in the 1994 to 1995 sitcom Ain't Misbehavin'.
Selected Filmography YearTitleRole Notes1964–1966Armchair TheatreKitty Black/ Barbera2 episodes1965Danger ManNicolaEpisode: "The Mirror's New"Gideon's WayGirl at Railway Station/ Cathy Bellman2 episodesHereward the WakePrincess Anja2 episodes1966–1969The Wednesday PlayMary/ Adele Dobbs2 episodes1967Mr. RoseSusanEpisode: "The One Woman"Sexton BlakePatriciaEpisode: "The Vanishing Snowman"The Viking QueenTaliaFilm1968The AvengersLady Adriana BeardsleyEpisode: "Have Guns, Will Haggle"The CaesarsMessalinaEpisode: "Claudius"Man in a SuitcaseCarla FavershamEpisode: "Burden of Proof"Softly, SoftlyMargery AndersonEpisode: "The Good Girl"The TroubleshootersChristina Van Der HoepEpisode: "A Girl to Warm Your Feet On"1969Anne of the Thousand DaysPrincess MaryFilmCome Back PeterJenny (uncredited)Film1969–1970Special BranchMargot/ Lydia Tamarova2 episodes1970There's a Girl in My SoupClareFilmWicked WomenFlorence MaybrickEpisode: "Florence Maybrick"1971Barlow at LargeDespina EconomidesEpisode: "Heat of the Sun"The Persuaders!Carla WilksEpisode: "The Long Goodbye"1971–1973Upstairs, DownstairsElizabeth Bellamy13 episodes1973Frankenstein: The True StoryElizabeth FanshaweFilmThe Rivals of Sherlock HolmesCountess NadjaEpisode: "Anonymous Letters"1974Napoleon and LoveMlle. GeorgeEpisode: "Georgina"1975Operation DaybreakAnnaFilmThe SweeneySara PrinceEpisode: "Stoppo Driver"1977Anna Karenina Anna Karenina10 episodes1978Oliver's StoryJoanna StoneFilm1980The Timeless LandConor Mannion6 episodes1983Privates on ParadeActing Lieutenant Sylvia MorganFilm1985A Woman of SubstanceAdele Fairley3 episodes1987ScoopJulia StitchFilmScreen TwoElizabethEpisode: "Visitors"1988Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the SunEmma OrchardsonTV movie1989–1990A Bit of a DoLiz13 episodes1992Party TimeCharlotteTV movie1994–1995Ain't Misbehavin'Sonia Drysdale12 episodes1995An Awfully Big AdventureDotty BlundellFilm1998DangerfieldAnna HarrisEpisode: "Angel"2000Up RisingSally Kegworthy5 episodes
Personal life Pagett married actor/writer Graham Swannell in 1975. They had one daughter. The couple divorced in 1997.
Pagett was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 1997, after having become obsessed with the then prime minister's chief press secretary Alastair Campbell. She related in her book Diamonds Behind My Eyes that she later recovered.Diamonds Behind My Eyes, Nicola Pagett, Orion, 1998
Pagett died on 3 March 2021, aged 75, after suffering from a brain tumour.
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