Stephanie Turner (born 25 May 1944) is an English retired actress. She is best known for the lead role of Inspector Jean Darblay in the first three series of the 1980s television BBC police drama Juliet Bravo (1980–82).
Early life Turner was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire.
Career Her first notable television role was as Shirley Walton in 5 episodes of Coronation Street in 1968. In 1974 she appeared in an episode of Special Branch as Jean Gosling, sister of Frank Gosling played by Dennis Waterman, a year later she appeared again with Waterman in three episodes of The Sweeney (1975), playing his on-screen wife, Alison Carter. Her regular role as the featured character WPC Howarth in Z-Cars (1971–75) stood her in good stead for the future role of Inspector Jean Darblay.
She appeared in a 1975 episode of Public Eye as Julia Sissons, a 'missing' common-law wife-turned-barmaid. She also made an appearance in Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads and played a recurring role as Jessie Naylor, née Maugham, in Series 2 of Sam (1974).
In 1980, after losing out to Jill Gascoine for the role of DI Maggie Forbes in ITV's The Gentle Touch (the first British police drama with a female lead), Turner won the role of Inspector Jean Darblay in the rival BBC series Juliet Bravo, which started airing four months after The Gentle Touch. Turner left the programme after the third series, replaced by Anna Carteret as Inspector Kate Longton.
In the 1990s, she was in each episode of The Hello Girls as Miss Armitage, a supervisor of a 1950s GPO switchboard; and played Mrs Hope Q.C. in two episodes of At Home with the Braithwaites.
Having worked in various roles between the 1960s and 2000s on stage, on radio, on television and as a director, Turner retired from acting in 2010. In more recent years she has helped to direct drama students, had a share in an antiques business, and volunteered with InterAct Stroke Support (a charity that allows actors to read to patients following a stroke).
Selected filmography YearTitleRole Notes1968Coronation StreetShirley Walton5 episodesSoftly, SoftlyRita RayEpisode: "Five Pairs of Hands"1970DoomwatchToni HarkerEpisode: "Survival Code"Morning StoryMrs. WoolfordTV movie1971Owen M.D.Molly Christie2 episodes1971 – 1975Z-CarsWPC Howarth16 episodes1972Play for TodayJaneEpisode: "The Reporters"1973Crown CourtAllison JamesEpisode: "No Spoiling (Part 3)"Whatever Happened To The Likely LadsMaryEpisode: "Birthday Boy"1974Sam Jessie Taylor (née Maugham)8 episodesSpecial BranchJean GoslingEpisode: "Stand and Deliver"1975Public EyeJulia SissonsEpisode: "What's to Become Of Us?"The SweeneyAlison Carter3 episodes1977Play for TodayGillian OtwayEpisode: "A Photograph"1978EmmerdaleRuth Hepton12 episodes1980ITV PlayhouseHelenEpisode: "The Specialist"1980 – 1982Juliet BravoInspector Jean Darblay44 episodes1985Theatre NightMrs. ErlynneEpisode: "Lady Windermere's Fan"1990Screen TwoPodustEpisode: "Small Zones"1991BoonJeanette JakesEpisode: "Two Men in a Vault"1992CasualtyDinah ReynoldsEpisode: "Profit and Loss"Van der ValkElis KortmanEpisode: "Still Waters"1993The BillMarcia ThompsonEpisode: "Delinquent"1995Peak Practice Doreen RawlingsEpisode: "Giving Up"1996A Touch of FrostMrs. JarvisEpisode: "Deep Waters"1996 – 1998The Hello GirlsMiss Armitage16 episodes2003At Home with the BraithwaitesMrs Hope Q.C.2 episodes2006DoctorsGwen ClancyEpisode: "Igonarance is Bliss"
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