Angela Pleasence


Daphne Anne Angela Pleasence, better known as Angela Pleasence, is an English actress. Trained in theatre, Pleasence's first major film role came in , followed by roles in horror films such as From Beyond the Grave and Symptoms.
She worked extensively in television productions and British miniseries throughout the 1980s and 1990s. She had minor roles in the films The Search for John Gissing, Gangs of New York, and The Gigolos.

Biography

Pleasence was born in Chapeltown, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, to Miriam Raymond and actor Donald Pleasence. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and made her stage debut in 1964 as Titania in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre. She appeared extensively in London theatre productions throughout the 1970s.
She is known for her performance as Catherine Howard in the 1970 BBC serial The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Other television credits include Les Misérables, The Barchester Chronicles, Mansfield Park, Silas Marner, Midsomer_Murders, Whitechapel, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Agatha Christie's Marple.
She is also noted for her roles in horror films of the 1970s, including From Beyond the Grave, Symptoms and The Godsend. She made a guest appearance in the parody series Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible satirising her earlier performances.
She also appeared in Stealing Heaven and appeared in "The Shakespeare Code" episode of Doctor Who as Elizabeth I.
Two other roles are the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1984 holiday television film A Christmas Carol and a role as a crowd member in Martin Scorsese's 2002 crime drama Gangs of New York.
She appeared as Winnie in the BBC drama Happy Valley.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1967Here We Go Round the Mulberry BushScruffy Girl
1969Destiny of a SpyPeace GirlTelevision film
1970The Six Wives of Henry VIIICatherine HowardMini-Series
1973The Love BanMick's Secretary
1973'Traudel
1974From Beyond the GraveEmily Underwood
1974SymptomsHelen
1978Les MisérablesFantineTelevision film
1980The GodsendThe Stranger
1982The Barchester ChroniclesMrs GrantlyMini-Series
1983Mansfield ParkLady BertramMini-Series
1984A Christmas CarolGhost of Christmas Past
1985Silas MarnerMollyTelevision film
1986'ClaraTelevision film
1988Stealing HeavenSister Cecilia
1989Somewhere to RunAnita FitzpatrickTelevision film
1991The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big FishLouis's Sister
1996SeptemberLottieTelevision film
1997The Pig's FamilyRosieShort film
1998Cider with RosieCrabbyTelevision film
2001The Search for John GissingJohanna Frielduct
2002Gangs of New YorkWoman Accomplice
2004Agatha Christie's MarpleMiss Hartnell
2005The GigolosJoy
2007Doctor WhoQueen Elizabeth IEpisode: “The Shakespeare Code”
2011Your HighnessMother
2011Agatha Christie's PoirotNanny
2013WhitechapelLouise Iver
2016Happy ValleyWinnieMini-Series