Deddie Davies

Deddie Davies (born Gillian Nancy Davies, 2 March 1938 – 21 December 2016)[1] was a Welsh character actress.[2]

Deddie Davies
Born
Gillian Nancy Davies

(1938-03-02)2 March 1938
Bridgend, Wales
Died21 December 2016(2016-12-21) (aged 78)
OccupationActress
Years active1967–2016

Biography

Davies was born in Bridgend, Wales.[2] She trained at RADA and is most familiar to television viewers for comedy roles in a host of series, including The Rag Trade, That's My Boy, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and Chance in a Million.[2][3]

She appeared in non-comedic roles in series such as The Bill, Upstairs, Downstairs, The Forsyte Saga and Grange Hill.[2] Her film roles include that of Nell Perks in The Railway Children (1970), and The Amazing Mr Blunden (1972).[2]

In her later life, Davies was concerned for issues facing the elderly. In May 2007 she had musical success as a member of superannuated pop group The Zimmers. Their cover version of "My Generation" reached number 26 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2008, Davies investigated the quality of life in elderly care facilities by posing as the aunt of a BBC reporter, being admitted to a rest home, and spending five days there.[4] She recorded her experiences and treatment and concluded that life in many facilities was a "slow death", featuring inactivity, loneliness and minimal interpersonal interaction. Davies's research was reported on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.[5][6] She became a trustee and recorded a video for UK registered charity Compassion in Care.[7]

From 2012, she appeared as Marj Brennig in the British TV series Stella.[8][9]

She died on 21 December 2016, aged 78.[10]

Filmography

TV
Year Title Character Production Company Notes
1973 Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em Miss Thomas BBC One Series 1 "The Hospital Visit"
1977-1978 The Rag Trade Mabel London Weekend Television
1978 The Mayor of Casterbridge Nancy BBC Two
1984 Titus Andronicus Nurse BBC [11]
1984–1986 Chance in a Million Doreen Little [12]
1985–1986 That's My Boy Miss Parfitt Yorkshire Television
1987 My Husband and I Bambi Bamber Yorkshire Television 15 episodes
1987 C.A.T.S. Eyes Mrs Best TVS "Country Weekend"
1993 Time After Time Auntie Dot London Weekend Television [13]
1997 Cows Cook Channel 4 [13]
2007Sensitive SkinDeddieBBC TwoSeries 2[14]
2011 The Catherine Tate Show BBC Two [15]
2012 The Neighbourhood BBC North Comedy pilot, screened at BBC's Salford Comedy Festival[16]
2013 WhitechapelDorothy CadeCarnival Films3 episodes
2012–2016StellaMarjSky 1Series 1–5

Film
Year Title Character Notes
1970The Railway ChildrenNell Perks
1972The Amazing Mr BlundenMiss Meakin[17]
1986 The Canterville Ghost Aunt Caroline [18]
Murder at the Vicarage Mrs Salisbury BBC film based on the novel by Agatha Christie[19]
1990 The Purity of the Turf (U.S)

The Village Sports Day at Twing (U.K.)

 Serving Lady Based on stories by P.G. Wodehouse[20]
1988Consuming PassionsMrs Coot
2010Bad Night for the BluesDorothyShort film
2011Swinging with the FinkelsOlder woman
2014PrideOld Lady

References
  1. Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  2. "Railway Children actor Deddie Davies dies aged 78". The Guardian. 21 December 2016. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. Eddie Pedder (1985). Who's Who on Television, 3rd Edition. Michael Joseph. ISBN 0-907965-31-8.
  4. "BBC NEWS | UK | Care home life is 'slow death'". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  5. Ceci, Christine (2012). Perspectives on Care at Home for Older People. New York: Routledge. p. 39.
  6. "BBC NEWS | UK | Deddie Davies". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  7. "Videos | Compassion in Care". Compassionincare.com. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  9. Hayward, Anthony (2 January 2017). "Deddie Davies obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  10. Williams, Kathryn (21 December 2016). "Stella actress Deddie Davies dies at the age of 78". Walesonline. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  11. Howell, Jane; Sutton, Shaun; Ranson, Malcolm; Simpson, Dudley George; Lavers, Colin; Anthony, Chick; Wilders, John; Burrough, Tony; Davies-Prowles, Paul (1 January 1984). Titus Andronicus. New York, N.Y.: Ambrose Video Publishing.
  12. Blethyn, Brenda; Callow, Simon (1 January 2013), Chance in a million: the complete series., OCLC 862848950
  13. Perry, Christopher (2015). The British Television Pilot Episodes Research Guide 1936–2015. Lulu. p. 230.
  14. "Three Lost Loves, Series 2, Sensitive Skin – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  15. "Nan's Christmas Carol, The Catherine Tate Show – BBC Two". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  16. "BBC – BBC Comedy presents four comedy pilots at Salford Sitcom Showcase – Media Centre". BBC. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  17. Levinson, Barry; Jeffries, Lionel; Shingleton, Wilfrid; Darvas, Teddy; Fisher, Gerry; Bernstein, Elmer; Smith, Roy; Graves, Bryan; Moore, Pat (1 January 1972), The amazing Mr. Blunden, Hemdale Group, OCLC 422869247
  18. Sherman, Fraser (2000). Cyborgs, Santa Claus and Satan: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films Made for Television. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 31.
  19. Pitts, Michael (2004). Famous Movie Detectives III. Oxford, England: Scarecrow Press. p. 153.
  20. Taves, Brian (2006). P.G. Wodehouse and Hollywood: Screenwriting, Satires and Adaptations. North Carolina, U.S.: MacFarland. p. 198.
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