Angela Pleasence
Pleasence in 1974
Born
Angela Daphne Anne Pleasence

17 or (1941-09-30)30 September 1941
Chapeltown, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
Died (aged 84)
Alma mater Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation Actress
Years active 1964–2026
Father Donald Pleasence

Angela Daphne Anne Pleasence (17 or 30 September 1941 – 2026) was an English actress known for her roles in Coronation Street and Doctor Who.

Trained in theatre, Pleasence's first major film role came in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973), followed by roles in horror films such as From Beyond the Grave and Symptoms (1974).

Pleasence 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 (2001), Gangs of New York (2002), and The Gigolos (2005).

Life and career

Pleasence was born in Chapeltown, Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire,[1] to Miriam Walker and actor Donald Pleasence.[2] 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.[3] She appeared extensively in London theatre productions throughout the 1970s.[3]

She was known for her performance as Catherine Howard in the 1970 BBC serial The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Her other television credits include Dixon of Dock Green, Les Misérables, The Barchester Chronicles (alongside her father), Mansfield Park, Silas Marner, Midsomer Murders, Whitechapel, Agatha Christie's Poirot and Agatha Christie's Marple. In 1978, she voiced the role of Ophelia in a BBC radio play production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Pleasence 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 as the Ghost of Christmas Past in the 1984 holiday television film A Christmas Carol, Sister Cecilia in Stealing Heaven (1988), a crowd member in Martin Scorsese's 2002 crime drama Gangs of New York, Elizabeth I in the 2007 Doctor Who episode "The Shakespeare Code", and Winnie in the BBC drama Happy Valley (2016).

Angela Pleasence died in 2026, at the age of 84.[4]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1968 Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush Scruffy Girl
1973 The Love Ban Mick's Secretary
Hitler: The Last Ten Days Traudel
1974 From Beyond the Grave Emily Underwood Segment 2: 'An Act of Kindness'
Symptoms Helen Ramsey aka: The Blood Virgin
1980 The Godsend The Stranger
1988 Stealing Heaven Sister Cecilia
1991 The Favour, the Watch and the Very Big Fish Louis' Sister
1996 The Shaman Shaman Short film
1997 The Pig's Family Rosy
2001 The Search for John Gissing Johanna Frielduct
2002 Gangs of New York Woman Accomplice
2005 Waverley Waverley Short film
2006 The Gigolos Joy
2011 Your Highness Mother

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1965 Armchair Mystery Theatre Ginny Episode: "The Madam"
1966 Seven Deadly Sins Eileen Episode: "The Erpingham Camp"
1967 Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Maid Episode: "The Chemistry of Love"
Seven Deadly Virtues Carol Episode: "The Whole Truth"
1968 Coronation Street Monica Sutton Recurring role; 4 episodes
1969 The Possessed Marie Shatov Miniseries; 2 episodes
The Expert Tina Episode: "One Life - More or Less"
Plays of Today Jackson Episode: "The Ladies: Joan"
The Wednesday Play Liz Episode: "Birthday"
Beatrice Grayson Episode: "The Last Train through Harecastle Tunnel"
Destiny of a Spy Peace Girl Television film
1970 The Six Wives of Henry VIII Catherine Howard Miniseries; 2 episodes
Paul Temple Betty Martin Episode: "Letters from Robert"
1974 Play of the Month Julia Episode: "The Wood Demon"
Aquarius Jean Episode: "Oh Lovely Wall"
1975 Play for Today Nell Hamer Episode: "Breath"
Churchill's People Jorild Episode: "The Conquerors"
A Legacy Clara von Felden/von Bernin Miniseries; 4 episodes
1976 Dixon of Dock Green Alice Benfield Episode: "Alice"
1978 Les Misérables Fantine Television film
1979 Murder at the Wedding Pam Appleyard Miniseries; 3 episodes
1981 The Walls of Jericho Elsie Inglis Miniseries; 2 episodes
1982 The Hothouse Miss Cutts Television film
The Barchester Chronicles Mrs. Grantly Miniseries; 7 episodes
1983 Mansfield Park Lady Bertram Miniseries; 6 episodes
1984 A Christmas Carol Ghost of Christmas Past Television film
1985 Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe Molly Farren
1986 Girls on Top R.S.C Actress #2 Episode: "Mr. Yummy Brownie"
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna Clara (madwoman) Miniseries; 2 episodes
1989 Somewhere to Run Anita Fitzpatrick Television film
1993 Casualty Sonia Episode: "Everybody Needs Somebody"
1995 The Bill Mrs. Sadler Episode: "In the Midnight Hour"
1996 September Lottie Carstairs Television film
1997 Crime Traveller Mrs. Beavis Episode: "The Broken Crystal"
1998 Midsomer Murders Doris Winstanley Episode: "Death of a Hollow Man"
Cider with Rosie Crabby Television film
2001 Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Lizzy Episode: "Scream Satan Scream!"
2003 The Bill Martha Episode: "Cross Transfer"
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Miss Hartnell Episode: "The Murder at the Vicarage"
2006 Doctors Amy Edgeworth Episode: "A Slip of the Mind"
2007 Doctor Who Queen Elizabeth I Episode: "The Shakespeare Code"
2008 Agatha Christie's Poirot Nanny Episode: "Appointment with Death"
2009 Casualty Catherine Episode: "All You Need Is Love"
2011 The Sarah Jane Adventures Mystic Mags Episode: "The Curse of Clyde Langer: Part Two"
2013 Whitechapel Louise Iver Series 4 regular; 6 episodes
2016 Happy Valley Winnie Recurring role; 2 episodes

References

  1. ^ Hill 1993, p. 161.
  2. ^ Gussow, mel (3 February 1995). "Donald Pleasence, Virtuoso Actor, Dies at 75". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Angela Pleasence Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
  4. ^ Craig, David. "Angela Pleasence, Coronation Street star and daughter of James Bond icon, dies aged 84 | Radio Times". www.radiotimes.com. Retrieved 12 April 2026.

Bibliography