Claire Davenport


Claire Bernice Davenport was an English actress well known for her "junoesque" form and who was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique.

Life and career

Davenport was born on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire, and began acting in 1961 with a theatre role in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in Oxford.
Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi, The Return of the Pink Panther, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate, Carry On Emmannuelle, The Tempest, and The Elephant Man. On television she appeared in Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses among others. She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language. Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

Death

She suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s, which stopped her working. Claire Davenport died in London on 25 February 2002, aged 68, from kidney failure.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1963Ladies Who DoPasserbyUncredited
1969CrossplotWedding guest
1969Carry On Again DoctorWedding GuestUncredited
1970Some Will, Some Won'tBlowzy Woman
1971On the BusesPeggy
1973The Best Pair of Legs in the BusinessEating lady
1975The Return of the Pink PantherMasseuse
1976The Bawdy Adventures of Tom JonesMrs BakewellUncredited
1976Intimate GamesFat stripper
1978Rosie Dixon - Night NurseMrs Buchanan
1978JubileeFirst Customs Lady
1978Adventures of a Plumber's MateBelinda
1978Carry On EmmannuelleBlonde in pub
1979The TempestSycorax
1979Birth of the BeatlesNude
1980The Elephant ManFat Lady
1982Trail of the Pink PantherHotel MaidUncredited
1983ScreamtimeMrs. HarlettUncredited
1983Return of the JediFat Dancer
1989War RequiemCharge Sister / Britannia
1990CampingEnglish camper

Partial Television roles