Angela Pleasence (1941-2026) was born into an acting family, and her father Donald Pleasence is remembered for his villainous roles in Bond films and Halloween movies. Angela graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in theater in starting in the 1960s. She performed in popular British TV series like Coronation Street, but of course we know her from her historical costume roles. Angela Pleasence died in April, so she’s overdue for WCW attention.
Catherine Howard in The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970)
Trude in Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973)
Julia in “The Wood Demon,” BBC Play of the Month (1974)
Jorild in “The Conquerors,” Churchill’s People (1975)
Fantine in Les Miserables (1978)
Mrs. Grantly in The Barchester Chronicles (1982)
Lady Bertram in Mansfield Park (1983)
Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol (1984)
Molly in Silas Marner (1985)
Clara in Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986)
Woman Accomplice in Gangs of New York (2002)
Miss Hartnell in “The Murder at the Vicarage,” Agatha Christie’s Marple (2004)
Queen Elizabeth in “The Shakespeare Code,” Doctor Who (2007)
Nanny Taylor in “Appointment With Death,” Poirot (2010)
What historical costume role will you remember Angela Pleasence for?
It’s amusing to watch Ms Pleasance in MARPLE and wonder if she might have played the lead role herself, had Dame Geraldine McEwan (My very favourite Miss Jane Marple, in fact) not beaten her to it; it’s downright hilarious to note her role in THE BARCHESTER CHRONICLES and luxuriate in the jokes made possible by her Dad also appearing in the series (“Keeping it in the family” or “Woman was so dedicated to The Method she spent a literal lifetime learning the role of her father’s daughter” or “Does this qualify as child labour, she is after all your child”).
Also, I remain deeply fascinated by Ms Pleasance being, in fact, rather cute despite sharing many of her Father’s facial features – I don’t think even his most affectionate friends would describe Mr Pleasance as ‘cute’.
Finally and most importantly, PUG! PUUUUG! PUG DOGGY!
(For some reason a sighting of the breed always excites the very silliest excitement in my manly breast, possibly because they are quite probably the most delightfully-odd looking breed of dog, challenged only by the Daschund).