Ann Beach

Ann Beach (7 June 1938 – 9 March 2017[1]) was a British actress.[2][3] She is perhaps best remembered for her supporting role as Sonia Barrett, the quirky next-door neighbour on the comedy Fresh Fields, starring Julia McKenzie and Anton Rodgers.

Ann Beach
Born(1938-06-07)7 June 1938
Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England
Died9 March 2017(2017-03-09) (aged 78)
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1957–2013
Spouse(s)Francis Coleman
(m. 1966; died 2008)
ChildrenCharlotte Coleman (deceased)
Lisa Coleman

Career

She won a scholarship to RADA at the age of 16. After leaving, she went on tour with Frankie Howerd in Hotel Paradiso, and then came to London in the title role of Emlyn Williams's Beth. This was not a success, but she was soon busily engaged in television work, until she went back to the stage in the Theatre Workshop company at the Theatre Royal Stratford East. Among the parts she created there were Rosie in Fings Ain't Wot They Used T'Be (1960), and Miss Gilchrist in The Hostage. She then created the role of Barbara in Billy Liar at the Cambridge Theatre in September 1960. She was also a member of the BBC's Radio Drama Company.[4]

Personal life

She was married to Francis Coleman. She was the mother of Charlotte Coleman and Lisa Coleman.[5][6][7]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1960 The City of the Dead Lottie
1961 On the Fiddle Iris
Nothing Barred Girlfriend Who Drops Through Open Manhole Uncredited
1962 The Fast Lady Miss Timpkins
1966 Hotel Paradiso Victoire
1968 Sebastian Pamela
1970 The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Receptionist
1971 Under Milk Wood Polly Garter
1973 Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width Bridie
1976 Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd Clara TV film
James and the Giant Peach Aunt Sponge TV film
The Battle of Billy's Pond Mrs. Bateson
1979 Brecht and Co Polly Peacham/Widow Begbick TV film
1982 Oliver Twist Mrs. Sowerberry TV film
1983 Salad Days Timothy's Mother TV film
1991 King Ralph Miranda's Mother
1999 Notting Hill William's Mother
2002 Double Act Gran TV film
2007 The History of Mr Polly Mrs. Rumbold TV film
2011 Fast Freddie, The Widow and Me Freddie's Grandma TV film
2013 One Chance Elderly Woman

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1957 ITV Play of the Week Maude Riordan Episode: "The Grass Harp"
1960 Theatre Night Barbara Episode: "Billy Liar"
Armchair Theatre Elaine Morris Episode: "Night Panic"
1961 The Rag Trade Brenda Recurring role
BBC Sunday-Night Play Miss Chatham Episode: "Brian Rix Presents #14: Flat Spin"
1962 Thelma Episode: "Worm's Eye View"
1963 Festival Saunders Episode: "Fallen Angels"
1964 Maria Episode: "A Florentine Tragedy"
1965 Off Beat... Mini-series
1966 The World of Wooster Parlourmaid Episode: "Jeeves and the Clustering Round Young Bingo"
BBC Play of the Month Gwen Episode: "Make Me an Offer"
1967 Half Hour Story Jennifer Episode: "The 45th Unmarried Mother"
1969 Jackanory Storyteller Recurring role
The Wednesday Play Blodwen Wilderness Episode: "Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage"
1970 Music Hall Artist Episode: "Mad Jack"
Steptoe and Son Daphne Episode: "Steptoe and Son - and Son!"
1971 BBC Play of the Month Anna Vyroubova Episode: "Rasputin"
For the Love of Ada Alice Bingley Episode: "The Journey"
Elephant's Eggs in a Rhubarb Tree Various roles Series regular
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes Mary Grandard Episode: "The Woman in the Big Hat"
Shirley's World Episode: "The Rally"
Armchair Theatre Mrs. Drayton Episode: "The Bargain Hunters"
1972 The Man Outside Maudlin Episode: "A Persistent Coffin"
Play for Today Valerie Episode: "The Villa Maroc"
1973 Shirley Ritchie Episode: "Song at Twilight"
Seven of One Doris Episode: "My Old Man"
Armchair Theatre Penelope Episode: "A Bit of a Lift"
1974 Perils of Pendragon Maudlin 2 episodes
Omnibus Queen Victoria Episode: "Crystal Palace - The Great Glass Hive"
Masquerade Freda Episode: "Service Not Included"
Late Night Drama Diane Episode: "You Don't Remember"
1975 Ten from the Twenties Jehane Episode: "The Orsini Emeralds"
Dawson's Weekly Mrs. Ffoulkes Episode: "The Clerical Error"
Shades of Greene Miss Sanderson Episode: "Special Duties"
1976 Bouquet of Barbed Wire Monica Miniseries
The Government Inspector Mayor's Wife Episode: "Bribery and Corruption"
Fred Basset Voice role
1977 BBC Play of the Month Violet Episode: "The Winslow Boy"
Mrs. Dainty Fidget Episode: "The Country Wife"
Rising Damp Mrs. Brent Episode: "That's My Boy"
1978 The Upchat Connection Una Episode: "Spring in Park Lane"
BBC2 Play of the Week Morag Episode: "The Vanishing Army"
1979 Diary of a Nobody Sarah Series regular
1980 The History of Mr Polly Mrs. Johnson Miniseries
Play for Today Morag Episode: "The Vanishing Army"
Tales of the Unexpected Miss Unwin Episode: "Georgy Porgy"
1981 Holding the Fort Muriel Episode: "Famous First Words"
Only When I Laugh Helen Roper-Jones Episode: "Postman's Knock"
1983 Nanny Miss Alice Casson Episode: "The Prodigy"
1984-1986 Fresh Fields Sonia Barrett Series regular
1985 Tandoori Nights Nurse Peters Episode: "Far from the Ganges"
1986 That Uncertain Feeling Mrs. Davies Miniseries
1987 The Sooty Show Detective Sergeant Sarah Snoop Episode: "White Lies"
1989 Brookside Jane Harper
1990 Home to Roost Rita Higgs Episode: "Return to Clagthorpe"
1991 Screen One Mrs. Chubb Episode: "A Question of Attribution"
French Fields Sonia Episode: "Hail and Farewell"
1992 Land of Hope and Gloria Freda Episode: "Running Before Walking"
1994 The Lifeboat Phyllis Shore 4 episodes
Screen One Mrs. Leveller Episode: "Two Golden Balls"
1995 The Bill Mrs. Parker Episode: "All in the Game"
1998 Wycliffe Mrs. Wimble Episode: "Land's End"
1999 People Like Us Episode: "The Photographer"
2000 Home Farm Twins Dotty Miller Episode: "Sam and AJ Save the Day"
2001 Peak Practice Eunice Gould Episode: "Flesh and Blood"
2005 Midsomer Murders Sonia Hardwick Episode: "Sauce for the Goose"
Cold Blood Lynn Episode: "Cold Blood"
2007 Foyle's War Hilda Greenwood Episode: "Bleak Midwinter"
2008 HolbyBlue Annie 1 episode
2012 Monroe June Duggart 1 episode

References
  1. "Ann Beach obituary". The Guardian. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  2. "Ann Beach". Movie-tv-episode-database.com. 7 June 1938. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  3. "Ann Beach - Trailer - Showtimes - Cast - Movies & TV - NYTimes.com". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  4. "Radio and audio book companies", in Lloyd Trott, ed., Actors and Performers Yearbook 2016, pp. 353-354
  5. "Ann Beach – Biography". Imdb.com. 7 June 1938. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  6. Close (18 November 2001). "UK news in brief | UK news | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
  7. "Charlotte Coleman, 33, Film Actress – The". New York Times. 22 November 2001. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
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