Zara Nutley

Zahrah Mary Chassib Jaber, born 19 August 1924 – 9 October 2016),[1][2] better known by her stage name Zara Nutley, was an English actress. She is best known for her roles in two television comedy series, Mind Your Language (as college principal Miss Courtney) and Never the Twain (as Aunt Eleanor).[3]

Zara Nutley
Born
Zahrah Mary Chassib Jaber

19 August 1924
Falmouth, Cornwall, England
Died9 October 2016 (aged 92)
Manor Park, Uckfield, East Sussex, England
Other namesZara Jaber, Zarah Jaber, Zahrah Jaber
OccupationActress

Biography

Nutley was born in Cornwall in 1924,[1][lower-alpha 1] the daughter of Stanley Jaber and Gladys Gregory, who married in 1923.[4]

Early in her career she was involved in amateur stage productions[5] and subsequently repertory theatre.[6] In the 1950s she studied and later taught at the Florence Moore Drama Studio in Hove, Sussex.[6][7] Prior to 1977, she was variously billed as Zahrah,[8] Zarah,[9] or Zara[10] Jaber.

In the television sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979 and 1986), Nutley played Dolores Courtney, the principal of an adult education college. Her character was scripted as a stern, authoritarian feminist and spinster who was detested and feared by the staff and students at the school.[11] Her other regular television role was the final three seasons of Never the Twain (1981–1991),[3] in which she played Donald Sinden's Aunt Eleanor.

Nutley died aged 92 in Uckfield, East Sussex, on 9 October 2016.[2]

Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes
1995Grange HillEve1 episode
1994LovejoyMrs. AddisonEpisode: Breaking the Broker
1993Last of the Summer WineMrs. Jack AttacliffeEpisode: The Black Widow
1988Gentlemen and PlayersMrs. FothergillEpisode: One for Sorrow Two for Joy
1987Terry and JuneMrs BunceEpisode: The Family Way
1986Full HouseSalesladyEpisode: It's in the Book
1985–1986Victoria Wood as Seen on TVCare Home Worker / Headmistress2 episodes
1984–1991Never the TwainAunt Eleanor19 episodes
1984Tales of the UnexpectedAnn DibbellEpisode: The Mugger
Bottle BoysDr. GardnerEpisode: All in a Day's Work
1980Metal MickeyMiss BeadleEpisode: Top Secret Mickey
1979Mr. SelkieMrs. Craine
1978Within These WallsNancyEpisode: Mixer
1977Spaghetti Two-StepMrs. DanbyTV film
1977–1986Mind Your LanguageMiss Dolores Courtney42 episodes
1976DawnbreakersShort film
1975Prometheus: The Life of BalzacMadame du BordelloEpisode: The Human Comedy
1974Father BrownNurseEpisode: The Dagger with Wings
Dial M for MurderSerafinaEpisode: Frame
1973Second City FirstsMrs. ShakespeareEpisode: The Movers
Jane EyreGrace Poole4 episodes

Notes
  1. Sources asserting Nutley was born in New Zealand[3] appear to be in error.

References
  1. "England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  2. "Deceased Estates: Zahrah Jaber". The Gazette. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  3. "George Michael tops brutal year for celebrities - here's who we lost". Stuff.co.nz. 17 December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 December 2016.
  4. "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  5. "Stafford News: "Granite"". Staffordshire Advertiser. 6 December 1947. p. 8 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  6. "With Court Players for short spell". Peterborough Citizen & Advertiser. 23 August 1957. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  7. "Summer 84 Stage: Hardest worked 'stooge'". The Stage. 16 August 1984. p. 68 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  8. "Stafford Players' courageous presentation of 'Streetcar'". Staffordshire Advertiser. 10 September 1954. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  9. "Producer Leaves". Staffordshire Advertiser. 14 January 1955. p. 2 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  10. "On The Way". The Stage. 6 November 1975. p. 1 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  11. Hayward, Anthony (13 February 1997). "Obituary: Barry Evans". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022.
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