Joan Sanderson (24 November 1912 â€" 24 May 1992) was a British
television and stage actress born in St Paul's, Bristol. During her
long career, the tall and commanding actress played mostly dowagers,
spinsters and matrons, as well as intense Shakespearean roles. Her
television work included the sitcoms Please Sir! (1968â€"72), Fawlty
Towers (1979) and Me and My Girl (1984â€"88).Born and educated at
Northumberland House in Bristol, Sanderson trained at RADA. She had
teaching diplomas in elocution. She appeared in repertory theatres, on
the West End stage and at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, where she
made her début in 1939 playing Amelia in The Comedy of Errors, a
phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both
Goneril to Michael Redgrave's King Lear, and Queen Margaret in Richard
III.During the Second World War she gained experience in repertory and
toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948 she
married fellow actor Gregory Moseley. She achieved her apotheosis as
Delia, Lady Rumpers, in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett (Lyric Theatre
1973). At one point during the play, Lady Rumpers recalls how her
husband has gone into the Army only "to put his moustache to good
purpose". She starred in numerous West End productions including See
How They Run and Anyone for Denis.
television and stage actress born in St Paul's, Bristol. During her
long career, the tall and commanding actress played mostly dowagers,
spinsters and matrons, as well as intense Shakespearean roles. Her
television work included the sitcoms Please Sir! (1968â€"72), Fawlty
Towers (1979) and Me and My Girl (1984â€"88).Born and educated at
Northumberland House in Bristol, Sanderson trained at RADA. She had
teaching diplomas in elocution. She appeared in repertory theatres, on
the West End stage and at the Stratford Memorial Theatre, where she
made her début in 1939 playing Amelia in The Comedy of Errors, a
phase in her career that culminated in 1953 when she played both
Goneril to Michael Redgrave's King Lear, and Queen Margaret in Richard
III.During the Second World War she gained experience in repertory and
toured North Africa and Italy entertaining the troops. In 1948 she
married fellow actor Gregory Moseley. She achieved her apotheosis as
Delia, Lady Rumpers, in Habeas Corpus by Alan Bennett (Lyric Theatre
1973). At one point during the play, Lady Rumpers recalls how her
husband has gone into the Army only "to put his moustache to good
purpose". She starred in numerous West End productions including See
How They Run and Anyone for Denis.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.