Pamela Mary Brown (8 July 1917 – 19 September 1975) was a British actress.
Early life
Brown was born in Hampstead, London, to George Edward Brown, a journalist, and his wife, Helen Blanche (née Ellerton). Growing up as a Roman Catholic, she attended St Mary's School, Ascot.
Career
After attending the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Brown made her stage debut in 1936 as Juliet in a Stratford-upon-Avon production of Romeo and Juliet. Three of her early film roles were in Powell and Pressburger films: her first screen part in One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), a memorable supporting role in I Know Where I'm Going! (1945), and in the fantasy film-opera The Tales of Hoffmann (1951). She played a bitter spinster in Personal Affair, starring Gene Tierney (1953).
From the early 1950s, Brown's arthritic condition (first appearing when she was sixteen) began to make playing on the stage difficult; her mobility was restricted and she was in great pain, which was kept at bay by drugs. Nevertheless, she was a notable success as Jennet in the London production of Christopher Fry's The Lady's Not For Burning, opposite Richard Burton, Claire Bloom and John Gielgud (1949), which transferred to Broadway for an extended run (1950–51). Time magazine wrote (20 November 1950): "As the lady, Pamela Brown proves that Fry did not write the part for her in vain. No one has a more gloriously uppity charm; no voice can simultaneously so rasp and thrill; no one ever made standoffishness more come-hitherable."
Brown's success in film continued as Jane Shore in Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955) and opposite Kirk Douglas in the Van Gogh biopic Lust for Life (1956). Highlights of her 1960s work include the epic Cleopatra (High Priestess; 1963), Becket (Eleanor of Aquitaine; 1964) and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (High Priestess; 1966). Brown played Lady Bessborough in Lady Caroline Lamb (1972) and Archduchess Sophia of Austria in Fall of Eagles (1974).
Personal life
In February 1953, Brown divorced her husband, Peter Copley, for infidelity. They had no children. A devout Roman Catholic, she could not remarry while Copley was still alive but chose to live with her partner Michael Powell, the director who had given her her early film roles. They remained together until her death from pancreatic cancer in 1975, aged 58, in Avening, Gloucestershire. Brown was buried in Holy Cross churchyard, Avening.
Complete filmography
One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942) as Els Meertens
I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) as Catriona
Death of a Rat (1946, TV movie) as Yolan
Alice in Wonderland (1949) as The Queen of Hearts
The Tales of Hoffmann (1951) as Nicklaus
The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1952) as Paula Tanqueray
Personal Affair (1953) as Evelyn
Baker's Dozen (1955, TV movie) as Mrs. Carewe
Richard III (1955) as Jane Shore
Now and Forever (1956) as Mrs. Grant
Lust for Life (1956) as Christine
Dark Possession (1959, TV movie) as Charlotte Bell Wheeler
The Scapegoat (1959) as Blanche
The House in Paris (1959, TV movie) as Naomi
Victoria Regina (1961, TV movie) as Duchess of Kent
Cleopatra (1963) as High Priestess
Espionage (1963), episode "Never Turn Your Back on a Friend" as Miss. Jensen
Becket (1964) as Eleanor of Aquitaine
The Importance of Being Earnest (1964, Armchair Theatre TV movie) as Lady Bracknell The Witness (1966, TV movie) as Madame Pontreau A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) as High Priestess Half a Sixpence (1967) as Mrs. Washington The Admirable Crichton (1968, TV movie) as Lady Brocklehurst Secret Ceremony (1968) as Hilda On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) as Mrs. Fitzherbert Figures in a Landscape (1970) as Widow Wuthering Heights (1970) as Mrs. Linton The Night Digger (1971) as Mrs. Edith Prince Lady Caroline Lamb or Peccato d'amore (1972) as Lady Bessborough Dracula (1974, TV movie) as Mrs. Westenra In This House of Brede (1975, TV movie) as Dame Agnes
References
External links
1917 births
1975 deaths
20th-century English actresses
Alumni of RADA
Deaths from cancer in England
Deaths from pancreatic cancer
English Roman Catholics
English film actresses
English stage actresses
English television actresses
English voice actresses
Outstanding Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Primetime Emmy Award winners People educated at St Mary's School, Ascot People from Avening Actors from Hampstead