Felicity Kendal facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Felicity Kendal CBE
Kendal in June 2024
Born	(1946-09-25) 25 September 1946 (age 78) Olton, Warwickshire, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1967–present
Notable work	The Good Life Rosemary & Thyme
Spouse(s)	Drewe Henley ​ ​ (m. 1968; div. 1979)​ Michael Rudman ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1990)​
Partner(s)	Tom Stoppard (1991–1998) Michael Rudman (1998–2023; his death)
Children	2, including Charley Henley
Parents	Geoffrey Kendal (father) Laura Liddell (mother)
Relatives	Jennifer Kendal (sister)

Felicity Ann Kendal (born 25 September 1946) is a famous English actress who has worked in television and theatre for over 70 years. She is best known for playing Barbara Good in the popular TV comedy series The Good Life from 1975 to 1977.

Kendal was born in England but spent much of her childhood in India. Her father was an actor who ran his own theatre company that toured around India. Kendal started acting in her family's plays from a very young age. Her family's life even inspired the movie Shakespeare Wallah (1965), in which she starred.

After returning to England, Kendal became a star on television. Besides The Good Life, she starred in other TV shows like Solo and The Mistress. She also co-starred in the mystery series Rosemary & Thyme from 2003 to 2006.

Kendal is also a highly respected stage actress. She has worked with famous playwright Tom Stoppard and director Peter Hall. She has appeared in many classic and modern plays, including Amadeus, Arcadia, and the musical Anything Goes. For her work in drama, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995.

Early Life and Childhood in India

Felicity Ann Kendal was born in Olton, Warwickshire, England, in 1946. Her parents, Laura Liddell and Geoffrey Kendal, were both involved in theatre. Her older sister, Jennifer Kendal, also became an actress.

When Kendal was seven, her family moved to India. Her father led a travelling theatre group, called a repertory company. They performed plays by famous writers like Shakespeare for all kinds of audiences, from schoolchildren to royalty.

Because her family travelled so much, Kendal attended six different schools in India. She got her start in acting with her family's company. Her first time on stage was when she was only nine months old! She was carried on as a baby in A Midsummer Night's Dream. By the time she was 12, she had her first speaking role as Puck in the same play.

Shakespeare Wallah

In 1965, Kendal starred in the film Shakespeare Wallah. The movie was based on her own family's experiences touring India. It tells the story of a British family of actors performing Shakespeare's plays in post-colonial India. Kendal played Lizzie, the daughter of the acting family. Critics praised her performance in the film.

At 17, Kendal moved back to England to continue her acting career. She said that her time in India was an "amazing way of living" that prepared her for life in the theatre.

Television Career

Before her big break, Kendal appeared in several TV shows in the 1960s and early 1970s. These included Love Story, The Wednesday Play, and Jason King. Producers liked her cheerful personality, and audiences quickly became fans.

The Good Life

Kendal became a household name in 1975 with the BBC sitcom The Good Life. She starred as Barbara Good, alongside Richard Briers as her husband, Tom. The show was about a couple who decide to quit their jobs and live a self-sufficient life in their suburban home.

Their fancy neighbours, Margo (Penelope Keith) and Jerry (Paul Eddington), were often confused by their lifestyle, which led to many funny situations. The show was a huge hit, with millions of people watching each week. Kendal's character, Barbara, was loved by viewers for being funny, strong, and supportive. The show ran for four series and ended in 1978.

Later TV Shows

After The Good Life, Kendal starred in more TV comedies written by Carla Lane. In Solo (1981–82), she played a woman who decides to live on her own after a breakup. In The Mistress (1985–87), she played a woman in a complicated relationship.

From 2003 to 2006, she co-starred with Pam Ferris in Rosemary & Thyme. They played a pair of gardeners who solve mysteries. Kendal's character, Rosemary Boxer, was a university lecturer in horticulture (the study of gardening). The show was very popular with viewers.

Stage Career

Kendal has had a long and successful career in the theatre. She made her London stage debut in 1967. In the 1970s, she was part of the Actors' Company, a group where all actors had equal pay and shared roles.

Working with Tom Stoppard

In the 1980s and 1990s, Kendal began working closely with the famous playwright Tom Stoppard. She starred in the first productions of many of his plays, including The Real Thing (1982), Hapgood (1988), and Arcadia (1993). Her performances in his complex and witty plays were highly praised.

She also starred in Stoppard's play Indian Ink (1995), which was inspired by her own connection to India.

Other Major Roles

Kendal has worked with many great directors, including Peter Hall. She played Constanze Mozart in Amadeus in 1979 and starred in nine other plays he directed.

She has won awards for her stage work, including an Evening Standard Theatre Award in 1989. In 2021, she took on her first role in a musical, playing Evangeline Harcourt in Anything Goes. In 2023, she starred in the classic comedy Noises Off, where critics said she was "more brilliant than ever."

Personal Life

Kendal was married to actor Drewe Henley from 1968 to 1979. Her second marriage was to director Michael Rudman from 1983 to 1991. Although they divorced, they got back together in 1998 and remained partners until his death in 2023. She has two sons.

Kendal was raised Catholic and converted to Judaism during her second marriage. She has said she felt she was "returning to my roots." In 1998, she published her life story, called White Cargo.

She is also an ambassador for the charity Royal Voluntary Service, which helps people in need across Britain.

Awards