Judy Parfitt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judy Parfitt
Parfitt in The Avengers (1968)
Born	Judy Catherine Claire Parfitt (1935-11-07) 7 November 1935 (age 89) Sheffield, Yorkshire, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1954–present
Spouse(s)	Tony Steedman ​ ​ (m. 1963; his death 2001)​
Children	1

Judy Catherine Claire Parfitt (born 7 November 1935) is a talented English actress. She has worked in theatre, films, and television for many years. She first appeared in a film in the 1950s. Later, she had a supporting role in the BBC TV show David Copperfield (1966). She also played Queen Gertrude in the 1969 film Hamlet.

Judy Parfitt is well-known for several roles. She played Mildred Layton in the 1984 TV series The Jewel in the Crown. This role earned her a nomination for a BAFTA award. She was also Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the 1980 TV show Pride and Prejudice. In the 1995 film Dolores Claiborne, she played Vera Donovan. She received another BAFTA nomination for her role as Maria Thins in the 2003 film Girl with a Pearl Earring. Since 2012, she has been a main cast member on the popular drama series Call the Midwife, where she plays Sister Monica Joan.

About Judy Parfitt's Early Life

Judy Parfitt was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, in 1935. Her parents were Catherine Josephine and Lawrence Hamilton Parfitt. When she was a teenager, she went to Notre Dame High School for Girls. After high school, she trained to be an actress at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She finished her training in 1953.

Judy Parfitt's Acting Career

Judy Parfitt started her acting career in theatre in 1954. Her first play was Fools Rush In at the Amersham Repertory Company.

In 1968, she appeared in the Hammer television film Journey to The Unknown. She acted alongside famous stars like Joseph Cotten. She also appeared in a 1978 episode of Laurence Olivier Presents with Laurence Olivier. In 1981, she played Eleanor in the Royal Shakespeare Company's play Passion Play. She was also in the 1984 film The Chain and the 1987 film Maurice.

Two of her most famous roles are Mildred Layton in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the 1980 TV series Pride and Prejudice. In 1995, she played Vera Donovan in Dolores Claiborne. Her character was a very strong and powerful woman.

American TV Shows and Films

Judy Parfitt has also acted in some American television shows. She had a regular role as Snow White's Stepmother, Queen Lillian "Lily" White, in the series The Charmings. Her real-life husband, Tony Steedman, even appeared as Santa Claus in one episode. She was also in an episode of Murder, She Wrote in 1989. In 2002, she played the mother of Dr. Elizabeth Corday on several episodes of ER. In 1998, she played Queen Marie in the film Ever After: A Cinderella Story.

In 1997, Parfitt played Lady Mount-Temple in the film Wilde. This movie was about the writer Oscar Wilde. In 2003, she played Maria Thins in Girl with a Pearl Earring. This role earned her another BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

She played Mrs. van Schuyler in an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot called Death on the Nile in 2004. In 2008, she was the main villain, Mrs. Clennam, in Little Dorrit. At Christmas 2011, she had a small role as Aunt Chastity in The Bleak Old Shop of Stuff.

Call the Midwife Role

Since 2012, Judy Parfitt has been a beloved character in the BBC TV series Call the Midwife. She plays Sister Monica Joan, an elderly nun who is starting to have memory problems. Sister Monica Joan is very educated and often uses her knowledge of books to help understand the stories in the show.

Recently, Parfitt has also appeared in the BBC spy show The Game. She was in a film called Hello Carter. She also acted in a Radio 4 show, Tom Wrigglesworth's Hang-Ups, and a comedy show called Up the Women.

Judy Parfitt's Personal Life

In 1963, Judy Parfitt married actor Tony Steedman in Harrow, Middlesex. They had one son together. Tony Steedman passed away in 2001.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

Judy Parfitt has been recognized for her acting with several nominations:

BAFTA Film Awards

• 2003 – Best Actress in a Supporting Role – for her role as Maria Thins in Girl with a Pearl Earring – nominated

BAFTA TV Awards

• 1984 – Best TV Actress – for her role as Mildred Layton in The Jewel in the Crown – nominated

Other Awards

• 2009 – Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television – for her role as Mrs Clennam in Little Dorrit – nominated
• 2014 – Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television – for her role as Sister Monica Joan in Call the Midwife – nominated

See also

In Spanish: Judy Parfitt para niños