Stephanie Beacham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephanie Beacham
Beacham in 2009
Born	(1947-02-28) 28 February 1947 (age 78) Barnet, Hertfordshire, England
Alma mater	Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1964–present
Spouse(s)	John McEnery ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1979)​
Partner(s)	Bernie Greenwood (2008–present)
Children	2

Stephanie Beacham (born 28 February 1947) is a famous English actress. She has worked for over 60 years in movies, television, and on stage. She is well-known in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Beacham started acting on British TV in 1967. Her first big movie was The Games in 1970. She also acted with famous stars like Ava Gardner and Marlon Brando. She became known for her roles in British horror films. Later, she starred in popular TV shows like Tenko, Connie, and the American series Dynasty and The Colbys.

After Dynasty, Beacham starred in many other American shows. These included the comedy Sister Kate and the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. She also appeared in Steven Spielberg's science fiction series SeaQuest DSV.

Beacham later returned to the UK. She played Phyl Oswyn in the prison drama Bad Girls and Martha Fraser in the popular soap opera Coronation Street. She also appeared on reality TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing and Celebrity Big Brother. In 2025, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Film Awards.

Early Life and Education

Stephanie Beacham was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England. She was one of four children. Her father was an insurance executive. She went to Queen Elizabeth's Girls' Grammar School.

At first, Beacham wanted to be a ballerina. However, she was born with hearing loss, which made dancing difficult. When she was 17, she traveled to Paris, France. There, she studied mime, a type of silent acting. She hoped to teach dance to deaf children.

After returning to the UK, she became interested in acting. She worked as a wardrobe assistant at a theater in Liverpool. Soon, she was playing small roles on stage. This led her to study at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.

Acting Career

Early Roles and Rise to Fame

Beacham began her career as a model before getting her first TV role in 1967. She played Mary, Queen of Scots in a BBC show. She then appeared in many TV series, including The Saint with Roger Moore.

Her first movie roles were in 1970. She starred in The Games and Tam Lin. In 1971, she acted opposite Marlon Brando in The Nightcomers. This movie was a major step in her career and made her more famous.

After this success, she was offered a role in the movie Straw Dogs. However, she was not chosen for the part, which went to another actress. Despite this, Beacham continued to find work in the UK. She starred in several popular horror movies, such as Dracula A.D. 1972 with Peter Cushing.

Success in Television

From 1981 to 1982, Beacham was in the BBC series Tenko. The show was about female prisoners of war during World War II. In 1985, she played the main character in the drama series Connie.

These roles helped her get one of her most famous parts. She played the powerful Sable Colby in the American TV series The Colbys. This show was a spin-off of the hit series Dynasty. Beacham starred alongside actor Charlton Heston. When The Colbys ended, she joined the cast of Dynasty for its final season. She had a famous on-screen rivalry with Joan Collins's character.

Hollywood and Beyond

In the late 1980s and 1990s, Beacham worked on many projects. She was in the comedy movie Troop Beverly Hills and the fantasy film The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. She also starred in the American comedy series Sister Kate as a nun. For this role, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.

Beacham (left) with Dynasty and The Colbys co-stars Joan Collins and Emma Samms in 2009

She had a recurring role in the popular teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. She played the mother of Luke Perry's character, Dylan. In 1993, she appeared in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. She also starred in the science fiction series seaQuest DSV, produced by Steven Spielberg.

Return to British TV and Stage

In 2003, Beacham joined the cast of the British prison drama Bad Girls. She played the character Phyl Oswyn for four years. In 2007, she competed on the dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

In 2009, she joined the long-running soap opera Coronation Street as Martha Fraser. She returned to the role briefly in 2022. In 2010, she was a contestant on Celebrity Big Brother, where she finished in fifth place.

Throughout her career, Beacham has also performed on stage. She has acted in plays in London's West End and on Broadway in New York. Some of her famous stage roles include playing Elizabeth I in Elizabeth Rex and the opera singer Maria Callas in Master Class.

Personal Life

Beacham was born with no hearing in her right ear and only partial hearing in her left. She has said this is because her mother had chicken pox while pregnant.

She married actor John McEnery in 1973. They had two daughters together before they divorced in 1979. She is now in a long-term relationship with her partner, Bernie Greenwood.

Beacham has faced health challenges. She was successfully treated for skin cancer in 2009 and again in 2011. In 2022, a burglar broke into her London home, but she was not harmed.

She supports several charities. She works with organizations that help people with hearing loss and communication problems. She is also involved with a charity that uses art to help abused children.

Selected Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Stephanie Beacham para niños