Wendy Craig facts for kids

Wendy Craig, born Anne Gwendolyn Craig on June 20, 1934, is a famous English actress. She is well-known for her roles in popular TV shows. These include sitcoms like Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970) and Butterflies (1978–1983). She also played Matron in the TV series The Royal from 2003 to 2011.

Wendy Craig was recognized for her acting talent early on. She was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles for her part in the movie The Servant (1963). In 1969, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Actress for her work in Not in Front of the Children.

Early Life and Education

Wendy Craig was born in Sacriston, County Durham, England. Her father, George Craig, was a farmer. Her mother was Anne Lindsay. Wendy attended Durham High School for Girls. She was first a day student and later a boarder there. In 2007, she returned to open a new building named after her.

After passing an important exam, she went to Darlington High School. When she was twelve, her family moved to Picton, North Yorkshire. She then attended Yarm Grammar School nearby. Wendy trained to become an actress at the Central School of Speech and Drama. This school was located in the Royal Albert Hall in London.

In 1956, Wendy Craig performed in a play called Man Alive! in London's West End. She acted alongside Robertson Hare in this play.

Acting Career Highlights

Wendy Craig started her TV career with an appearance in Danger Man in 1961. In the 1960s, she also acted in British films. These included The Servant (1963) and The Nanny (1965). In The Nanny, she worked with the famous actress Bette Davis.

However, Wendy Craig became a household name for her roles in British sitcoms. She often played a slightly disorganized middle-class housewife. She starred in the BBC show Not in Front of the Children from 1967 to 1970. After that, she moved to ITV for ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973). In this show, she played a single parent. This series then continued as ...And Mother Makes Five (1974–1976). Later, she starred in Butterflies (1978–1983), a very popular comedy on BBC2.

Later Roles in TV and Film

Wendy Craig also took on more serious roles. She created and wrote some episodes for the drama series Nanny (1981–1983). She used the pen name Jonathan Marr for her writing. Years later, she played Matron in ITV's The Royal from 2003 to 2011. She also appeared in the 2002 TV version of The Forsyte Saga.

She continued to appear in comedies as well. She was one of the main characters, Annie, in Brighton Belles (1993–1994). This was the UK's version of the American show The Golden Girls. From 2009 to 2010, she played Reggie's mother in the BBC One comedy Reggie Perrin. This show was an updated version of a 1970s series.

In 2012, Wendy Craig was a guest on the cooking show MasterChef. In 2014, she appeared in an episode of the BBC drama Waterloo Road. She also played Mary Goodman in the detective series Death in Paradise in 2016. In 2017, she was in the ITV drama Unforgotten.

From 2017, she starred as Miss Bat in the CBBC show The Worst Witch for its first three series. In 2018, she appeared in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale. In 2019, she was in an episode of Doctors with her former Butterflies co-star Bruce Montague.

Personal Life

Wendy Craig was married to Jack Bentley. He was a musician, writer, and journalist. They were married from 1955 until his death in 1994. Wendy Craig has two sons, Alaster and Ross. Alaster later became a principal oboist for the Birmingham Royal Ballet Sinfonia.

Since the 1990s, Wendy Craig has lived in Cookham, Berkshire. In 2020, she was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This honor was given for her contributions to drama and charity work.

Selected Filmography

• The Secret Place (1957)
• Room at the Top (1959)
• The Mind Benders (1963)
• The Servant (1963)
• The Nanny (1965)
• Just like a Woman (1967)
• I'll Never Forget What's'isname (1967)
• Joseph Andrews (1977)
• Run for Your Wife (2012)
• The Worst Witch (2017–2019)
• Emmerdale (2018)
• Doctors (2019)