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Fenella Fielding

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Occupation
  
Actress

Nephews
  
Nick Feldman

Role
  
Actress

Name
  
Fenella Fielding

Years active
  
1954–present


Fenella Fielding Carry On Blogging Happy Birthday Fenella Fielding

Full Name
  
Fenella M. Feldman

Born
  
17 November 1927 (age 96) (
1927-11-17
)
London, England

Relatives
  
Basil Feldman, Baron Feldman (brother)

Siblings
  
Basil Feldman, Baron Feldman

Books
  
La Squab: The Black Rose of Auschwitz

Parents
  
Philip Feldman, Tilly Katz

Movies
  
Carry On Screaming!, Guest House Paradiso, Dougal and the Blue Cat, The Old Dark House, Doctor in Clover

Similar People
  
Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Angela Douglas, Jim Dale

Fenella fielding returns to the morecambe wise show


Fenella Fielding (born 17 November 1927) is an English stage, film and television actress, popular in the 1950s and 1960s and known as "England's first lady of the double entendre". She is known for her seductive image and distinctively husky voice. Fielding appeared in two Carry On films, Carry on Regardless (1961) and Carry on Screaming! in 1966.

Contents

Fenella Fielding Fenella Fielding Actresses vintage Pinterest First

Fenella fielding rise public image ltd


Family

Fenella Fielding Event An Audience With Fenella Fielding 13th June 2015

She was born in 1927 as Fenella M. Feldman in London, of Romanian/Russian Jewish descent, the daughter of Tilly (née Katz; 1902–1977) and Philip Feldman. She is the younger sister of Basil Feldman, Baron Feldman. She grew up in Lower Clapton and later Edgware where she attended North London Collegiate School. Her father at one time managed a cinema in Silvertown, east London. Fielding has stated that, despite reports that she is related to the late comic Marty Feldman, this is not the case ("although I knew him very well").

Career

Fenella Fielding Fenella Fielding Theatre Credits

Fielding began her acting career in 1954, concentrating on stage theatrical productions. She was given her first break by the actor Ron Moody, who had met her in an amateur production at the London School of Economics. Her performance in Sandy Wilson's musical version of Valmouth made her a star in the late 1950s. By 1959 she was appearing with Kenneth Williams in the comedy revue Pieces of Eight, written by Harold Pinter and Peter Cook. Fielding also guested in the Hancock's Half Hour episode "The Poetry Society" in December 1959.

Fenella Fielding Quotes by Fenella Fielding Like Success

She had occasional guest appearances in television programmes such as The Avengers (after being passed over as Patrick Macnee's regular partner in favour of Honor Blackman) and in Danger Man. She appeared in two of the Carry On films, most famously as the vampirish Valeria in Carry On Screaming! (1966), and three of the Doctor films (including Doctor in Clover). She interspersed these with performances in plays by Ibsen, Shakespeare and Henry James, reputedly keeping an edition of Plato's writings by her bed. Other theatre credits around this time included Sheridan and Chekhov.

Fenella Fielding Misty Moon Presents An Evening with Fenella Fielding

Fielding was the uncredited Village announcer in The Prisoner (1967–68), and co-starred with Tom Poston and Robert Morley in the remake of The Old Dark House (1963). In Dougal and the Blue Cat, based on The Magic Roundabout, she voiced the character of the Blue Voice—referred to as "Madam" by both Buxton (the blue cat of the title) and Dougal at various stages throughout the film. In the late 1960s, she was approached by Federico Fellini to work on one of his films, but turned it down because she was already booked to perform on stage at the Chichester Festival Theatre.

She was a guest on The Morecambe and Wise Show on four occasions between 1969 and 1972. In the theatre, she was in, among other things, Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular at the Criterion Theatre, London, directed by Sam Walters, in 1974, and Fallen Angels at Watford, directed by Kim Grant.

In 1999, Fielding starred in Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson's film Guest House Paradiso. She toured in a production of Lady Windermere's Fan the same year.

Fielding appeared from 14 to 19 February 2011 at the Jermyn Street Theatre, London in an English Chamber Theatre presentation of Jane McCulloch's Dearest Nancy, Darling Evelyn, the dramatised letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh. Fielding worked with writer-performer Graham Roos performing the role of Sandalphon in Roos' verse cabaret Apocalypse Calypso at King's Place.

She is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America. In 2011 she also appeared in the third series of the CBBC children's sitcom The Legend of Dick and Dom, in an episode called "Land of the Luvvies", where she played Lotte Lawoo, the head of the Luvvies.

Fielding wrote the foreword to Carry On Actors (The Complete Who's Who of the Carry On Film Series) by Andrew Ross in 2011. In 2012, Fielding returned to television as Alex Henley's grandmother Miriam, in the sixth series of the Channel 4 teen drama Skins. In November 2012, Fielding narrated Channel 4's Kookyville.

Voice work

She voiced 'MOOD', the quirky supercomputer in the video game Martian Gothic in a script written by science fiction author Stephen Marley. Since 2000 she has been recording with Savoy, a book publishing and recording company. Her work with them includes readings of Colette, J.G. Ballard's Crash and T. S. Eliot's Four Quartets. She made an album of cover songs including Robbie Williams's "Angels", Kylie Minogue's "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", New Order's "Blue Monday" and the White Stripes' "Passive Manipulation". In 2006, she toured Ireland in The Vagina Monologues. She provided the voice to two tracks on the Graham Roos album Quest.

In contemporary culture

Fielding is the subject of a contemporary public artwork by artist Martin Firrell. Metafenella (2014) is an interactive video portrait offering advice for living well inspired by the life and work of Fielding. As the word 'meta' implies, Metafenella provides a platform for Fielding to reflect on the cultural meaning and significance of herself and the roles she has played. Metafenella examines some of Fielding's best known roles in popular culture looking for 'deeper' or more 'serious' meaning than is customarily associated with mass culture. The project explores the existential truths that can be inferred from her performances in works like Carry On Screaming!, The Morecambe and Wise Show, and The Prisoner.

The artwork takes a broad view of Fielding's comedic career placing works like Sandy Wilson's musical Valmouth in context with theatrical anecdotes, childhood memories, reflections on the rise of feminism, and the potential meaning and significance of less well known roles like Yvette in the British World War II spy thriller Foxhole in Cairo.

Metafenella captures Fielding's views on the meaning and role of criticism, the end of censorship on the English stage, and provides valuable insights into human nature derived from characters including vamps and vampires, desperate housewives, ballerinas and thrill-seeking aristocrats. Accordingly, Fielding is quoted as saying: "That's as deep as I can go - that would be to plunge into the depths of these characters who are paper thin."

Critical reception

A 2007 article in The Independent remarked that it was "one of the mysteries of British life that Fenella Fielding, whose wit and distinctive stage presence captivated figures such as Kenneth Tynan, Noël Coward and Federico Fellini, should have drifted into obscurity rather than being celebrated", and the same article quotes The Times as saying that Fielding's performance as Hedda Gabler was "one of the experiences of a lifetime".

Year of birth

Most sources formerly cited 1934 as her year of birth, but findmypast.co.uk shows that the birth of Fenella M. Feldman was registered in the first quarter of 1928 and that the actress was in fact born in 1927.

  • Name: FELDMAN, Fenella M
  • Registration District: Stepney
  • County: London
  • Year of Registration: 1928
  • Quarter of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar
  • Mother's Maiden Name: Katz
  • Volume No: 1C
  • Page No: 210
  • Filmography

    Actress
    -
    Conditions (TV Series) (post-production) as
    Mother
    - White Bites - Mother (voice)
    - Building Bridges - Mother (voice)
    - Cadre - Mother (voice)
    - Mistaken Identity - Mother (voice)
    - Wrong Game - Mother (voice)
    - Diet of Worms - Mother (voice)
    - Mr Write - Mother (voice)
    - Summers Gone - Mother (voice)
    - Animal Magic - Mother (voice)
    - CTRL/ALT/DELETE - Mother (voice)
    - Suspicious Minds - Mother (voice)
    - Be My Guest - Mother (voice)
    - A Happy Place - Mother (voice)
    2022
    Byron's Darkness (Short) as
    Narrator
    2021
    The Curse of Minerva (Short) as
    Minerva
    2017
    Frankula (Short)(voice)
    2016
    Worst Fears (Video) as
    Her Ladyship (segment 1 "Tincture of Vervain")
    2012
    Skins (TV Series) as
    Miriam Henley
    - Alex (2012) - Miriam Henley
    2011
    Over the Edge as
    Mrs. van Eisner
    2011
    Tincture of Vervain (Short) as
    Her Ladyship
    2011
    The Legend of Dick and Dom (TV Series) as
    Lotte Lawoo
    - Land of the Luvvies (2011) - Lotte Lawoo
    2009
    Radio Mania: An Abandoned Work (Short) as
    Mrs Langdon
    2007
    Wishbaby as
    Eve
    2007
    The All Together as
    Mrs. Cox
    2004
    Abroad Again in Britain (TV Series documentary) as
    Dearie
    - Brighton Pavilion (2004) - Dearie (voice)
    2001
    Beginner's Luck as
    Mark's mum
    2000
    Martian Gothic: Unification (Video Game) as
    Mood (voice)
    1999
    Guest House Paradiso as
    Mrs. Foxfur
    1994
    Noel's House Party (TV Series)
    - Episode #6.17 (1997)
    - Episode #4.5 (1994)
    1993
    Uncle Jack and Cleopatra's Mummy (TV Series) as
    The Vixen
    - The Treasure of Cleopatra! (1993) - The Vixen
    - The Tomb of El Wadi Whant (1993) - The Vixen
    - The Legend Comes Alive (1993) - The Vixen
    - Meet the Mummy (1993) - The Vixen
    - The Camel's Breath (1993) - The Vixen
    1992
    Uncle Jack and the Dark Side of the Moon (TV Series) as
    The Vixen
    - Off with His Head (1992) - The Vixen
    - The Vixen Has Landed (1992) - The Vixen
    - Escape (1992) - The Vixen
    - The Vixen Strikes (1992) - The Vixen
    - Kidnapped (1992) - The Vixen
    1991
    Uncle Jack and the Loch Noch Monster (TV Series) as
    The Vixen
    - Countdown (1991) - The Vixen
    - Monsters Galore! (1991) - The Vixen
    - Terror in Edinburgh (1991) - The Vixen
    - Operation Rescue (1991) - The Vixen
    - The Return of the Vixen (1991) - The Vixen
    1990
    Uncle Jack and Operation Green (TV Series) as
    The Vixen
    - All Tied Up (1990) - The Vixen
    - Kidnapped (1990) - The Vixen
    - Carrying the Can (1990) - The Vixen
    1986
    A Winter Story (TV Movie)(voice)
    1985
    The Pickwick Papers (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Leo Hunter
    - Episode #1.4 (1985) - Mrs. Leo Hunter
    1984
    The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood (TV Movie) as
    Molly
    1981
    Cribb (TV Series) as
    Zena Prothero
    - Mad Hatter's Holiday (1981) - Zena Prothero
    1980
    Nobody's Perfect (TV Series) as
    Vivien
    - Vivien's Problem (1980) - Vivien
    1977
    Cumbernauld Hit as
    Liana
    1971
    That's Your Funeral (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Darling
    - A Touch of Violet (1971) - Mrs. Darling
    1970
    I Understand (Short) as
    Commentator (voice)
    1970
    Dougal and the Blue Cat as
    The Blue Queen (voice, uncredited)
    1969
    Lock Up Your Daughters! as
    Lady Eager
    1969
    A Touch of Venus (TV Series) as
    Marcella
    - The Autograph (1969) - Marcella
    1968
    Ooh La La! (TV Series) as
    The Wife / Mandoline / Antoinette / ...
    - Two Whole Days (1968) - The Wife
    - The Missing Person (1968) - Mandoline
    - Dear Lady (1968) - Antoinette
    - Call Me Maestro (1968) - Henriette
    1967
    The Prisoner (TV Series) as
    Loudspeaker Announcer / Loudspeaker Announcer & Telephone Operator
    - A Change of Mind (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - It's Your Funeral (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - Checkmate (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - Dance of the Dead (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - Free for All (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - The Chimes of Big Ben (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer (voice, uncredited)
    - Arrival (1967) - Loudspeaker Announcer & Telephone Operator (voice, uncredited)
    1966
    Arrivederci, Baby! as
    Lady Fenella Fenton
    1966
    Carry on Screaming! as
    Valeria Watt
    1966
    Izeena (TV Series) as
    Izeena
    - Episode #1.16 (1966) - Izeena
    1966
    Road to Saint Tropez (Short) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1966
    Carnaby, M.D. as
    Tatiana Rubikov
    1965
    How to Undress in Public Without Undue Embarrassment as
    Narrator (voice)
    1963
    Comedy Playhouse (TV Series)(Mixed Doubles) / Julie
    - Memoirs of a Chaise Longue (1965) - (Mixed Doubles)
    - Comrades in Arms (1963) - Julie
    1965
    Drama 61-67 (TV Series) as
    Mrs. Garfield
    - Drama '65: Mrs. Quilley's Murder Shoes (1965) - Mrs. Garfield
    1960
    Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
    Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax / Susi Flamberg
    - The Importance of Being Earnest (1964) - Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax
    - Guardian Angel (1960) - Susi Flamberg
    1964
    NET Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax
    - The Importance of Being Earnest (1964) - Hon. Gwendolen Fairfax
    1964
    So Much to Remember (TV Movie)
    1964
    Theatre 625 (TV Series) as
    Cleopatra
    - All the Conspirators #1: The Ides of March (1964) - Cleopatra
    1964
    Love Story (TV Series) as
    Celia
    - Divorce, Divorce (1964) - Celia
    1964
    The Avengers (TV Series) as
    Kim Lawrence
    - The Charmers (1964) - Kim Lawrence
    1963
    The Old Dark House as
    Morgana Femm
    1963
    Doctor in Distress as
    Passenger on Train
    1963
    Mr. Justice Duncannon (TV Series) as
    The Girl
    - Trial and Error (1963) - The Girl
    1962
    Saki (TV Mini Series) as
    Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.8 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.7 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.6 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.5 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.4 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.3 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.2 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    - Episode #1.1 (1962) - Mary Drakmanton
    1961
    In the Doghouse as
    Miss Fordyce
    1961
    Carry on Regardless as
    Penny Panting
    1961
    No Love for Johnnie as
    Sheilah
    1960
    Danger Man (TV Series) as
    Hostess
    - An Affair of State (1960) - Hostess
    1960
    The Strange World of Gurney Slade (TV Mini Series) as
    Caroline the Cow
    - Episode #1.3 (1960) - Caroline the Cow (voice)
    1960
    ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Ernestine Lawrence
    - Reprise (1960) - Ernestine Lawrence
    1960
    Foxhole in Cairo as
    Yvette
    1960
    The Four Just Men (TV Series) as
    The Contessa
    - Treviso Dam (1960) - The Contessa
    1960
    Doctor in Love as
    Mrs. Tadwich
    1960
    International Detective (TV Series) as
    Marcelle Clinton
    - The Whitley Case (1960) - Marcelle Clinton
    1959
    Follow a Star as
    Lady Finchington
    1959
    The Adventures of Brigadier Wellington-Bull (TV Series) as
    The Rajah's wife
    - A Spicy Dish (1959) - The Rajah's wife
    1959
    Sapphire as
    Lingerie Shop Manageress (uncredited)
    1958
    Saturday Playhouse (TV Series) as
    Delia Mitchell
    - Design for Murder (1958) - Delia Mitchell
    1957
    Destination Downing Street (TV Series) as
    Djemila
    - The Empty Man: Part 3 (1957) - Djemila
    - The Empty Man: Part 2 (1957) - Djemila
    - The Empty Man: Part 1 (1957) - Djemila
    1957
    BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) as
    Prostitute
    - The Magnificent Egotist (1957) - Prostitute
    Writer
    1964
    So Much to Remember (TV Movie) (book)
    Music Department
    1964
    So Much to Remember (TV Movie) (lyrics)
    Self
    2016
    Surge of Power: Revenge of the Sequel as
    Self
    2016
    Horror Icon (Video short) as
    Self
    2015
    Carry on Forever (TV Mini Series documentary) as
    Self - Carry On Screaming!
    - Episode #1.2 (2015) - Self - Carry On Screaming!
    2012
    Bring Me Morecambe and Wise (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - From Stage to Screen (2012) - Self
    2011
    Greatest Ever Carry On Films (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2003
    Timeshift (TV Series documentary) as
    Self - Narrator / Self - Friend of Eric Thompson
    - Hotel DeLuxe (2011) - Self - Narrator (voice)
    - The Magic Roundabout Story (2003) - Self - Friend of Eric Thompson
    2011
    Eric & Ernie: Behind the Scenes (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    2010
    Thompson and the Magic Roundabout (Video documentary short) as
    Self
    2008
    Cash in the Celebrity Attic (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Fenella Fielding (2008) - Self
    2008
    The Alan Titchmarsh Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 14 March 2008 (2008) - Self
    2007
    Don't Knock Yourself Out (Documentary) as
    Self
    2007
    British Film Forever (TV Mini Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Sauce, Satire and Silliness: The Story of British Comedy (2007) - Self
    2006
    Greatest Ever Scary Movies (TV Mini Series documentary) as
    Self
    2006
    The 50 Greatest Comedy Films (TV Special) as
    Self
    2005
    This Morning (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 26 August 2005 (2005) - Self
    2003
    The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1998
    Reputations (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - The Kenneth Williams Story (2002) - Self
    - Kenneth Williams: Desperately Funny (1998) - Self
    - Kenneth Williams: Seriously Outrageous (1998) - Self
    2001
    Can We Carry On, Girls? (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self / Various Characters
    2000
    Heroes of Comedy (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Kenneth Williams (2000) - Self
    1999
    The Making of 'Guest House Paradiso' (Video short) as
    Self
    1999
    Carnival of Monsters (TV Special) as
    Narrator (voice)
    1998
    What's a Carry On? (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self - at Re-Union (uncredited)
    1998
    In the Presence of Julian Clary (TV Special) as
    Self
    1996
    Noel's House Party (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #6.8 (1996) - Self
    1994
    The South Bank Show (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Kenneth Williams (1994) - Self
    1989
    Wogan (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #9.140 (1989) - Self (uncredited)
    1988
    Children's Royal Variety Performance (TV Special)
    1982
    Blankety Blank (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #10.6 (1986) - Self
    - Episode #5.8 (1982) - Self
    1985
    The Paul Daniels Magic Show (TV Series) as
    The Wicked Queen
    - Episode #7.11 (1985) - The Wicked Queen
    1985
    A Royal Night of One Hundred Stars (TV Special)
    1983
    Children in Need (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #4.1 (1983) - Self
    1972
    This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Michael Aspel (1980) - Self
    - David Frost (1972) - Self
    1979
    Give Us a Clue (TV Series) as
    Self - Panellist
    - Episode #2.10 (1979) - Self - Panellist
    1978
    Golden Gala (TV Special) as
    Self
    1977
    Those Wonderful TV Times (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #2.4 (1977) - Self
    1977
    The Good Old Days (TV Series) as
    Self - Performer
    - Episode #25.8 (1977) - Self - Performer
    1976
    Arena (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Edinburgh International Festival 1976: Part 1 (1976) - Self
    1973
    What's My Line? (TV Series) as
    Self - Guest Celebrity
    1969
    The Morecambe & Wise Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - 1972 Christmas Show (1972) - Self
    - Episode #4.4 (1970) - Self
    - Episode #3.3 (1970) - Self
    - 1969 Christmas Show (1969) - Self
    1972
    Parkinson (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #2.10 (1972) - Self
    1972
    Music Now (TV Series) as
    Self
    - The Best of Counterpoint (1972) - Self
    1970
    The Ed Sullivan Show (TV Series) as
    Self - Singer / Comedian
    - Episode #24.7 (1970) - Self - Singer / Comedian
    1969
    The Dave King Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 11 December 1969 (1969) - Self
    1965
    Call My Bluff (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #3.19 (1968) - Self
    - Episode #2.2 (1966) - Self
    - Episode #1.8 (1965) - Self
    1964
    The Eamonn Andrews Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #3.14 (1967) - Self
    - Episode #2.36 (1966) - Self
    - Episode #1.8 (1964) - Self
    1965
    Stars and Garters (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode #3.6 (1965) - Self
    1962
    Juke Box Jury (TV Series) as
    Self - Panellist
    - Episode #1.283 (1965) - Self - Panellist
    - Episode #1.164 (1962) - Self - Panellist
    1964
    The Celebrity Game (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Episode dated 12 June 1964 (1964) - Self
    1963
    Who Is Secombe? (TV Movie) as
    Self
    1960
    Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Margot Fonteyn, Ralph Richardson, Fenella Fielding, Harry Secombe, Russ Conway, the Duke of Bedford (1960) - Self
    Archive Footage
    2018
    ITV Lunchtime News (TV Series) as
    Self - 1927-2018
    - Episode dated 12 September 2018 (2018) - Self - 1927-2018
    2013
    Morecambe & Wise: The Whole Story (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Episode #1.2 (2013) - Self
    - Episode #1.1 (2013) - Self
    2010
    Piers Morgan's Life Stories (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Barbara Windsor (2010) - Self (uncredited)
    2006
    Carry on Quizzing (Video Game) as
    Valeria Watt (uncredited)
    2001
    I Love Christmas (TV Special documentary)
    1998
    Kenneth Williams: A Life on the Box (TV Movie documentary)
    1993
    Laugh with the Carry Ons (TV Series)
    1977
    That's Carry On! as
    Valeria Watt
    1974
    Parkinson (TV Series) as
    Self
    - A Christmas Look at Morecambe and Wise (1974) - Self

    References

    Fenella Fielding Wikipedia