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Rachel Gurney

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Cause of death
  
Pneumonia

Occupation
  
Actress

Residence
  
Name
  
Rachel Gurney


Nationality
  
British

Role
  
Actress

Education
  
Challoner School

Children
  
Sharon Gurney

Rachel Gurney Picture of Rachel Gurney

Born
  
5 March 1920

Died
  
September 24, 2001, Holt, United Kingdom

Spouse
  
Denys Rhodes (m. 1946–1950)

Parents
  
Irene Scharrer, Samuel Gurney Lubbock

Movies and TV shows
  
Upstairs - Downstairs, Funeral in Berlin, Anastasia: The Mystery o, Tom Brown's Schooldays, Compact

Similar People
  
David Langton, Nicola Pagett, Sharon Gurney, Jean Marsh, John Hawkesworth

Rachel Gurney (5 March 1920 – 24 November 2001) was an English actress. She began her career in the theatre towards the end of World War II and then expanded into television and film in the 1950s. She remained active, mostly in television and theatre work, into the early 1990s. She was best known for playing the elegant Lady Marjorie Bellamy in the ITV period drama Upstairs, Downstairs.

Contents

Rachel Gurney Upstairs Downstairs Out of costume During UpDown 1

Early life and education

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Rachel Gurney was born in Buckinghamshire, England on 5 March 1920. Her father, Samuel Gurney Lubbock, was a housemaster at Eton and her mother, Irene Scharrer, was a concert pianist. Due to her father's occupation, Gurney grew up in a large house with 42 boys that was often host to visiting artists and musicians. As a teenager she attended the Dr Challoner's High School in Little Chalfont, Buckinghamshire.

Rachel Gurney Upstairs Downstairs Scrapbook Miscellaneous 5

In 1938 Gurney entered the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting. World War II postponed her acting career, and she did not make her stage debut until 1945 with the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, working under director Barry Jackson. At the close of the war she quickly became a regular presence on the West End, making her debut in 1946 as Lynne Hartley in Warren Chetham-Strode's The Guinea Pig at the Criterion Theatre. In the same year she married novelist Denys Rhodes but their marriage ended in 1950 in divorce. They had one daughter together, actress Sharon Gurney (a daughter-in-law of Michael Gough). Her other stage credits during this time include Lady Katherine in The Sleeping Clergyman at the Criterion Theatre in 1947, the fiancée in Peter Watling's Rain on the Just at the Old Vic in 1948, and Thea in Black Chiffon at the Westminster Theatre in 1949.

Early career

Rachel Gurney Rachel Gurney

Gurney continued to appear regularly on the London stage during the 1950s. Several of her stage appearances were broadcast live on television on the BBC Sunday Night Theatre including The Tragedy of Pompey the Great (1950), The Doctor's Dilemma (1951), and Eden End (1951) among others. In 1952 she portrayed the roles of Mabel in First Person Singular and Mrs. Pless in The Trap at the Duke of York's Theatre. She also appeared as Alice in The Voysey Inheritance at the Arts Theatre and as Mrs. George Lamb in Caro William at the Embassy Theatre. The following year she played Valerie Carrington in the groundbreaking play Carrington VC at the Westminster Theatre. She remained busy over the next several years appearing as Avice Brunton in The Bombshell (1954), Portia in The Merchant of Venice (1955) and Olivia in The Chalk Garden (1956). In 1959 she replaced Celia Johnson as Hilary in The Grass is Greener at the St. Martin's Theatre.

Rachel Gurney Rachel Gurney

Gurney also began to appear in both films and television in the 1950s. Her first film role was in Tom Brown's Schooldays in 1951. This was followed by the films The Blakes Slept Here (1953), Room in the House (1955), Port Afrique (1956) and A Touch of Larceny (1959). Her television credits at this time included Night River (1955), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1956), Colonel March of Scotland Yard (1956), Our Mutual Friend (1958) and The Moonstone (1959).

Mid career

Gurney continued to remain active in theatre, television and film during the 1960s. On the stage she most notably starred opposite John Gielgud as Hermione in the 1965 production of A Winter's Tale and as Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1966. She also starred in the 1969 touring production of Shaw's On the Rocks opposite David Tomlinson, Robert Flemyng and Jack Hulbert.

Her later film roles included Funeral in Berlin (1966) and I Want What I Want (1972). Her television credits include Dixon of Dock Green (1961), Katy (1962), The Saint (1963), Compact (1963), ITV Play of the Week (1964), The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (1965), The Wednesday Thriller (1965), Mystery and Imagination (1966), The Rat Catchers (1966), Armchair Thriller (1967), The Portrait of a Lady (1968), ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969), The Way We Live Now (1969), Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1973), Dangerous Corner (1974) and Fall of Eagles (1974).

Gurney remained active in theatre during the 1970s. She appeared as Mrs Darling in Peter Pan at the Palladium in 1975. In 1977 Gurney made her American stage debut off-Broadway as Mrs. Clandon in George Bernard Shaw's You Never Can Tell at the Roundabout Theatre in New York City.

Later career

In 1980, Gurney made her Broadway debut in Major Barbara. She returned to Broadway twice more in The Dresser (1981–1982) and Breaking the Code (1988). She also appeared in a major role in the Noël Coward play Mr. and Mrs Edgehill in 1985.

She also appeared in the television productions Lost Empires (1986), Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (1986), Richard III (1989), and Little Sir Nicholas (1990).

She died in Norfolk, England on 24 November 2001 from pneumonia due to Alzheimer's disease.

Filmography

Actress
1993
The Poetry Hall of Fame (TV Movie)
1990
Little Sir Nicholas (TV Series) as
Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.6 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.5 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.4 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.3 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.2 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
- Episode #1.1 (1990) - Lady Tremaine
1986
Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna (TV Series) as
Grand Duchess Victoria
- Part II (1986) - Grand Duchess Victoria
- Part I (1986) - Grand Duchess Victoria
1986
Lost Empires (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Agnes Foster Jones
- Episode #1.2 (1986) - Mrs. Agnes Foster Jones
1985
Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill (TV Movie) as
Lady Cynthia Marchmont
1984
All the World's a Stage (TV Mini Series) as
Excerpts: The Dresser
- Prologue: Makers of Magic (1984) - Excerpts: The Dresser
1982
Her Mother's House (TV Movie) as
Gabrielle
1978
Robin's Nest (TV Series) as
Davinia
- Dinner Date (1978) - Davinia
1978
The Four Feathers (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Eustace (uncredited)
1975
Ten from the Twenties (TV Series) as
Lady Wargrave
- An Adventure in Bed (1975) - Lady Wargrave
1974
Father Brown (TV Series) as
Margaret Mandeville
- The Actor and the Alibi (1974) - Margaret Mandeville
1974
Fall of Eagles (TV Mini Series) as
'Sisi', Empress Elisabeth of Austria
- Requiem for a Crown Prince (1974) - 'Sisi', Empress Elisabeth of Austria
1971
Upstairs, Downstairs (TV Series) as
Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Miss Forrest (1973) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- A Family Gathering (1973) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Wages of Sin (1973) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Fruits of Love (1973) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- An Object of Value (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Out of the Everywhere (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Property of a Lady (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Guest of Honour (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Whom God hath Joined- (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Married Love (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- A Pair of Exiles (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The New Man (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- For Love of Love (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Key of the Door (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Why Is Her Door Locked? (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- I Dies from Love (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Magic Casements (1972) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- A Suitable Marriage (1971) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Path of Duty (1971) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- The Mistress and the Maids (1971) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- On Trial (1971) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy
1972
Six Days of Justice (TV Series) as
Chairman
- Open House (1972) - Chairman
1972
I Want What I Want as
Mrs. Parkhurst
1970
Thirty-Minute Theatre (TV Series) as
Lady Decuman
- The Raid (1970) - Lady Decuman
1969
The Way We Live Now (TV Series) as
Lady Carbury
- Close of Play (1969) - Lady Carbury
- Melmotte Contra Mundrum (1969) - Lady Carbury
- Melmotte's Glory (1969) - Lady Carbury
- Nothing Venture (1969) - Lady Carbury
- The Great Heiress (1969) - Lady Carbury
1969
ITV Saturday Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Isobel Drummond
- Machine (1969) - Isobel Drummond
1968
The Portrait of a Lady (TV Series) as
Madame Merle
- Revelations (1968) - Madame Merle
- Dissensions (1968) - Madame Merle
- Schemes (1968) - Madame Merle
- Bequests (1968) - Madame Merle
1967
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
Maggie Leeds
- England My England (1967) - Maggie Leeds
1966
Funeral in Berlin as
Mrs. Ross
1966
The Rat Catchers (TV Series) as
Valerie Warner
- Operation Big Fish (1966) - Valerie Warner
- Operation Irish Triangle (1966) - Valerie Warner
1966
Mystery and Imagination (TV Series) as
Mrs. Mortimer
- The Open Door (1966) - Mrs. Mortimer
1965
Game for Three Losers as
Adele
1965
The Wednesday Thriller (TV Series) as
Mrs. Vincent
- The House (1965) - Mrs. Vincent
1965
The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre (TV Series) as
Adele
- Game for Three Losers (1965) - Adele
1964
Thursday Theatre (TV Series) as
Jill Johnson / Frances Farrar
- Johnson Over Jordan (1965) - Jill Johnson
- A Day by the Sea (1964) - Frances Farrar
1964
Story Parade (TV Series) as
Alice
- The Bender (1964) - Alice
1964
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Margaret Kingsley
- The Guilty Party (1964) - Margaret Kingsley
1963
The Saint (TV Series) as
Delphine Chambers
- The Benevolent Burglary (1963) - Delphine Chambers
1963
Compact (TV Series) as
Celia Randall
- A Job for the Boy (1963) - Celia Randall
- The New Editor (1963) - Celia Randall
- Wait for the Bang (1963) - Celia Randall
- No Promises - I'll Take Cash (1963) - Celia Randall
- Afterthoughts (1963) - Celia Randall
- Celebration (1963) - Celia Randall
- Bottled on the Premises (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Tax Man Cometh (1963) - Celia Randall
- Happy Birthday (1963) - Celia Randall
- The News Breaks (1963) - Celia Randall
- They Fell Among Thieves (1963) - Celia Randall
- You Have Talent - We Want It (1963) - Celia Randall
- Wine and a Weekend (1963) - Celia Randall
- Fireworks All Round (1963) - Celia Randall
- Marmot James Again (1963) - Celia Randall
- Dinner at Eight (1963) - Celia Randall
- Night Call (1963) - Celia Randall
- Chain of Events (1963) - Celia Randall
- Two Lovely Black Eyes (1963) - Celia Randall
- Stranded (1963) - Celia Randall
- Two Faced (1963) - Celia Randall
- Alarms and Excursions (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Reception (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Mighty Fallen (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Party Member (1963) - Celia Randall
- Aftermath (1963) - Celia Randall
- Because of Alan (1963) - Celia Randall
- Who Pays for Leadership? (1963) - Celia Randall
- Principles Won't Stop James (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Reluctant Heroine (1963) - Celia Randall
- Power Play (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Ultimatum (1963) - Celia Randall
- Highland Fling (1963) - Celia Randall
- A Mystery Solved (1963) - Celia Randall
- Back to Work (1963) - Celia Randall
- Welcome Home (1963) - Celia Randall
- A Case of Desperation (1963) - Celia Randall
- Out in Limbo (1963) - Celia Randall
- Big Brother (1963) - Celia Randall
- Living in the Past (1963) - Celia Randall
- Truth Will Out (1963) - Celia Randall
- Run Away (1963) - Celia Randall
- A Day at the Seaside (1963) - Celia Randall
- The McDee in London (1963) - Celia Randall
- Family Crisis (1963) - Celia Randall
- Auld Acquaintance (1963) - Celia Randall
- I'll Be in Scotland Before Ye (1963) - Celia Randall
- The New Understanding (1963) - Celia Randall
- Moments of Truth (1963) - Celia Randall
- Bitter Wine (1963) - Celia Randall
- A Novel Situation (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Puffing Doctor (1963) - Celia Randall
- Sent to Coventry (1963) - Celia Randall
- Little Boy Lost (1963) - Celia Randall
- Tangled Web (1963) - Celia Randall
- A Question of Age (1963) - Celia Randall
- Fire and Water (1963) - Celia Randall
- The Wrong Idea (1963) - Celia Randall
1962
Katy (TV Series) as
Cousin Helen
- Episode #1.4 (1962) - Cousin Helen
- Episode #1.3 (1962) - Cousin Helen
1962
BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) as
Ellen McLeod
- The High Mountain (1962) - Ellen McLeod
1961
Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) as
Connie James
- The Lifters and the Leaners (1961) - Connie James
1958
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Nell Maddison / Beatrice Musgrave
- The Demands of Love (1961) - Nell Maddison
- Various Heavens (1958) - Beatrice Musgrave
1961
The Angry Gods (TV Mini Series) as
Paulina
- The Oracle is Fulfilled (1961) - Paulina
- Apollo's Angry (1961) - Paulina
1960
A Touch of Larceny as
Clara Holland
1959
Theatre Night (TV Series) as
Hilary
- The Grass Is Greener (1959) - Hilary
1959
The Moonstone (TV Series) as
Lady Verinder
- Episode #1.4 (1959) - Lady Verinder
- Episode #1.3 (1959) - Lady Verinder
- Episode #1.2 (1959) - Lady Verinder
- Episode #1.1 (1959) - Lady Verinder
1958
Our Mutual Friend (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 11 (1959) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 9 (1959) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 8 (1958) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 7 (1958) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 5 (1958) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
- Part 4 (1958) - Mrs. Sophronia Lammle
1956
Port Afrique as
Diane Blackton
1955
The Scarlet Pimpernel (TV Series) as
Marquise de Manton
- The Princess (1955) - Marquise de Manton
1955
Night River (TV Movie) as
Betty Crane
1955
Colonel March of Scotland Yard (TV Series) as
Martha
- Passage at Arms (1955) - Martha
1955
Room in the House as
Mary
1950
BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (TV Series) as
Portia / Angela Dale-Adams / Miss Haslam / ...
- Holiday for Simon (1955) - Angela Dale-Adams
- The Merchant of Venice/II (1955) - Portia
- The Merchant of Venice (1955) - Portia
- Wilderness of Monkeys (1954) - Miss Haslam
- The Passionate Pilgrim (1953) - Sarah Anne Terrot
- Eden End (I) (1951) - Lilian Kirby
- The Doctor's Dilemma (1951) - Mrs. Dubedat
- The Tragedy of Pompey the Great (1950) - Cornelia
1953
The Blakes Slept Here (Short) as
Betty
1953
Dear Octopus (TV Movie) as
Sybil Randolph
1953
The Heir of Skipton (TV Mini Series) as
Lady Clifford
- The Shepherd Lord (1953) - Lady Clifford
- A Shepherd in the Fells (1953) - Lady Clifford
- Henry Escapes (1953) - Lady Clifford
- The Wars of the Roses (1953) - Lady Clifford
1952
Music at Night (TV Movie) as
Katherine Shiel
1951
The Boy with a Cart (TV Movie) as
Bess
1951
Tom Brown's Schooldays as
Mrs. Arthur
1951
Rush Job (TV Movie) as
Miss Lister
Self
1980
Night of One Hundred Stars (TV Movie) as
Self
1978
Anyone for Tennyson? The Master Poets Collection (TV Series short) as
Self - Narrator
- The Glorious Romantics - Part 1: Lord Byron (1978) - Self - Narrator
1975
The Dick Cavett Show (TV Series) as
Self
- Jackie Gleason, cast of "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1975) - Self
Archive Footage
1975
Upstairs, Downstairs (TV Series) as
Lady Marjorie Bellamy
- Whither Shall I Wander? (1975) - Lady Marjorie Bellamy (uncredited)

References

Rachel Gurney Wikipedia