Claire Davenport

Claire Bernice Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English character actress well known for her large physique.

Life and career Davenport was born on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire, and began acting in 1961 with a theatre role in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in Oxford.

Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi (as Yarna d'al' Gargan, originally billed as "Fat Dancer"), The Return of the Pink Panther, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate, Carry On Emmannuelle, The Tempest and The Elephant Man. On television, she appeared in The Dick Emery Show, Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses, among others. Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

Death Davenport stopped working after suffering a series of strokes in the 1990s. She died at the age of 68 in London on 25 February 2002 from kidney failure.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1963 Ladies Who Do Passerby Uncredited 1969 Crossplot Wedding guest 1969 Carry On Again Doctor Wedding Guest Uncredited 1970 Some Will, Some Won't Blowzy Woman 1971 On the Buses Peggy 1973 The Best Pair of Legs in the Business Eating lady 1975 The Return of the Pink Panther Masseuse 1976 The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Mrs Bakewell Uncredited The Pink Panther Strikes Again Hotel Maid Scenes deleted Intimate Games Fat stripper 1978 Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse Mrs Buchanan Jubilee First Customs Lady Adventures of a Plumber's Mate Belinda Carry On Emmannuelle Blonde in pub 1979 The Tempest Sycorax Birth of the Beatles Nude 1980 The Elephant Man Fat Lady 1983 Screamtime Mrs. Harlett Uncredited Return of the Jedi Yarna d'al' Gargan 1989 War Requiem Charge Sister / Britannia 1990 Camping English camper

Partial television roles Year Title Role 1962 Bulldog Breed Landlady 1963 The Rag Trade Myrtle 1964 Doctor Who The Empress 1964 Love Story Miss Denning 1964 Crossroads Miss Montgomery 1965 The Sullavan Brothers Mrs Melvin 1966 The Baron Anna Lubovitch 1966 Gideon's Way Helen 1966 Ways with Words Woman in restaurant 1968 George and the Dragon Samantha 1968 ITV Playhouse Mrs Mosscrop 1968 Theatre 625 Mrs Bliss 1968 Boy meets Girl Nurse Vileski 1969 Armchair Theatre Mrs Kapodis 1970 W. Somerset Maugham Rosa 1970 The Other Reg Varney Various characters 1971 Play for Today Nurse 1971 The Misfit Boris 1971 Queenie's Castle Glenda 1972 Stage 2 Woman 1972 Menace Barmaid 1973 On the Buses Mrs Webb 1973 The Song of Songs Neighbour 1973 Hey Brian! Woman 1973 Pollyanna Mrs Spencer 1974 Shoulder to Shoulder Nurse Pine 1975 Fawlty Towers Mrs Wilson 1975 Don't Drink The Water Bertha1975I Didn't Know You Cared Mrs Skelhorn 1976 Couples Mrs Bagley 1976 George and Mildred Shop assistant 1977 The Fuzz Miss Bullock 1978 Angels Doreen Smith 1978 George and Mildred Gloria Rumbold 1979 Mind Your Language Eva 1981 Metal Mickey Cavewoman 1983–1985 By the Sword Divided Mrs Dumfrey 1985 Minder Nigel's Mum 1986 Alice in Wonderland The Duchess