Claire Nielson

Claire Elizabeth Nielson (née Isbister; 8 April 1937 – 29 April 2026) was a Scottish actress primarily known for her television roles. On television, she played the wife of the belligerent American guest, Mr. Hamilton, in the "Waldorf Salad" episode of Fawlty Towers.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1961 ITV Television Playhouse Jenny Colquhoun Episode: "The Island" 1961 The Kitchen Waitress credited as Claire Isbister 1962 Backfire! Valentina Chenko credited as Claire Isbister 1962 Compact Delia Appleby Episode: "A Night Out" 1962–1964 Ghost Squad Jean Carter 33 episodes 1963 No Hiding Place Gwen Episode: "Alexander's Ragtime Girl" 1964 The Wednesday Play Alison Grant Episode: "Mr. Douglas" 1965 The Wild Affair Perfume Saleslady 1966 Softly, Softly Mavis Robinson Episode: "Extraction" 1966 Love Story Agnes Episode: "Two's Company" 1966 This Man Craig Isabel Ritchie Episode: "Song of McCall" 1967 Thirty-Minute Theatre Lydia / Agneta 2 episodes 1967–1968 The Revenue Men Luke Frazer 36 episodes 1968 Detective Lena Lawson Episode: "The Beast Must Die" 1969 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Sister Bing Episode: "A Dove in the Nest" 1969 Who-Dun-It Nurse Jane Kelly Episode: "The Fall of a Goddess" 1970 The Culture Vultures Dr. Joan Simpson Episode: "Double, Double, Toil and Trouble" 1971 Play for Today Ingi - A Time to Keep Episode: "Orkney" 1971 Kidnapped Barbara Grant 1973 The Brothers Nancy Lincoln 8 episodes 1974 Crown Court Terry Greene Episode: "Further Charges" 1974 Marked Personal Maggie Snead 2 episodes 1975 Thriller Hilary Episode: "The Fear is Spreading" 1975 Sutherland's Law Morag Cramond Episode: "A Slight Case of Matrimony" 1976 Play for Today Ellen Simpson Episode: "Clay, Smeddum and Greenden" 1978 Just William Vicar's Wife Episode: "William at the Garden Party" 1978 Angels Mrs. Johnson Episode: "Values" 1978 - 1979 Scotch and Wry Various 1979 Play for Today Diana Episode: "Degree of Uncertainty" 1979 Fawlty Towers Mrs. Hamilton Episode: "Waldorf Salad" 1982–1984 Take the High Road Sarah Cunningham 3 episodes 1985 Bulman Noelle Episode: "I Met a Man Who Wasn't There" 1990 Rab C. Nesbitt Gift Shop Customer Episode: "Rat" 1993 Punch Drunk Mrs. Gordon 6 episodes 1993 I, Lovett Mrs. Lovett Episode: "The Snowman" 1994 London's Burning Coroner 1 episode 1996 Pie in the Sky Anita Block Episode: "Chinese Whispers" 1996 The Crow Road Aunt Antonia 4 episodes 2001 Monarch of the Glen Edith Rankin 1 episode 2002 The Jury Eleanor Colchester 3 episodes 2002 A is for Acid Amy McSwan TV film 2008 Holby City Pauline Bewley Episode: "Stolen"