Maev Alexander

Maev Alexander, also Maeve Alexander (born Maev Alexandra Reid McConnell on 3 February 1948) is a Scottish television and stage actress. Aside from her numerous stage appearances including Cleopatra and in The Mousetrap at the St Martin's Theatre in London, she is perhaps best known for playing the assistant Christine Russell in the early 1970s Scottish TV series Sutherland's Law, as Janet Campbell in the 18th century set The New Road, and as WPC Sandra Williams in the British police drama The Gentle Touch (1981-2). She is married to Simon Dunmore, a theatre director and author on acting.

Career

Television Alexander was born in Glasgow in 1948. She began her television career in 1966, playing three roles in This Man Craig. Her performance was praised; The Spectator said "The only moment of pleasure in this long fifty minutes was the occasional sight of Maev Alexander as Sutherland's plump, pretty clerk, but there were long and arid intervals between her appearance." In 1973, Alexander also had a leading role as Janet Campbell in the 19th century set The New Road, opposite David Ashton and John Grieve.

In 1975 she appeared in Angels, a production which included actors such as Carol Holmes, Kathryn Apanowicz, Julia Williams, and Pauline Quirke. She appeared in The New Avengers in 1976, playing the character of Mrs Turner in the episode "The Tale of the Big Why". In 1977 she portrayed the wife of Fred in A Christmas Carol TV movie. In 1979 she played Claudine in an episode of the detective series, Hazell. In 1981 she joined the cast of the British police drama The Gentle Touch, playing the character of WPC Sandra Williams. From 1980 to 1982 she also played Jennifer Knowles-Ripley in the situation comedy, Holding the Fort. In 1968 she starred in a theatrical production of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard under director Michael Blakemore. She has appeared in theatre in Ireland and at the Straydogs Theatre and has received critical acclaim for her stage work. At the Portable Theatre in 1971 she starred opposite Hugh Armstrong, Christopher Biggins and Christopher Ravenscroft in Malcolm Griffiths's production of Zonk. In 1973 or 1974 she starred in a Tom Gallagher stage production of The Only Street at the Dublin Festival, with John Hunt and Peggy Marshall. She portrayed Cleopatra opposite Conrad Asquith as Antony in one of her husband Simon Dunmore's theatrical productions and also starred in a production of Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap at the St Martin's Theatre in London, amongst many others.

Personal life She is married to Simon Dunmore, a theatre director who has authored books on William Shakespeare and acting in general, and is a personal friend of E. M. Yearling. She once shared a flat with Sue Johnston and Denis Lawson in Chiswick.

Filmography This Man Craig (TV series) (1966-1967) as Agnes Borland / Ally Ure / Moira The Revenue Men (TV series) (1967) as Madge The Borderers (TV series) (1970) as Jess Heriot The Befrienders (TV series) (1972) as Judy The Main Chance (TV series) (1972) as Mrs. Bush Sutherland's Law (TV movie) (1972) as Christine Russell The New Road (TV series) (1973) as Janet Campbell Sutherland's Law (TV series) (1973) as Christine Russell Angels (TV series) (1975) as Model Patient Play for Today (TV series) (1976) The New Avengers (TV series) (1976) as Mrs. Frank Turner Leap in the Dark (TV series) (1977) as Constance Potter A Christmas Carol (TV movie) (1977) as Fred's Wife The Standard (TV series) (1978) as Morag Hazell (TV series) (1979) as Claudine Kids (TV series) (1979) as Liz The Gentle Touch (TV series) (1981-1982) as WPC Sandra Williams Holding the Fort (TV series) (1980-1982) as Jennifer Knowles-Ripley By the Sword Divided (TV series) (1985) as Masked Woman The Fools on the Hill (TV movie) (1986) as Jasmine Bligh Scoop (TV movie) (1989) as Lady Cockpurse Death Defying Acts (2007) as Autograph Hound Doctors (TV series) (2010) as Jane Pennington