Pauline Jameson

Pauline Jameson (5 June 1920 – 8 April 2007) was an English actress whose work encompassed stage and screen. The Times called her "one of the most distinguished classical actresses of her generation".

Life and career Early years Pauline Isobel Jameson was born in Heacham, Norfolk on 5 June 1920, the daughter of Eric Storrs Jameson and his wife Flora Isobel, née Reed. She took ballet lessons, but through her interest in mime she found herself drawn to acting. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made her professional début in weekly rep at Colwyn Bay in 1937. She first appeared in London at the Q Theatre as Beatrice in Aimée Stuart's London, W.1. and made her West End debut as Lucy in The Rivals at the Criterion Theatre in 1945. Returning to the Old Vic in 1959, she played the Wife in Sganarelle, Elmire in Tartuffe, and Agatha Posket in The Magistrate opposite Michael Horden. Her last role in the 1950s was at the Queen's Theatre in August 1959 as Mrs Prest in The Aspen Papers, for which she received the Clarence Derwent Award. Jameson played the Abbess in The Comedy of Errors and Regan in King Lear. On the tour she made her first appearance in New York, at the State Theatre in May 1964, in both plays. At the Aldwych Theatre in May 1966 she played Eleonora in the RSC's production of Tango. In September 1967 she succeeded Vanessa Redgrave in the title role of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie at Wyndham's Theatre. Her other roles in the 1960s were Mrs Allenby in A Woman of No Importance, Lavinia in The Cocktail Party and Mrs Antrobus in The Skin of Our Teeth. In 1977 she starred with Paul Daneman and Hayley Mills in a production of Rebecca at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto. In 1979 she appeared with Edward Fox and Avril Elgar in The Family Reunion as the matriarchal dowager, Amy.

Later years In 1981 Jameson appeared in a stage adaptation of Agatha Christie's Cards on the Table, which toured before opening in the West End. During the 1980s her roles included Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest. The Stage commented:

In 1987, when An Inspector Calls was revived in London, Jameson played Sybil Birling. Her final stage appearance was in 1991 at the Almeida Theatre, playing Charmion to Rigg's Cleopatra in All For Love. Esther Waters (1948) - Hospital Nurse (as Pauline Jamieson) Once a Jolly Swagman (1949) - Mrs Lewis The Queen of Spades (1949) - Anyutka The Black Knight (1954) - Lady Yeonil The Millionairess (1960) - Muriel Two Living, One Dead (1961) - Miss Larsen Crooks Anonymous (1962) - Sister Prunella I Could Go On Singing (1963) - Miss Plimpton The Punch and Judy Man (1963) - Mayoress Doctor in Distress (1963) - Ward sister Murder Most Foul (1964) - Maureen Summers Sky West and Crooked (1966) - Mrs. Moss Night Watch (1973) - Secretary Joseph Andrews (1977) - Lady Tittle Full Circle (1977) - Claudia Branscombe Agatha Christie's Poirot (1996) - Isabel Tripp