Shelagh Fraser

Sheila Mary Fraser (25 November 1920 – 29 August 2000) was an English actress. She is best known for her roles in the television serial A Family at War (1970–1971) and as Luke Skywalker's Aunt Beru in Star Wars.

Early life Shelagh Fraser was born in Purley, Surrey, on 25 November 1920. Her parents were John Newton Mappin Fraser and Vera Eleanor (née Beardshaw). Her father was a director of the jewellery company Mappin & Webb, and the family was sent to Australia to establish a branch of the family business there. They returned to the United Kingdom in 1924.

As a child, Shelagh suffered from spinal tuberculosis, but overcame the debilitating effects of the illness. She was educated at St Christopher's School in Kingswood and won a scholarship to train as an actor at Croydon Repertory Theatre Drama School. It was there that Fraser made her first stage appearance in 1938.

In cinema, Fraser often played demure character roles in films such as the Master of Bankdam (1947) and Raising a Riot (1955), although she is also remembered for her roles as the vulgar Mrs Orreyd in the 1952 film The Second Mrs Tanqueray. In the 1970s she took one of her best-known roles as Jean Ashton, the embattled mother of a wartime family in Liverpool in the television serial A Family at War. In 1977 she played the part of Beru Lars, the aunt of Luke Skywalker, in the science fiction blockbuster Star Wars. In his casting notes, writer and director George Lucas wrote, "A little British, but okay". Fraser took part in location filming in Matmata, Tunisia, and her voice was later recorded at home for additional wild track lines and dialogue dubbing.

Fraser appeared in more than 50 films and TV shows during her career, including Z-Cars; Softly, Softly; A Family at War; The Professionals and Heartbeat on television, and such films as The Witches, Till Death Us Do Part, The Body Stealers, Doomwatch and Hope and Glory. She was a member of the BBC Repertory Company and appeared in over 500 BBC Radio plays. She was the sister of ballerina/actress Moyra Fraser. She died in 2000 following a long illness.

Selected filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1944 Welcome, Mr. Washington Millie 1945 I Live in Grosvenor Square 2nd Girl in Guard's Van 1947 Meet Me at Dawn Minor Role Uncredited Master of Bankdam Alice France 1948 Esther Waters Margaret 1949 The History of Mr. Polly Minnie Larkins 1950 Your Witness Ellen Foster Trio Minor Role Uncredited 1952 Salute the Toff Myra Lorne The Second Mrs Tanqueray 1955 Raising a Riot Mary Kent 1956 The Last Man to Hang? Mrs Bracket 1958 The Son of Robin Hood Constance 1966 The Witches Mrs Creek 1968 Till Death Us Do Part Mike's Mother 1969 The Body Stealers Mrs Thatcher A Touch of Love Miss Gurnsey Staircase Cub Mistress Two Gentlemen Sharing Helen Marriott 1972 Doomwatch Mrs. Betty Straker 1973 Nothing But the Night Mrs Alison 1974 Persecution Mrs Banks aka Sheba, The Graveyard, The Terror of Sheba 1977 Star Wars Aunt Beru 1987 Hope and Glory WVS Woman

Television

Year Title Role Notes 1960 Emergency – Ward 10 Brownie Bevan 9 episodes 1963 Maigret Claire Jusserand Episode: Maigret's Little Joke 1966 Gideon's Way Lady Copthorne Episode: Morna 1970–1971 A Family at War Jean Ashton 1971 Doomwatch Joan Prentice Episode: The Islanders 1976 Beasts Dorothy Pummery Episode: Baby 1978 The Professionals Elsa CoranMrs Wilson Episode: A Stirring of Dust Episode: When the Heat Cools Off 2000 Midsomer Murders Jane Rochelle Episode: Judgement Day 2017 Star Wars Rebels Aunt Beru Episode: Twin Suns, uncredited (archive audio)