Joanna David

Joanna David (born Joanna Elizabeth Hacking; 17 January 1947) is an English actress, best known for her television work.

Life

David was born in Lancaster, England, to Davida Elizabeth (''née'' Nesbitt) and John Almond Hacking.

In 1971, she began a relationship with Edward Fox, with whom she has two children: Emilia (born 1974) and Frederick "Freddie" (born 1989). They married in 2004.

She is a vice-president of the Theatrical Guild.

Career

Her first major television role was as Elinor Dashwood in the BBC's 1971 dramatisation of '' Sense and Sensibility'' followed a year later by ''War and Peace'', in which she played Sonya. David also appeared in the TV series ''The Last of the Mohicans'' (BBC), and in two episodes of ''Colditz'', ("Missing, Presumed Dead" and "Odd Man In", 1972) as Cathy Carter, the wife of Flt. Lt. Simon Carter (played by David McCallum).

In 1975, she played Theo Dane in the BBC's television adaptation of '' Ballet Shoes'' by Noel Streatfeild. 32 years later in 2007, her daughter, Emilia Fox, starred in a new adaptation of the same book.

In 1978, David appeared in the mini series ''Lillie'' as Jeanne Marie, the daughter of Lillie Langtry. The following year, she played the heroine of Daphne du Maurier's ''Rebecca'', opposite Jeremy Brett in the BBC miniseries of the same name. In 1985 she appeared as Dolly in ''Anna Karenina''. In 1987, she acted in the ''Agatha Christie's Miss Marple'' episode, "4:50 from Paddington", as Emma Crackenthorpe.

In 1990, she appeared as a contestant on ''Cluedo'', facing off against her future husband and fellow actor Edward Fox.

In 2005, she appeared in two episodes of ''Bleak House'', playing Mrs. Bayham Badger, alongside Gillian Anderson, Charles Dance, Alun Armstrong and Warren Clarke. Mr. Bayham Badger was played by Richard Griffiths.

David's many other television appearances have included '' The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes'', '' Miss Marple'', ''Foyle's War'', '' Rumpole of the Bailey'', '' Inspector Morse'', ''Midsomer Murders'', '' The Darling Buds of May'' and, in 2004, ''Rosemary & Thyme'' in an episode entitled "Orpheus in the Undergrowth". More recent appearances include the BBC comedy series '' Never Better'', '' Mutual Friends'', and '' Death in Paradise'' (2014, series 3, episode 8).

She gradually moved on to more mature parts and appeared as Mrs. Gardiner in the acclaimed 1995 BBC TV series of ''Pride and Prejudice'', in which her daughter Emilia Fox had her first major television role as Georgiana Darcy. In 1998, she appeared in the ''Midsomer Murders'' episode "Written in Blood" as Amy Lyddiard. In 2009, she appeared in Alan Ayckbourn's '' Woman in Mind''.

Her film appearances have included roles in '' The Smashing Bird I Used to Know'' (1969), the horror short ''Sleepwalker'' (1984), '' Comrades'' (1986), ''Secret Friends'' (1991), ''Rogue Trader'' (1999), ''Cotton Mary'' (1999), ''The Soul Keeper'' (2002, as the mother of her real-life daughter Emilia) and '' These Foolish Things'' (2006). She played Mother Julian in the ''Midsomer Murders'' episode, "Sacred Trust" (2011). In 2013, she appeared in ''Downton Abbey'' as Duchess of Yeovil in two episodes and also in the ''Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple'' episode, "Greenshaw’s Folly", as Grace Ritchie. She appeared in the "Murderous Marriage" episode of ''Agatha Raisin'' as Lady Derrington in 2016.

Selected theatre performances

* Sonia in ''Uncle Vanya'' by Anton Chekhov, directed by Michael Elliott at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1977).
* Mary in ''The Family Reunion'' by T S Eliot, directed by Michael Elliott at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, (1979).
* Pat Green in '' Breaking the Code'' by Hugh Whitemore at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, London (1986).
* Margaret in ''The Ghost Train Tattoo'' by Simon Robson (world premiere) directed by Braham Murray and Sarah Frankcom at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, (2000).
* Miss Prism in ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' by Oscar Wilde, directed by Braham Murray at the Royal Exchange, Manchester, (2004).

Charity work

David is a trustee of the National Brain Appeal, the charity dedicated to the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. David underwent brain surgery in 1993 to correct a congenital Arnold–Chiari malformation.

In January 2013, David became a patron of Pancreatic Cancer Action, a charity focussed on raising the awareness of pancreatic cancer. David's friend Angharad Rees died from the illness in 2012.

References

External links

*

Joanna David
at ''Pride and Prejudice'' web site

Selected performances listed in Theatre Archive University of Bristol

{{DEFAULTSORT:David, Joanna
1947 births
British actresses
British stage actresses
British television actresses
Living people
People from Lancaster, Lancashire
Robin Fox family
20th-century English actresses
21st-century English actresses
Actresses from Lancashire
English film actresses
English television actresses
English stage actresses