Mona Lee Washbourne (27 November 1903 – 15 November 1988) was an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ...

actress of stage, film, and television. Her most critically acclaimed role was in the film '' Stevie'' (1978), late in her career, for which she was nominated for a

Golden Globe Award The Golden Globe Awards are accolades bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association beginning in January 1944, recognizing excellence in both American and international film and television. Beginning in 2022, there are 105 members of ...

and a

BAFTA Award The British Academy Film Awards, more commonly known as the BAFTA Film Awards is an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to honour the best British and international contributions to film. The cer ...

Early life

Mona Washbourne was born in Sparkhill, Birmingham, and began her entertaining career training as a concert pianist. Her sister Kathleen Washbourne was a violinist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sir

Adrian Boult Sir Adrian Cedric Boult, CH (; 8 April 1889 – 22 February 1983) was an English conductor. Brought up in a prosperous mercantile family, he followed musical studies in England and at Leipzig, Germany, with early conducting work in Londo ...

Career

Washbourne was performing professionally from the early 1920s. She married the actor

Basil Dignam Basil Dignam (24 October 1905 – 31 January 1979) was an English character actor. Basil Dignam was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire. Before the acting, he tried many jobs, from a company clerk to a journalist. He acted on film and ...

. Her brother-in-law Mark Dignam was also a stage and film actor. In 1948, after numerous stage musical performances, Washbourne began appearing in films. Her film credits include the horror movie '' The Brides of Dracula'', ''

Billy Liar ''Billy Liar'' is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popular songs. The semi-comical story is about William Fisher, ...

'' (1963) and '' The Collector'' (1965). She is probably best known to American audiences for her role as housekeeper Mrs. Pearce in ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play '' Pygmalion'', with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons ...

'' (1964). She also appeared as the stern and caustic Mrs. Bramson in the remake of '' Night Must Fall'' (also 1964), and the Matron in the film, '' If....'' (1968). She appeared at both the

Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court Theatre, at different times known as the Court Theatre, the New Chelsea Theatre, and the Belgravia Theatre, is a non-commercial West End theatre in Sloane Square, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, England ...

in London and on

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...

in 1970 in David Storey's ''

Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or many humans, and sometimes various companion animals. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it. ...

''. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. In 1975 she appeared on the West End stage with

James Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality ...

in a revival of Mary Chase's play '' Harvey'', in the role originally taken by

Josephine Hull Marie Josephine Hull (née Sherwood; January 3, 1877 – March 12, 1957) was an American stage and film actress who also was a director of plays. She had a successful 50-year career on stage while taking some of her better known roles to film. Sh ...

. Washbourne won the 1981 New York Film Critics' Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actress in '' Stevie'' (1978).

Later life

In 1981, Washbourne appeared in

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was its ...

's TV miniseries adaptation of

Evelyn Waugh Arthur Evelyn St. John Waugh (; 28 October 1903 – 10 April 1966) was an English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books; he was also a prolific journalist and book reviewer. His most famous works include the early satires '' Decl ...

's novel '' Brideshead Revisited'' as Nanny Hawkins. One of her last television appearances was in ''Where's the Key?'' (1983), a BBC play about

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that usually starts slowly and progressively worsens. It is the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As ...

. She died in 1988, aged 84, in London.

Selected filmography

* ''

Evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, whic ...

'' (1934) – Barmaid (uncredited) * ''

The Winslow Boy ''The Winslow Boy'' is an English play from 1946 by Terence Rattigan based on an incident involving George Archer-Shee in the Edwardian era. The incident took place at the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Background Set against the strict c ...

'' (1948) – Miss Barnes * '' Once Upon a Dream'' (1949) – Vicar's Wife * '' The Huggetts Abroad'' (1949) – Lugubrious Housewife (uncredited) * '' Adam and Evelyne'' (1949) – Mrs. Salop – Lady Gambler (uncredited) * ''

Maytime in Mayfair ''Maytime in Mayfair'' is a 1949 British musical comedy film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Michael Wilding, Nicholas Phipps, and Tom Walls. It was a follow up to ''Spring in Park Lane''. The film was one of the most popula ...

'' (1949) – Lady Leveson * ''

Double Confession ''Double Confession'' is a 1950 British crime film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, William Hartnell and Peter Lorre. The screenplay, written by William Templeton, is based on the novel, ''All On A Summer's Day' ...

'' (1950) – Fussy Mother * ''

Dark Interval ''Dark Interval'' is a 1950 British crime film directed by Charles Saunders, starring Zena Marshall, Andrew Osborn and John Barry. Cast *Zena Marshall as Sonia Jordan *Andrew Osborn as Walter Jordan *John Barry as Trevor * John Le Mesurier a ...

'' (1950) (unspecified role) * '' The Gambler and the Lady'' (1952) – Miss Minter * '' Johnny on the Run'' (1953) – Mrs. MacGregor * ''

Adventure in the Hopfields ''Adventure in the Hopfields'' is a 1954 British children's film directed by John Guillermin and starring Mandy Miller. It was made for the Children's Film Foundation. Location filming took place in and around Goudhurst in Kent. Plot After ...

'' (1954) – Mrs. McBain * '' The Million Pound Note'' (1954) – Mum with Pram (uncredited) * ''

Star of My Night ''Star of My Night'' is a 1954 British romance film directed by Paul Dickson and starring Griffith Jones, Kathleen Byron and Hugh Williams. An adaptation of Paul Tabori's novel ''Le Soleil de ma Nuit'', it concerns a sculptor who becomes roman ...

'' (1954) – Bit Part (uncredited) * '' Doctor in the House'' (1954) – Midwifery Sister (uncredited) * '' Betrayed'' (1954) – Waitress (uncredited) * '' Child's Play'' (1954) – Miss Emily Goslett * '' To Dorothy a Son'' (1954) – Mid Wife Appleby. * '' John and Julie'' (1955) – Miss Rendlesham * ''

Cast a Dark Shadow ''Cast a Dark Shadow'' is a 1955 black-and-white British suspense film noir directed by Lewis Gilbert, based on the play ''Murder Mistaken'' by Janet Green. The story concerns a husband played by Dirk Bogarde who murders his wife. Plot After a ...

'' (1955) – Monica Bare * ''

Alias John Preston ''Alias John Preston'' is a 1955 British thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Betta St. John, Alexander Knox and Christopher Lee. Its plot is about a mysterious and wealthy man who moves to a small village where he outwardly a ...

'' (1955) – (uncredited) * ''

The Vise ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the ...

'' (1955) – Supporting Role (episode "Count of Twelve") * ''

Lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography * Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland *Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

'' (1956) – Library Manageress (uncredited) * ''

Yield to the Night ''Yield to the Night'' (also titled ''Blonde Sinner'' in the US) is a 1956 British crime drama film directed by J. Lee Thompson and starring Diana Dors. The film is based on the 1954 novel of the same name by Joan Henry. The storyline bears ...

'' (1956) – Mrs. Thomas, landlady * '' Loser Takes All'' (1956) – Nurse (uncredited) * ''Circus Friends'' (1956) – Miss Linstead * '' It's Great to Be Young'' (1956) – Miss Morrow, School Mistress * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

'' (1957) – Mrs. Joe Brundit * '' Stranger in Town'' (1957) – Agnes Smith * '' Son of a Stranger'' (1957) * ''

Dunkirk Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label=French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.

'' (1958) – Worker Who Speaks to Holden (uncredited) * ''

A Cry from the Streets ''A Cry from the Streets'' is a 1958 British drama film directed by Lewis Gilbert. It was entered into the 1st Moscow International Film Festival, and Vernon Harris's screenplay received a BAFTA nomination. Plot When a man is hanged for murde ...

'' (1958) – Mrs. Daniels * '' Count Your Blessings'' (1959) – Nanny * '' The Brides of Dracula'' (1960) – Frau Lang * ''

No Love for Johnnie ''No Love for Johnnie'' is a 1961 British drama film in CinemaScope directed by Ralph Thomas. It was based on the 1959 book of the same title by the Labour Member of Parliament Wilfred Fienburgh, and stars Peter Finch. It depicts the disillu ...

'' (1961) – Well-wisher at Railway Station (uncredited) * ''

'' (1963) – Alice Fisher * '' Night Must Fall'' (1964) – Mrs. Bramson * ''

'' (1964) – Mrs. Pearce * '' Ferry Cross the Mersey'' (1965) – Aunt Lil * '' One Way Pendulum'' (1965) – Aunt Mildred * '' The Collector'' (1965) – Aunt Annie * ''

The Third Day ''The Third Day'' is a 1965 suspense thriller film directed by Jack Smight and starring George Peppard and Elizabeth Ashley. It was based on a novel by Joseph Hayes. Plot Steve Mallory has been involved in a car crash, and it appears he has k ...

'' (1965) – Catherine Parsons * '' Casino Royale'' (1967) – Tea Lady (uncredited) * ''

Two a Penny ''Two a Penny'' is a 1967 British film, released nationally in 1968, featuring singer Cliff Richard. The film was directed by James F. Collier and produced by Frank R. Jacobson for Billy Graham's film distribution and production company World Wi ...

'' (1968) – Mrs. Duckett * '' Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter'' (1968) – Mrs. Brown * '' If....'' (1968) – Matron: Staff * '' The Bed Sitting Room'' (1969) – Mother * '' The Games'' (1970) – Mrs. Hayes * ''

Fragment of Fear ''Fragment of Fear'' is a 1970 British thriller film directed by Richard C. Sarafian and starring David Hemmings, Gayle Hunnicutt, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Roland Culver, Flora Robson and Arthur Lowe. It was adapted from the 1965 novel '' A Fragment ...

'' (1970) – Mrs. Gray * '' What Became of Jack and Jill?'' (1972) – Gran Alice Tallent * ''

O Lucky Man! ''O Lucky Man!'' is a 1973 British comedy-drama fantasy film directed by Lindsay Anderson, and starring Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis, whom McDowell had first played as a disaffected public schoolboy in his first film performance in Ander ...

'' (1973) – Neighbour / Usher / Sister Hallett * ''

Identikit A facial composite is a graphical representation of one or more eyewitnesses' memories of a face, as recorded by a composite artist. Facial composites are used mainly by police in their investigation of (usually serious) crimes. These images a ...

'' (1974) – Mrs. Helen Fiedke * '' The Old Curiosity Shop'' (1975) – Mrs. Jarley * '' The Blue Bird'' (1976) – Grandmother * '' Stevie'' (1978) – Aunt * '' The London Connection'' (1979) – Aunt Lydia * '' Brideshead Revisited'' (1981) – Nanny Hawkins * '' Charles & Diana: A Royal Love Story'' (1982) –

Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon (4 August 1900 – 30 March 2002) was Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 to 6 February 1952 as the wife of King George VI. She was th ...

Awards and nominations

References

External links

* *
Performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Washbourne, Mona 1903 births 1988 deaths English film actresses English classical pianists English women pianists English stage actresses English television actresses Actresses from London People from Birmingham, West Midlands 20th-century English actresses 20th-century classical pianists 20th-century English musicians 20th-century English women musicians 20th-century women pianists