Alexandra Lendon Bastedo (9 March 1946 – 12 January 2014) was a British actress, best known for her role as the secret agent Sharron Macready in the 1968 British espionage/science fiction adventure series ''
The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
''. Bastedo was a
vegetarian
Vegetarianism is the practice of abstaining from the Eating, consumption of meat (red meat, poultry, seafood, insects as food, insects, and the flesh of any other animal). It may also include abstaining from eating all by-products of animal slau ...
and
animal welfare
Animal welfare is the quality of life and overall well-being of animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures ...
advocate, and wrote a number of books on both subjects.
Early life
Bastedo was born in
Hove
Hove ( ) is a seaside resort in East Sussex, England. Alongside Brighton, it is one of the two main parts of the city of Brighton and Hove.
Originally a fishing village surrounded by open farmland, it grew rapidly in the 19th century in respon ...
, England. Her mother (Liberiana Dorina Rescagliova,1917–2001) was of French, German and Italian descent, while her Canadian-born father (Gilbert Lendon Bastedo,1915–1985) was of Spanish, Dutch, Scottish and native American extraction.
She attended
Brighton and Hove High School and Brighton School of Drama.
Professional career
Bastedo made her film debut as one of the title characters in
William Castle
William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is known for the horror film, horror and thriller film, thriller B movie, B-movies he directed durin ...
's poorly-received ''
13 Frightened Girls'' (1963). She gained attention on the European continent, earning her the nickname, "La Bastedo". One of her first appearances in popular culture was in the 1966 film ''
Doctor in Clover'' where she appears as a young nurse dancing with Sir Lancelot at a party (a non-speaking role).
Although most familiar to viewers of 1960s TV as Sharron Macready in ''
The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'', she was also known for her language skills, speaking Italian, Spanish, French and German. This ability brought her to the attention of
10 Downing Street
10 Downing Street in London is the official residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, prime minister of the United Kingdom. Colloquially known as Number 10, the building is located in Downing Street, off Whitehall in th ...
, where she was employed to assist with translations, and landed her the role of co-presenter of
Miss World
Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Mi ...
competitions with
Peter Marshall in the 1980s.
In 1979, she played in the series ''
The Aphrodite Inheritance''. In 1988, Bastedo was the cover star for ''
Rank'', a live album by British band
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English Rock music, rock band formed in Manchester in 1982, composed of Morrissey (vocals), Johnny Marr (guitar), Andy Rourke (bass) and Mike Joyce (musician), Mike Joyce (drums). Morrissey and Marr formed the band's songwrit ...
that charted at number 2 on the
UK Albums Chart
The Official Albums Chart is the United Kingdom's industry-recognised national record chart for album, albums. Entries are ranked by sales and audio streaming. It was published for the first time on 22 July 1956 and is compiled every week by the O ...
. In 1992, she appeared in "Fat", the second broadcast episode of ''
Absolutely Fabulous'', playing a 1960s model associate of Edina and Patsy. She was seen in two episodes of ''
The Saint'', alongside
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the actor to portray Ian Fleming's fictional secret agent James Bond (literary character), James Bond in the Eon Productions/MGM Studios film series, playing the ...
, and in one episode of the 1969 series of
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' is a British private detective television series, starring Mike Pratt (actor), Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope respectively as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk. The series was created by Denn ...
.
In 2006, Bastedo reunited for the first time with her co-stars from ''
The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'' to provide commentaries and an interview for a DVD release of the show. Still working as an actress, she appeared in ''
Batman Begins
''Batman Begins'' is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy), Bruce Wayne / B ...
'', and toured theatres in 2006 with a production of ''Beyond Reasonable Doubt'' alongside
Leslie Grantham
Leslie Michael Grantham (30 April 1947 – 15 June 2018) was an English actor who played "Dirty" Den Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He was a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a West Germany, West German ...
and
Simon Ward. In 2008, she joined the cast of ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'', playing Cynthia. In January 2008, she appeared as co-presenter (with
Ed Stewart
Edward Stewart Mainwaring (23 April 1941 – 9 January 2016), known as Ed "Stewpot" Stewart, was an English radio broadcaster and TV presenter. He was principally known for his work as a DJ on BBC Radio 1 (particularly the Saturday morning
' ...
) of "The Magic of Mantovani" at
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lens (optics), lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways.
Ligh ...
, Poole. The success of this concert led, the following year, to a second concert at the same venue, with the
Mantovani Orchestra, which she again co-presented.
Personal life
Bastedo dated
David Frost
Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was an English television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ...
and
Omar Sharif
Omar Sharif (, ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub ; 10 April 1932 – 10 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the 1950s. He is bes ...
, but turned down the advances of
Steve McQueen
Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of counterculture of the 1960s, 1960s counterculture, made him a top box office draw for his films of the late ...
who, she recalled, propositioned her with the line, "My wife doesn't understand me". In the case of Sharif, the liaison lasted only a few weeks because of Sharif's bridge-playing, his odd hours and the fact that he took telephone numbers from other women.
Mike Tomkies, the Fleet Street journalist who abandoned the life of a celebrity reporter to live alone in the wilderness, lived with her for a while in Canada. They talked of marriage, but she was prohibited from marrying by a contract for ''The Champions'' (1968 to 1969). He said that she was the "most stunningly beautiful creature" he had ever seen.
In 1980, at
Chichester Cathedral
Chichester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy Trinity, is the seat of the Anglican Bishop of Chichester. It is located in Chichester, in West Sussex, England. It was founded as a cathedral in 1075, when the seat of th ...
, Bastedo married
Patrick Garland,
["Patrick Garland, theatre producer and director, dies aged 78"](_blank)
BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, 20 April 2013 a director, writer and actor; he became a long-serving director of the
Chichester Festival Theatre
Chichester Festival Theatre is a theatre and Grade II* listed building situated in Oaklands Park in the city of Chichester, West Sussex, England. Designed by Philip Powell and Hidalgo Moya, it was opened by its founder Leslie Evershed-Mart ...
. Bastedo wrote a memoir, ''Beware Dobermanns, Donkeys and Ducks'', as well as several books on caring for cats and dogs. Her husband died on 19 April 2013.
Animal welfare
Bastedo was a vegetarian and the founder of Alexandra Bastedo Champions (ABC) Animal Sanctuary. In an interview for the
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
television series ''Where Are They Now?'', Bastedo provided a glimpse into her private life. She had been the president of her local
RSPCA branch but gave up her position in 2008, to dedicate more time to her fast-growing animal sanctuary at her home in
West Chiltington
West Chiltington is a village and civil parish in the Horsham (district), Horsham district of West Sussex, England. It lies on the Storrington to Broadford Bridge road, 2.6 miles (4.2 km) north of Storrington.
The parish covers an area of 1 ...
, West Sussex. A journalist who interviewed her husband in 2010 described their domestic surroundings:
She was also a patron to a number of animal welfare organisations including
Compassion in World Farming,
Wildlife Aid Foundation,
National Animal Welfare Trust, Greyhounds in Need and Naturewatch.
Death
Bastedo died of
breast cancer
Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...
on 12 January 2014, aged 67, in a hospital in Worthing, England.
She was buried next to her husband, Patrick Garland, in St Mary's churchyard,
Sullington, West Sussex.
Bibliography
* Alexandra Bastedo, ''Beware Dobermanns, Donkeys and Ducks'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 1998)
* Alexandra Bastedo and Jeannie Kemnitzer, ''Canine Care and Cuisine: The Healthy Dog Book'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 2000)
* Alexandra Bastedo and Jeannie Kemnitzer, ''The Healthy Cat Book: Feline Care and Cuisine'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 2000)
Filmography
* ''
13 Frightened Girls'' (aka ''The Candy Web'') (1963) – Alex
* ''
The Liquidator'' (1965) – Radio Operator (uncredited)
* ''
Doctor in Clover'' (1966) – Nurse at Party (uncredited)
* ''
That Riviera Touch'' (1966) – Girl at Roulette Table
* ''
Casino Royale'' (1967) – Meg
* ''
Wedding Night'' (1970) – Gloria – Girl Friend
* ''
My Lover, My Son'' (1970) – Cicely Clarkson
* ''
This, That and the Other'' (1970) – Angie
* ''The Kashmiri Run'' (1970) – Henrietta Fleming
* ''
The Blood Spattered Bride'' (1972) – Mircalla Karstein
* ''I Hate My Body'' (1974) – Leda Schmidt
* ''
The Ghoul'' (1975) – Angela
* ''El Clan de los Nazarenos'' (1975) – Arima
* ''Tu dios y mi infierno'' (1976) – Liselotte
* ''
Find the Lady'' (1976) – Victoria
* ''The Man Inside'' (1976, TV movie) – Joan Lytton
* ''La Gioconda está triste'' (1977)
* ''El Mirón'' (1977) – Elena – wife
* ''Cabo de vara'' (1978) – Lola
* ''Stigma'' (1980) – Anna
* ''
A Choice of Two'' (1981)
* ''
Draw!'' (1984, TV movie) – Bess, Harry's Girlfriend in Bell City / member of acting troupe
* ''La veritat oculta'' (1987) – Agnes / Chiromancer
* ''The Byzantine Cat'' (2002) – Barbara
* ''
Batman Begins
''Batman Begins'' is a 2005 superhero film directed by Christopher Nolan, who co-wrote the screenplay with David S. Goyer. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, it stars Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne (Dark Knight trilogy), Bruce Wayne / B ...
'' (2005) – Gotham Society Dame
Television
* ''
The Count of Monte Cristo
''The Count of Monte Cristo'' () is an adventure novel by the French writer Alexandre Dumas. It was serialised from 1844 to 1846, and published in book form in 1846. It is one of his most popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers'' (184 ...
'' (TV series, 1964) – Renée de Saint-Méran
* ''
The Saint'' (episode "
The Crime of the Century", 1965) – Joan Vendel
* ''
The Scales of Justice
''The Scales of Justice'' was a series of 13 British cinema featurettes produced from 1962 to 1967 for Anglo-Amalgamated at Merton Park Studios in London. The first nine episodes were made in black and white, and the last four in colour. The ...
'' (episode "The Haunted Man", 1966) – Laura
* ''
The Wednesday Play
''The Wednesday Play'' is an anthology series of United Kingdom, British television plays which ran on BBC One, BBC1 for six seasons from October 1964 to May 1970. The plays were usually original works written for television, although dramatic ...
'' (1966) (TV) – The Girl
* ''
The Saint'' (episode "
The Counterfeit Countess", 1967) – Mireille
* ''
The Champions
''The Champions'' is a British espionage thriller/science fiction/occult detective fiction adventure television series. It was produced by Lew Grade's ITC Entertainment production company, and consists of 30 episodes broadcast in the UK on ...
'' (TV series, 1968–1969) – Sharron Macready
* ''
Call My Bluff'' as herself, 4 episodes (1969–1975)
* ''
Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)
''Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' is a British private detective television series, starring Mike Pratt (actor), Mike Pratt and Kenneth Cope respectively as the private detectives Jeff Randall and Marty Hopkirk. The series was created by Denn ...
'' (episode "
Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?", 1969) – Carol Latimer
* ''
Department S'' (episode "The Man Who Got a New Face", 1969) - Nicole
* ''
Codename
A code name, codename, call sign, or cryptonym is a code word or name used, sometimes clandestinely, to refer to another name, word, project, or person. Code names are often used for military purposes, or in espionage. They may also be used in ...
'' (1970) (TV series) – Diana Dalzell
* ''
From a Bird's Eye View'' (episode "Sicillian Affair", 1970) – Lisa Vespucci
* ''
The Starlost'' (TV series, 1973), episode 10 "The Alien Oro" - Idona
* ''
The Aphrodite Inheritance'' (miniseries, 1979) – Helene
* ''
Magnolia Blossom'' by Agatha Christie, 1982 – Clare Hamilton
* ''Legend of the Champions'' (TV, 1983) – Sharron Macready
* ''
Absolutely Fabulous'' (episode "Fat", 1992) – Penny Caspar-Morse
* ''
EastEnders
''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...
'' (2008–2009) – Cynthia (final television appearance)
Radio
* ''Halloween Party'' by Agatha Christie, BBC radio 1993
* ''Five Little Pigs'' by Agatha Christie, BBC radio 1994
* ''Elephants Can Remember'' by Agatha Christie, dramatised by Michael Bakewell, BBC radio 2006
References
External links
Official Alexandra Bastedo Champions Animal Sanctuary siteOfficial fan club website(internet archive)
*
Selected performances in Bristol University Theatre Archivein The Independent by
Marcus Williamson
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bastedo, Alexandra
1946 births
2014 deaths
20th-century English actresses
21st-century English actresses
British animal welfare workers
Keepers of animal sanctuaries
Deaths from cancer in England
English film actresses
English people of Canadian descent
English people of Dutch descent
English people of French descent
English people of German descent
English people of Italian descent
English people of Scottish descent
English people of Spanish descent
British soap opera actresses
English television actresses
People educated at Brighton and Hove High School
Actresses from Hove
People from West Chiltington
20th-century British businesspeople
Actors from Horsham District