Sarah Craze (born 1948 in

Leeds Leeds () is a city and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds district in West Yorkshire, England. It is built around the River Aire and is in the eastern foothills of the Pennines. It is also the third-largest settlement (by populati ...

) is a British actress who appeared on stage and television during the 1970s and 1980s, and was known for the command and sensitivity of her performances.

Career

Craze studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, graduating in 1969. The following year, she appeared in two television mini-series, playing Beth in ''

Little Women ''Little Women'' is a coming-of-age novel written by American novelist Louisa May Alcott (1832–1888). Alcott wrote the book, originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869, at the request of her publisher. The story follows the lives ...

'', and Kate Meyrick in the 1970 version of ''

Daniel Deronda ''Daniel Deronda'' is a novel written by Mary Ann Evans under the pen name of George Eliot, first published in eight parts (books) February to September 1876. It was the last novel she completed and the only one set in the Victorian society ...

''. In 1971, she had a regular part as the secretary in the series ''Hine''. When this ended after one series, one reviewer commented, "we shall miss some attractive actors ... ncludinga strangely attractive girl in Sarah Craze". Stage appearances in the following years included a modern play, ''Children of the Wolf'', of which one reviewer commented, "Quite the most startling and striking performance of the evening .. comes from Sarah Craze, whose menace as the daughter, Linda, is quickly established and never relents in its unmerciful progress to climactic inevitability. She is an actress of whom we should hear more." In 1973, she appeared with the

Oxford Playhouse Company Oxford Playhouse is a theatre designed by Edward Maufe and F.G.M. Chancellor. It is situated in Beaumont Street, Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum. History The Playhouse was founded as ''The Red Barn'' at 12 Woodstock Road, North Oxfo ...

and the Royal Lyceum Theatre Company. Her performance with the former in

J.M. Barrie Sir James Matthew Barrie, 1st Baronet, (; 9 May 1860 19 June 1937) was a Scottish novelist and playwright, best remembered as the creator of Peter Pan. He was born and educated in Scotland and then moved to London, where he wrote several succe ...

's ''Dear Brutus'' was described as "an exceptionally sensitive characterisation." Television appearances included the 1973 film of

Christopher Hampton Sir Christopher James Hampton ( Horta, Azores, 26 January 1946) is a British playwright, screenwriter, translator and film director. He is best known for his play ''Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' based on the novel of the same name and the film ...

's ''Total Eclipse'', and significant roles in an episode of the series ''Colditz'' (1974) and ''Softly, Softly'' (1975). In 1977, Craze worked with London Contemporary Productions and with the Worcester Repertory Company. A review of the Worcester Repertory's performance of ''Mrs Warren's Profession'' in 1977 said, "The evening is a triumph for Sarah Craze ... She is emphatic, brusque, matter-of-fact ... Yet there is never much doubt of the warm, desperate person beneath the surface."

Selected stage performances

Selected television performances

References

External links

*
Sarah Craze
at the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

British television actors British stage actresses British television actresses Living people 1948 births Actresses from Leeds {{UK-tv-actor-1940s-stub