Zahrah Mary Chassib Jaber, born 19 August 1924 – 9 October 2016), better known by her stage name Zara Nutley, was an English actress. She is best known for her roles in two television comedy series, ''

Mind Your Language ''Mind Your Language'' was a British sitcom that premiered on ITV in 1977. It was produced by London Weekend Television and directed by Stuart Allen. Three series were made by London Weekend Television between 1977 and 1979, and it was briefly ...

'' (as college principal Miss Courtney) and ''

Never the Twain ''Never the Twain'' is a British sitcom that ran for eleven series from 7 September 1981 to 9 October 1991. The series starred Windsor Davies (previously known for ''It Ain't Half Hot, Mum'') and Donald Sinden as rival antique dealers, and al ...

'' (as Aunt Eleanor).

Biography

Nutley was born in Cornwall in 1924, the daughter of Stanley Jaber and Gladys Gregory, who married in 1923. Early in her career she was involved in amateur stage productions and subsequently

repertory theatre A repertory theatre, also called repertory, rep, true rep or stock, which are also called producing theatres, is a theatre in which a resident company presents works from a specified repertoire, usually in alternation or rotation. United Kingdom ...

. In the 1950s she studied and later taught at the Florence Moore Drama Studio in Hove, Sussex. Prior to 1977, she was variously billed as Zahrah, Zarah, or Zara Jaber. In the television sitcom ''

'' (1977–1979 and 1986), Nutley played Dolores Courtney, the principal of an

adult education Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained educating activities in order to gain new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. Merriam, Sharan B. & Brockett, Ralph G. ''The Pr ...

college. Her character was scripted as a stern, authoritarian feminist and spinster who was detested and feared by the staff and students at the school. Her other regular television role was the final three seasons of ''

'' (1981–1991), in which she played

Donald Sinden Sir Donald Alfred Sinden (9 October 1923 – 12 September 2014) was an English actor. Sinden featured in the film ''Mogambo'' (1953), and achieved early fame as a Rank Organisation film star in the 1950s in films including '' The Cruel Sea'' ( ...

's Aunt Eleanor. Nutley died aged 92 in

Uckfield Uckfield () is a town in the Wealden District, Wealden District of East Sussex in South East England. The town is on the River Uck, one of the tributaries of the River Ouse, Sussex, River Ouse, on the southern edge of the Weald. Etymology "Uck ...

, East Sussex, on 9 October 2016.

Filmography

Notes

References

External links

*
Zara Nutley
at the

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nutley, Zara 1924 births 2016 deaths English television actresses Actors from Falmouth, Cornwall Actresses from Cornwall 20th-century English actresses