Rosalie Crutchley
{{Short description|British actress (1920–1997)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}{{EngvarB|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rosalie Crutchley
| image = Rosalie Crutchley in Freud.jpg
| caption = Crutchley in Freud: The Secret Passion (1962)
| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|1|4|df=y}}
| birth_name = Rosalie Sylvia Crutchley
| birth_place = London, England
| death_date = {{death date and age|1997|7|28|1920|1|4|df=y}}
| death_place = Marylebone, London, England
| occupation = Actress
| yearsactive = 1947–1997
| spouse = Peter Ashmore (1946–?; divorced)
Dan Cunningham (1939–?; divorced)
| children = 2, including Jonathan Ashmore
}}
Rosalie Sylvia Crutchley (4 January 1920 – 28 July 1997) was a British actress. Trained at the Royal Academy of Music, she was perhaps best known for her television performances, but had a long and successful career in theatre and films, making her stage debut in 1932The Times, 29 November 1932 and her screen debut in 1947.
Crutchley had dark piercing eyes and often played foreign or rather sinister characters. She also played many classical roles, including Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Hermione in The Winter's Tale and Goneril in King Lear.
Life and career
Crutchley was born in London on 4 January 1920.{{cite news|last=Vallance|first=Tom|title=Obituary: Rosalie Crutchley|work=The Independent|date=1 August 1997|accessdate=4 January 2024|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-rosalie-crutchley-5556602.html}} She trained at the Royal Academy of Music.
Her screen debut was as a violinist who is murdered in Take My Life (1947).{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/rosalie-crutchley-p16008|title=Rosalie Crutchley | Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos|publisher=AllMovie}} She played Madame Defarge twice in adaptations of A Tale of Two Cities, in both the 1958 film and in the 1965 television serialisation of the same story.
She played Catherine Parr in the 1970 TV series, The Six Wives of Henry VIII and played the same character in its sequel, Elizabeth R (1971). She had previously portrayed Henry's first wife Catherine of Aragon in the 1953 film The Sword and the Rose.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-sword-and-the-rose-v48210/cast-crew|title=The Sword and the Rose (1952) – Ken Annakin | Cast and Crew | AllMovie|publisher=AllMovie}}
Other roles included Mrs Sparsit in Hard Times (ITV, 1977) and Electra (1974).{{Cite web|url=https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=3926|title=Rosalie Crutchley|website=aveleyman.com}} She also starred in the 1979 BBC TV production of Testament of Youth, playing the role of the Principal of Somerville College, Oxford.{{Cite web|url=https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/4a61aefb6ac845f3a06d36c702a1d9d1|title=Testament of Youth: 1: Buxton 1913|date=4 November 1979|issue=2921|pages=41|publisher=BBC Genome}} She was in the films Quo Vadis (1951), as Acte, the former mistress of the Emperor Nero (Peter Ustinov) and The Haunting (1963), as the sinister housekeeper Mrs Dudley.{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f051da8|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322104610/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f051da8|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 March 2018|title=Rosalie Crutchley|publisher=British Film Institute}}
Crutchley also appeared in film adaptations of two A.J. Cronin novels, The Spanish Gardener (1956) and Beyond This Place (1959) and played the flinty maiden aunt in the TV adaptation of Brendon Chase (1980–81). She had two guest roles in Casualty, in 1992 and 1995. She also had a short, but memorable, appearance in the film Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994).
She appeared in only one film musical, Man of La Mancha (1972), based on the successful stage production, as Don Quixote's housekeeper.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/man-of-la-mancha-v31194/cast-crew|title=Man of La Mancha (1972) – Arthur Hiller, Arthur Miller | Cast and Crew | AllMovie|publisher=AllMovie}} In the role, her less-than-good singing voice was used for intentionally comic effect in the song "I'm Only Thinking of Him".
Her final acting role was in the pilot episode of the TV detective series, Midsomer Murders, playing Lucy Bellringer. This was shown in 1997, shortly before her death.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JI5Qf-7urlkC&dq=midsomer+murders+the+killings+at+badger%27s+drift+23+March+1997&pg=PA115|title=Adapting Detective Fiction: Crime, Englishness and the TV Detectives|first=Neil|last=McCaw|date=20 January 2011|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-84706-307-6|via=Google Books}}
Personal life
She was married twice, firstly to actor Dan Cunningham in 1939 and secondly to actor Peter Ashmore in 1946.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-rosalie-crutchley-5556602.html|title=Obituary: Rosalie Crutchley|date=18 September 2011|website=The Independent}} Both marriages ended in divorce. She had two children, one of who is the physicist Jonathan Ashmore.{{Cite web | url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Photo-Coverage-NT50-The-National-Theatres-Birthday-Celebrations-With-Dench-Mirren-And-More-20131102 |title = Photo Coverage: NT50 – the National Theatre's Birthday Celebrations, with Dench, Mirren, and More!}}
Crutchley died at The Harley Street Hospital in London in 1997 at the age of 77.
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1947
|Elizabeth Rusman | |
| 1950
|Carlotta Ferugia | |
| 1951
|{{sortname|The|Lady with a Lamp}} |Mrs Sidney Herbert | |
| 1951
| |
| 1953
|Carmella Gonzar | |
| 1953
|{{sortname|The|Sword and the Rose}} | |
| 1954
|Francesca | |
| 1955
|Bella | |
| 1956
|{{sortname|The|Gamma People}} |Frau Bikstein | |
| 1956
|{{sortname|The|Spanish Gardener|The Spanish Gardener (film)}} |Magdalena | |
| 1957
|Mafalda Gozzi | |
| 1957
|Therese Blanchard | |
| 1958
|{{sortname|A|Tale of Two Cities|A Tale of Two Cities (1958 film)}} |Madame Defarge | |
| 1959
|Ella Mathry | |
| 1959
|{{sortname|The|Nun's Story|The Nun's Story (film)}} |Sister Eleanor | |
| 1960
|Mrs Leivers | |
| 1961
|Alice Byrne | |
| 1962
|Amalia Freud | |
| 1963
|{{sortname|The|Haunting|The Haunting (1963 film)}} |Mrs Dudley | |
| 1963
|Maude Klein | |
| 1964
|Teresa Viñolas | |
| 1970
|Mrs Earnshaw | |
| 1971
|Miss Henley | |
| 1971
|The Old Crone | |
| 1971
|Helen Dickerson | |
| 1972
|Lady Tryke | |
| 1973
|{{sortname|The|House in Nightmare Park}} |Jessica Henderson | |
| 1973
|And Now the Screaming Starts! |Mrs Luke | |
| 1974
|Marie Mahler | |
| 1976
|{{sortname|The|Message|The Message (1976 film)}} |Somaya | |
| 1983
|{{sortname|The|Keep|The Keep (film)}} |Josefa | |
| 1988
|{{sortname|A|World Apart|A World Apart (1988 film)}} |Mrs Harris | |
| 1990
|{{sortname|The|Fool|The Fool (1990 film)}} |Mrs Harris | |
| 1994
|Mrs Beaumont | |
| 1994
|{{sortname|A|Pin for the Butterfly}} |Anna | |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1947
|{{sortname|The|Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet|nolink=1}} |Juliet Capulet |TV film |
| 1947
|{{sortname|The|Infernal Machine|nolink=1}} |The Sphinx |TV film |
| 1948
|{{sortname|The|Tragedy of King Lear|nolink=1}} |TV film |
| 1949
|Olga |TV film |
| 1949
|Ladies in Waiting |Janet Garner |TV film |
| 1955
|{{sortname|The|Messenger|nolink=1}} |Mary |TV film |
| 1955
|Madeleine |Madeleine |TV film |
| 1955
|Tina Bordereau |Episode: "A Garden in the Sea" |
| 1956
|Colonel March of Scotland Yard |Annette |Episode: "Death in Inner Space" |
| 1956
|Romney |Margaret Vaughn |TV film |
| 1956
|{{sortname|The|Gambler|nolink=1}} |Polina Alexandrovna |TV film |
| 1956
|Nom-de-Plume |Elisa |Episode: "The Ten Strangers" |
| 1956
|Assignment Foreign Legion |Lucette |Episode: "The Outcast" |
| 1956, 1964
|Mary Charrington, Miriam |Episodes: "Black Limelight", "Cradle Song" |
| 1957
|Eye Witness |Ruth |TV film |
| 1958
|Television World Theatre |Andromache |Episode: "Women of Troy" |
| 1959
|{{sortname|The|Hill|nolink=1}} |Mary Magdalene |TV film |
| 1959
|The Flying Doctors |Jean Dawson |Episode: "The Shock" |
| 1959
|Elsa |Episode: "The Last Hours" |
| 1960
|{{sortname|The|Soldier and the Woman|nolink=1}} |Rachel |TV film |
| 1961
|Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez |Episode: "Charley's Aunt" |
| 1961
|{{sortname|The|Complaisant Lover|nolink=1}} |Mary Rhodes |TV film |
| 1961
|{{sortname|The|Pursuers|nolink=1}} |Vi Webber |Episode: "The George Webber Story" |
| 1962
|{{sortname|The|Winter's Tale|nolink=1}} |Hermione |TV film |
| 1962
|Marion Sharpe |6 |
| 1962
|Aimee Malik |Episode: "The Dirty House" |
| 1963
|Anna Blake |Episode: "Thunder on Sycamore Street" |
| 1963
|{{sortname|The|Human Jungle|The Human Jungle (TV series)}} |Naomi Leigh Brooke |Episode: "A Woman with Scars" |
| 1963
|Victoria Melrose |Episode: "The Case of the Sleeping Coachman" |
| 1964
|{{sortname|The|Full Man|nolink=1}} |Lady MacBeth |Episode: "Tragedy" |
| 1964
|Mrs Sarti |Episode: "The Life of Galileo" |
| 1964
|{{sortname|The|Count of Monte Cristo|The Count of Monte Cristo (1964 TV series)}} |Hermine Danglars |Regular role |
| 1965
|Hit and Run |Georgina Prestley |Episodes: "Accident", "Enquiry", "Arrest", "Trial" |
| 1965
|Madame Defarge |TV series |
| 1965
|Anna |Episode: "The Madam" |
| 1965
|{{sortname|The|Mask of Janus}} |Madame Navachine |Episode: "Rendezvous" |
| 1965–1966
|{{sortname|The|Wednesday Play}} |Mrs Liddel, Pauline Tenterden, Caridad Mercader |Episodes: "Alice", "The Connoisseur", "The Executioner" |
| 1967
|{{sortname|The|Paradise Makers|nolink=1}} |Inga Swynnerton |Episodes: "1.1", "1.2", "1.4", "1.6" |
| 1967
|Sanctuary |Sister Euphrasia |Episode: "The Face of Hunger" |
| 1967
|{{sortname|The|Prisoner}} |Queen |Episode: "Checkmate" |
| 1967–1968
|Maria, Madame Calas |Episodes: "The Single Passion", "The Fanatics" |
| 1968
|Enid Somerset |Episode: "The Visitors" |
| 1968
|Judith Starkadder |TV miniseries |
| 1969
|{{sortname|The|Possessed|nolink=1}} |Varvara Stavrogin |TV miniseries |
| 1969
|Hannah Pritchard |Episode: "The Wicked Stage" |
| 1969
|Miss Craig |Episode: "The Deserter" |
| 1970
|Hortense |Episode: "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy?" |
| 1970
|{{sortname|The|Six Wives of Henry VIII|The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970 TV series)}} |Episode: "Catherine Parr" |
| 1970
|Crime of Passion |Helene Jeygu |Episode: "Helene" |
| 1970–1971
|Storyteller |TV series |
| 1971
|Catherine Parr |Episode: "The Lion's Cub" |
| 1973
|Country Matters |Mrs Sadgrove |Episode: "The Higgler" |
| 1973
|Kate |Episode: "The Goddaughter" |
| 1973
|{{sortname|The|Return|nolink=1}} |Mrs Park |TV series |
| 1974
|Hepzibah Green |Main role |
| 1974
|Miehen |Episode: "Tell the King the Sky Is Falling" |
| 1974, 1976
|Clytaemnestra, Mrs Bagot |Episodes: "Electra", "Trilby" |
| 1975
|Hildis |Episode: "The Conquerors" |
| 1975
|Affairs of the Heart |Mrs Costello |Episode: "Daisy" |
| 1975
|North & South |Mrs Thornton |TV miniseries |
| 1976
|Mrs Martin |Episode: "Tranquility of the Realm" |
| 1977
|Jocasta |Episode: "Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles" |
| 1977
|{{sortname|The|Peppermint Pig|nolink=1}} |Aunt Sarah |TV series |
| 1977
|Mrs Sparsit |TV miniseries |
| 1978, 1984
|Mrs Howard, Laura |Episodes: "Destiny", "Moving on the Edge" |
| 1979
|Horse in the House |Gwen Davis |Episodes: "Right of Way: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1979
|Miss Penrose |TV miniseries |
| 1980, 1982
|Miss Snell, Beth |Episodes: "Gentle Folk", "Passing Through" |
| 1980–1981
|Aunt Ellen |TV series |
| 1981
|Mrs Innocent |Episode: "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" |
| 1982
|{{sortname|The|Hunchback of Notre Dame|The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982 film)}} |Simone |TV film |
| 1982
|Mother Felicity |Episodes: "1.5", "1.6" |
| 1982
|{{sortname|The|Agatha Christie Hour|nolink=1}} |Mrs Thompson |Episode: "The Red Signal" |
| 1983
|Mary Jenkins |Episodes: "Enter Hassan", "The Alamut Ambush" |
| 1983–1985
|Margaret |Main role |
| 1983–1984
|Eloise Hunter |Episodes: "Mother's Boy: Part 1", "The Son of His Father: Part 1" |
| 1984
|{{sortname|The|Testament of John|nolink=1}} |Mary |TV film |
| 1985
|Mrs Lexington |Episode: "The Norwood Builder" |
| 1986
|{{sortname|The|Theban Plays by Sophocles|nolink=1}} |Eurydice |Episode: "Theban Plays: Antigone" |
| 1986
|Agatha Christie's Miss Marple: The Murder at the Vicarage |Mrs Price-Ridley |TV film |
| 1986
|{{sortname|The|Alamut Ambush|nolink=1}} |Mary Jenkins |TV film |
| 1987
|Mrs Pringle |Episode: "The Black Tomb" |
| 1987
|Great Performers |Teresa |Episode: "Monsignor Quixote" |
| 1987
|Miss Brady |Episode: "Badger on the Barge" |
| 1988
|Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun |Mrs Markham |TV film |
| 1988
|Mrs Sharpe |TV series |
| 1989
|Lisa |Episodes: "Death of a Ghost: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1989
|Gladys |Episode: "She's Been Away" |
| 1990
|Rosalie Frayling |TV film |
| 1991
|Mrs Polzinski |Episodes: "1.1", "1.2", "1.3" |
| 1992
|Anglo Saxon Attitudes |Stephanie Houdet |TV miniseries |
| 1992, 1995
|Dodie Mitchell, Frances Newton |Episodes: "Cascade", "Sacrifice" |
| 1993
|Mrs Birt |Episode: "Femme Fatale" |
| 1993
|Madame Deroulard |Episode: "The Chocolate Box" |
| 1993
|Evie Smyton |Episode: "Taking the Pledge" |
| 1993
|Florence Stockwell |Episode: "Endangered Species" |
| 1994
|Olga Krupenskya |Episode: "The Virgin of Vitebsk" |
| 1994
|{{sortname|A|Skirt Through History|nolink=1}} |Episode: "An Experiment" |
| 1994
|Juliana Aurifaber |Episode: "The Sanctuary Sparrow" |
| 1995
|{{sortname|A|Village Affair|A Village Affair (film)}} |Lettice Deverel |TV film |
| 1995
|Agnes Currow |Episode: "Wild Oats" |
| 1997
|Lucy Bellringer |Episode: "The Killings at Badger's Drift" |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|id=0190194|name=Rosalie Crutchley}}
- {{cite news |last1=Vallance |first1=Tom |title=Obituary: Rosalie Crutchley |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/incoming/obituary-rosalie-crutchley-5556602.html |accessdate=2 August 2020 |work=The Independent |date=1 August 2020}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Actress 1955–1959}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crutchley, Rosalie}}
Category:Actresses from London
Category:English film actresses
Category:English stage actresses
Category:English television actresses