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Penny Downie

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Penny Downie
Born
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
OccupationActress
Years active1976–present

Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. From 2017 until 2021 she played Ellen in the British TV sitcom Back. She plays the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning in the 2023 Netflix political thriller series The Diplomat.

Early life and education

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Penny Downie was born in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.[citation needed]

She trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney. Downie was a student of theatre director, Joan Whalley. [citation needed]

Career

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Downie began her career in Australia, initially in Brisbane at Twelfth Night Theatre and Brisbane Arts Theatre.[citation needed]

TV and film

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After graduation she appeared in Australian TV series such as The Box, Bellbird, The Sullivans, Prisoner, and Learned Friends.[citation needed]

She moved to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. In 1984 she appeared as Dee Rogers in the Minder episode "If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On". Her many UK TV credits include Inspector Morse, Kavanagh QC, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, Spooks, and New Tricks. She also appeared in The Girl in the Cafe.[citation needed]

In 2009, she played Mrs. Pienaar in the Clint Eastwood film Invictus.[citation needed]

In 2013, she appeared as Rev Mother Augustine in the Father Brown episode "The Bride of Christ". In 2014, Downie starred in an episode of Suspects as Fiona Sullivan, and appeared as Lady Sinderby, mother of Atticus Aldridge, in series five of Downton Abbey.[1]

In 2016, Downie played Home Secretary Rose Kenter in American action thriller London Has Fallen, and portrayed Janet Lee Bouvier, mother of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Pablo Larrain-directed historical drama Jackie.[citation needed] She also appeared on television in British-Canadian co-production Houdini & Doyle as Mrs. Sulzbach, and featured in three episodes of the 2016 BBC1 espionage drama The Secret Agent, where she played Lady Blackwood.[citation needed] In 2017, she had a supporting role as Tid in biographical drama Breathe, as well as a six-episode stint on Channel 4 sitcom Back as Ellen.[citation needed] She reprised her role for a further six episodes in 2021.[2]

In 2019, she appeared in BBC Radio 4 horror podcast series The Lovecraft Investigations as Barbara, and played Valerie Chandris in three episodes of American thriller drama series Absentia.[citation needed] She also starred in nine episodes of Netflix series The Crown as Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.[citation needed]

From 2023, Downie played Frances Munning in four episodes of American political thriller The Diplomat.[citation needed]

In 2024, she featured in four episodes of British limited series A Gentleman in Moscow as Countess Rostova, based on the novel by Amor Towles. The series premiered on Paramount+ on 29 March 2024.[3]

Stage

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Downie is an associate artist of the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she has played roles such as Lady Anne in Richard III in the 1984 production featuring Antony Sher in the lead, and Hermione and Perdita in The Winter's Tale. She appeared in the premiere of Nick Dear's play The Art of Success in Stratford in 1986 and later at the Barbican Theatre, London, alongside Michael Kitchen and Simon Russell Beale.[4]

In 2008, she played opposite David Tennant and Patrick Stewart as Gertrude, in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Hamlet which was subsequently adapted for BBC television and aired in late 2009.[5][6] Downie also played the title character in Euripides' Helen at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in 2009.[citation needed]

Downie played the title role in A Storm in a Flower Vase, a play based on the life of Constance Spry, which held its West End debut at the Arts Theatre.[7]

In 2016, Downie appeared as Nat in Rabbit Hole at the Hampstead Theatre, replacing Alison Steadman.[8]

In 2019, she starred as Helen Alving in a Royal & Derngate production of Ibsen's Ghosts, opposite James Wilby. The production garnered critical acclaim, with Downie's performance being lauded by various critics as "towering",[9] "mesmerising"[10] and "quietly devastating".[11]

In 2021, she played Esther in The Lodger, which premiered at the Coronet Theatre in September 2021.[12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Type
1982 Crosstalk Cindy Feature film
1985 Wetherby Chrissie Feature film, UK
1987 Lionheart Madelaine Feature film US/Hungary
1997 Food of Love Mary Feature film, UK/France
2000 The House of Mirth Judy Trenor Feature film UK/France/Germany/US
2009 Invictus Mrs. Pienaar Feature film, US
2011 W.E. Dr. Vargas Feature film, UK
2013 Girl on a Bicycle Margaret Feature film Germany/France
2016 London Has Fallen Home Secretary Rose Kenter Feature film US/UK/Bulgaria
2016 Jackie Janet Lee Feature film US/UK/France/Chile/Germany
2017 Breathe Tid Feature film, UK
2020 The Jester from Transylvania Mrs. Pennington Feature film, UK

Television

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Year Film Role Type
1976-1977 Bellbird Recurring role: Kelly Jamison ABC TV series, 71 episodes
1977 The Box Recurring Guest role: Ronnie Heatherton TV series, 2 episodes
1979 Skyways Guest role: Miranda TV series, 1 episode: "George And The Hooker"
1979-1980 Cop Shop Guest roles: Sherry Raymond / Wendy Green / Gillian Croft TV series, 4 episodes
1980 Prisoner Recurring role: Kerry Vincent TV series, 12 episodes
1981 Punishment Guest role TV series
1982 The Sullivans Guest role: Patty Spencer Sullivan TV series, 1 episode
1983 Learned Friends Regular role ABC TV series
1984 Minder Dee Rogers TV series UK, 1 episode: "If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On"
1986 C.A.T.S Eyes Guest role: Barbara Dashley TV series UK, 1 episode: "Powerline"
The Story of English Herself - Self / Titania TV miniseries UK, 1 episode
Refuse to Dance: The Theatre of Howard Barker Herself TV documentary, UK
1988 Campaign Regular role: Sarah Copeland TV miniseries UK, 6 episodes
A Taste for Death Regular role: Inspector Kate Miskin TV miniseries UK, 6 episodes
1991 Screen One Guest role: Sheila TV series UK, 1 episode: "Ex")
Stanley and the Women Regular role: Susan Duke TV miniseries UK, 4 episodes
1992 Underbelly Recurring role: Barbara Manning TV series UK, 4 episodes
1993 Inspector Morse Guest role: Nurse Wendy Hazlitt TV series UK, 1 episode: "Deadly Slumber"
1994 Stages Guest role: Linda TV series UK, 1 episode
1995 The Governor Guest role: Christina Knatchbull TV series UK, 1 episode: "Episode #1.4"
1996 Madson Anderton TV series UK, 1 episode 6: "Episode 6"
1997 The Ice House Recurring role: Phoebe Maybury TV miniseries UK, 2 episodes
1998 A Certain Justice Guest role: Venetia Aldridge TV series, 1 episode
Crime and Punishment Katerina TV movie, US
1999 Lost for Words Aileen Longden TV movie, UK
Kavanagh QC Guest role: Mrs. Rosalind McEnery TV series UK, 1 episode: "Previous Convictions"
Stagestruck: Gay Theatre in the 20th Century Herself TV series UK, 3 episodes
2001 The Cazalets Recurring role: Margot "Sid" Sidney TV series UK, 6 episodes
2003 Trust Guest role: Anita Matteo TV miniseries UK, 1 episode: "Spilt Milk"
Byron Lady Judith Milbanke TV movie, UK
2004 The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Guest role: Dr. Tessa Jellicoe TV series UK, 1 episode: "If Wishes Were Horses"
Spooks Guest role: Prosecution QC TV series UK, 1 episode: "Episode #3.6" (uncredited)
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking Recurring role: Judith Massingham TV movie, UK/US
2005 Timewatch Caecilia TV series documentary UK, 1 episode: "Murder In Rome"
Falling Hazel TV movie, UK
The Girl in the Café Ruth TV movie, UK/US
Murder in Suburbia Guest role: Zenith TV series UK, 1 episode: "Golden Oldies"
All About George Regular role: Evelyn TV series UK, 6 episodes
Trial & Retribution Guest role: Mrs Thorpe TV series UK, 1 episode: "The Lovers: Part 1"
Murder in Rome Caecilia TV movie, UK
2006 Judge John Deed Guest role: Moira Blackthorn TV series UK, 1 episode: "My Daughter, Right or Wrong"
Agatha Christie's Poirot Guest role: Frances Cloade TV series UK, 1 episode: "Taken at the Flood"
New Street Law Honor Scammell / Honor Scammel TV series UK, 14 episodes: 2006–2007
2007 The Commander: Fraudster Jane Griffith TV movie, UK
2008 New Tricks Diane King TV series UK, 1 episode: "Communal Living"
2009 Hamlet Gertrude TV movie, UK/US/Japan
2010;2014 Doctors Jessica Boyd / Maisie Padkin TV series UK, 2 episodes
2011 Waking the Dead Recurring role: Bonnie Yorke TV series UK, 2 episodes: "Solidarity"
Silk Guest role: Helen Guthrie TV series UK, 1 episode: "Episode #1.6"
The Shadow Line Guest role: Caroline Monroe TV mini-series UK, 1 episode: "Episode #1.4"
Law & Order: UK Recurring role: Rachel Mathesson TV series UK, 2 episodes
2012 Vera Guest role: Veronica TV series UK, 1 episode: "Silent Voices"
Threesome Guest role: Judge TV series UK, 1 episode: "I Don't"
2013 Ripper Street Guest role: Flora Gable TV series UK/IRELAND, 1 episode: "The King Came Calling"
Father Brown Guest role: Rev Mother Augustine TV series UK, 1 episode: "The Bride of Christ"
Silent Witness Guest role: Anne Percival TV series UK, 1 episode: "True Love Waits: Part 2"
Breathless Recurring role: Penny TV series UK, 2 episodes
2014 Suspects Guest role: Fiona Sullivan TV series UK, 1 episode: "Alone"
Siblings Guest role: Dr. Barker (as Pennie Downie) TV series UK, 1 episode: "Intern School"
Downton Abbey Recurring role: Lady Sinderby TV series UK, 4 episodes
2016 Houdini and Doyle Recurring role: Mrs. Sulzbach TV miniseries UK/Canada, 1 episode
The Secret Agent Recurring role: Lady Blackwood TV miniseries UK, 3 episodes
2017-2021 Back Regular role: Ellen TV series UK, 12 episodes
2019 The Lovecraft Investigations Barbara Podcast series UK, 1 episode
Absentia Recurring role: Valerie Chandris TV series US/Israel, 3 episodes
2019-2020 The Crown Recurring role: Alice, Duchess of Gloucester TV series UK, 9 episodes
2023 The Diplomat Frances Munning 4 episodes
2024 A Gentleman in Moscow The Countess 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ "STV programmes news and information".
  2. ^ Jones, Ellen E. (21 January 2021). "Back review – Mitchell and Webb's return is well worth the wait". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  3. ^ "A Gentleman In Moscow is released Friday 29th March on Paramount Plus! | United Agents". www.unitedagents.co.uk. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Production of the Art of Success | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com. Retrieved 25 January 2014.
  5. ^ Billen, Andrew (21 August 2008). "Fit for a prince - Hamlet Production". New Statesman. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  6. ^ "BBC Two - Hamlet". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  7. ^ Prendergast, Lara (12 September 2013). "A Storm in a Flower Vase: Constance Spry spruces up centrestage". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 September 2014.
  8. ^ "Alison Steadman replaced by Pennie Downie in Hampstead's Rabbit Hole". 29 December 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  9. ^ "Review: Ghosts (Royal and Derngate)". 25 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Theatre review: Ghosts at Royal, Northampton". British Theatre Guide. 19 April 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Ghosts review, Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 2019". The Stage. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  12. ^ "The Lodger". Retrieved 13 September 2024.
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