Sarah Crowden Explained

Birth Date:1955 5, df=y
Birth Place:Edinburgh, Scotland
Years Active:1974–present
Father:Graham Crowden

Sarah Crowden (born 8 May 1955) is a Scottish actress. She is best known for playing the role of Lady Manville in the British television series Downton Abbey, as well as Miss Thimble in the detective series Sister Boniface Mysteries.[1]

Early life and education

Crowden was born on 8 May 1955 in Edinburgh, the daughter of actor Clement Graham Crowden (1922–2010) and actress Phyllida Hewat. She attended The Open University and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree as well as a diploma in Literature. In 2010, she was awarded a Foundation Certificate in Bricklaying.[2]

Career

Crowden started her acting career in 1974 when she joined The Actors' Company as a Student Assistant Stage Manager. One of her first notable role was as Helen in the movie adaption of Agatha Christie's The Seven Dials Mystery (1981). She has played supporting roles in numerous television series and movies such as A Dance to the Music of Time, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Downtown Abbey and The Sister Boniface Mysteries. She received favourable reviews for her portrayal of Dame Hilda in the 2010 production of If So, Then Yes by N. F. Simpson with critic Michael Billington calling her performance as "a Thatcherite supervisor" shining and Dominic Maxwell of The Times praising her ability to "work wonders in restricted circumstances".[3] [4]

In 2017, Crowden started performing stand-up comedy on the London circuit as her self-created character Dame Theresa Thomson's-Gazelle.[5]

Apart from her acting career, Crowden is also a professional writer. She has written pieces for The Lady, TLS, Geographical Review and Literary Review, amongst others, and regularly contributes to Slightly Foxed.

Filmography

!Year!Title!Role!Notes
1981Agatha Christie's Seven Dials MysteryHelenmovie
1983The Fourth ArmA.T.S. Sgt. Brookes1 episode
1983Pig in the MiddleTrish1 episode
1984CocklesMiss Ida Findlesham1 episode
1984Swallows and Amazons Forever: Coot ClubLivy (Hullabaloo)movie
1985Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampireuncreditedmovie
1986HaremCharlottemovie
1986David CopperfieldJane Murdstone3 episode
1986The Oldest Goose in the BusinessMiss Debenhammovie
1987Screen TwoCub Mistressmovie
1987A Dorothy L. Sayers MysteryHotel Receptionist1 episode
1987Father Matthew's DaughterMs. Wright1 episode
1988The StorytellerQueen1 episode
1988The RainbowCatherine Phillips1 episodes
1989Sadie1 episode
1989Great Expectations (1989 TV series)Miss Skiffkins1 episode
1989Erik the VikingGrimhild Housewifemovie
1991PoirotReceptionist1 episode
1991LovejoyRosemary Blake1 episode
1992OrlandoQueen Marymovie
1992ScreenPlaySarah1 episode
1994SmokescreenMiss Chittock1 episode
1995Julia Jekyll and Harriet HydeMiss Print1 episode
1996Rab C. NesbittPhoebe1 episode
1996The DetectivesHead Teacher1 episode
1996The Wind in the WillowsSamanthamovie
1997A Dance to the Music of TimeMiss Orchard1 episodes
1997The Man Who Knew Too LittleSylviamovie
1998Our Mutual FriendFirst Guest4 episodes
1998Vanity FairLady Blanche3 episodes
1999ChuckleVisionMrs. Fiona Fortescue-Smythe1 episode
2000Brotherly LoveMorag Ranloch1 episode
2001Love in a Cold ClimateThird Twitterer3 episodes
2002Tipping the VelvetWoman with Pipe2 episodes
2003My HeroMrs Clark1 episode
2004He knew He Was RightMrs. MacHugh2 episodes
2004Perfect StrangersAngry Opera Lovermovie
2006The Afternoon PlayLady-in-Waiting1 episode
2006LongfordLady Treemovie
2006Miss PotterLady Clilffordmovie
2007The Sarah Jane AdventuresMrs Gribbins2 episodes
2007Joe's PalaceMiddle-aged womanmovie
2008The Oxford MurdersShop Assistantmovie
2008Brideshead RevisitedLady Guestmovie
2008AffinityAdamovie
2009The Green Green GrassAntiques Expert1 episode
2010Upstairs DownstairsInstructress1 episode
2012QuartetFelicity Liddlemovie
2013EndeavourMiss Thornhill1 episode
2013Quartet: Deleted ScenesFelicity Liddleuncredited
2013DoctorsMrs. Hilary Warton1 episode
2012–2014Downton AbbeyLady Manville2 episode
2014The Riot ClubElderly Womanmovie
2015CockroachesThe Old Crone3 episodes
2015Wolf HallLady Exeter2 episodes
2015Jupiter AscendingBureaucratmovie
2015New TricksFlora Fox1 episode
2015Doc MartinMrs. Kelleher1 episode
2015Mr. HolmesMrs. Hudsonmovie
2015Queen of the DesertLady Ascotmovie, uncredited
2016The Last DragonslayerPritchett Lane House Ownermovie
2018The Little StrangerMiss Dabneymovie
2018PeterlooLady at Racesmovie
2019The DurrellsMelanie Countess De Torro2 episodes
2019GrantchesterMrs. Bennett4 episodes
2021CruellaBeehive Ladymovie
2022–presentSister Boniface MysteriesMiss Thimble12 episodes
2023All the Light We Cannot SeeJacqueline / Madam Blanchard2 episodes

Stage

!Year!Title!Role!Venue
200220,000 Leagues under the SeaLady Snide-WorthingtonStratford East Theatre
2005Little WomenAunt MarchDuchess Theatre (West End)
2006A Resounding TinkleNoraRoyal Court
2010If So, Then YesDame HildaJermyn Street Theatre
2011Flare PathMrs OakesPlayful Productions / Theatre Royal Haymarket
2015The TrialMrs BarrowThe Young Vic
2017Bang BangThe CountessMercury Theatre, Colchester
2018Hilda & VirginiaVirginia Woolf and Hilda of WhitbyJermyn Street Theatre
2018The Chalk GardenThe Third Lady ApplicantChichester Festival Theatre
2019Handbagged'T'Salibsury Playhouse, York Royal & Oldham Coliseum

References

  1. Web site: Sarah Crowden . 19 May 2023 . IMDb . en-US.
  2. Web site: Sarah Crowden . 19 May 2023 . Moviefone . en.
  3. News: Maxwell . Dominic . 14 June 2023 . If So, Then Yes at Jermyn Street Theatre, SW1 . en . 14 June 2023 . 0140-0460.
  4. News: Billington . Michael . 12 September 2010 . If So, Then Yes . en-GB . The Guardian . 14 June 2023 . 0261-3077.
  5. Web site: Sarah Crowden - YouTube . 14 June 2023 . youtube.com.

External links