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Maria Charles

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Maria Charles
c1970
Born
Maria Zena Schneider

(1929-09-22)22 September 1929
London, England
Died21 April 2023(2023-04-21) (aged 93)
OccupationActress
Spouse
(m. 1952; div. 1966)
Children2; including Kelly Hunter

Maria Zena Schneider (22 September 1929 – 21 April 2023), known professionally as Maria Charles, was an English film, television and stage actress, director and comedienne. She was probably best known for her performance as the overbearing mother Bea Fisher in the ITV sitcom Agony. Charles also appeared on the stage in original West End productions including musicals by Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse and Sandy Wilson.

Early life

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Maria Zena Schneider was born in London on 22 September 1929.[1] She was the daughter of David Schneider (1896–1980) and Celia Schneider (née Ashkenaza) (1906–1954).[1] Her father was a hairdresser who used the soubriquet "Mr Charles". When she graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London in 1946[2] she took her father's working name as her stage surname.

Career

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Charles had an exceptionally long acting career that spanned over seven decades. She made her stage debut as the Dormouse in a 1945 production of Alice in Wonderland at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing and her West End theatre debut in the Pick up Girl at the Prince of Wales Theatre in 1946. Charles appeared in the original London production of The Boy Friend as 'Dulcie' which ran for a total of 2,082 performances (from 1954 to 1959). She played the part of 'Solange Lafitte' in the original West End production of Follies at the Shaftesbury Theatre by Stephen Sondheim. The show ran for 644 performances from 21 July 1987 to 4 February 1989 and starred Julia McKenzie, Daniel Massey and Eartha Kitt. Charles has worked extensively in theatre, TV and films and has carved a niche for herself on television playing clingy Jewish mothers. She appeared in the memorable BBC Play for Today anthology TV series (which ran from 1970 to 1984), in the TV play the Bar Mitzvah Boy which won the BAFTA, British Academy Television Award for (best single play); in 1977 it was placed 56th in a BFI poll of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, voted by industry professionals. She also played Maureen Lipman's character's mother in the ITV sitcom Agony from 1979 to 1981. In 1981 she starred in Nell Dunn's new comedy play, Steaming at the Comedy Theatre Stratford East, playing alongside Brenda Blethyn; the production won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Comedy that year.

Other notable television credits included well known television series such as Z-Cars, Crossroads, Secret Army, Brideshead Revisited, Coronation Street, Whoops Apocalypse, Boon, Never the Twain, Lovejoy, Casualty, Holby City and Bad Girls.

Her notable film credits included: Sisterhood, Hot Fuzz, Cuba, Revenge of the Pink Panther, Victor Victoria, and Sixty Six.

Personal life and death

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Charles died on 21 April 2023, at the age of 93. She was survived by two daughters; Kelly, an actress, and Samantha, a production stage manager.[3]

Stage appearances

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Film appearances

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Television appearances

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Series

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Miniseries

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Television films

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Television specials

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  • Mrs Hartop, The Mill, Country Matters I, 1972
  • Mrs. Rita Green, Bar Mitzvah Boy (also known as Play for Today:Bar Mitzvah Boy), 1976

Television episodes

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Directing credits

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  • The Boy Friend, (40th anniversary original cast reunion), at the Players Theatre, London, 1995.
  • Poppy at the ICA, London, 1999.

Other

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  • Anna Gemignani, Anna (pilot), NBC, 1990

Charles also appeared in Angel Pavement, Down Our Street, Easter Passion, The Fourth Wall, The Good Old Days, La Ronde, Rogue's Gallery, Shine on Harvey Moon, Turn Out the Lights, The Ugliest Girl in Town, The Voice of the Turtle, and Sheppey.

References

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  1. ^ a b England and Wales Civil Registration Birth Index, 1929 Births.
  2. ^ "RADA Student & graduate profiles: Maria Charles". Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  3. ^ Hayward, Anthony (1 May 2023). "Maria Charles obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  4. ^ Gaughan, Gavin (7 December 2010). "Geoffrey Wright obituary with reference to production". The London Guardian Newspaper. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  5. ^ "Guide to Musical Theatre". Divorce me darling!. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  6. ^ "The Players Theatre Archive". 1974. Archived from the original on 21 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  7. ^ "Cast & Crew List for Party Time & One For the Road". haroldpinter.org. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  8. ^ "Full Cast & Crew list for Antonia & Jane". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  9. ^ "Nicholas Nickelby cast list". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 26 January 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  10. ^ Gallo, Phil (13 November 1997). "TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
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