Fay Compton

Acting

Fay Compton

Born
Died
(aged 84)
Birthplace
Fulham, London, England, UK
Credits
51 titles

Biography

From Wikipedia

Fay Compton CBE (18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978) was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her elder sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century theatrical luminary Henry Compton. Author Compton Mackenzie was her elder brother.

Compton's film work is not as well known as her stage appearances. She appeared in more than forty films between 1914 and 1970. Her most popular performances in films are Odd Man Out (1947), Laughter in Paradise (1951), Orson Welles' Othello (1952), The Haunting (1963) and I Start Counting (1969).

Among her television performances, she appeared in 1965 with Michael Hordern in the television play, Land of My Dreams by Clive Exton. One of her last major roles was as Aunt Ann in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. She had a successful career in the radio, television and gramophone recordings.

Signature work

Known For

Acting credits 51

YearTitleRole
1970 I Start Counting Film Mrs. Bennett
1970 The Virgin and the Gypsy Film Grandma
1969 Dombey and Son TV Mrs. Brown (13 ep)
1968 Journey to the Unknown TV Queen Victoria (1 ep)
1968 Cold Comfort Farm TV Aunt Ada Doom (Starkadder) (3 ep)
1967 Sanctuary TV Sister Juliana (26 ep)
1967 The Forsyte Saga TV 'Aunt Ann' Forsyte (5 ep)
1965 Knock on Any Door TV Hester Warren (1 ep)
1964 Story Parade TV Miss Babbage (1 ep)
1963 Uncle Vanya Film Marya, the mother
1963 The Haunting Film Mrs. Sanderson
1960 Maigret TV (1 ep)
1959 No Hiding Place TV (3 ep)
1957 The Story of Esther Costello Film Mother Superior
1957 Nicholas Nickleby TV (2 ep)
1957 Town on Trial Film Mrs. Crowley
1956 Armchair Theatre TV Angelica, Victoria (1 ep)
1956 Doublecross Film Alice Pascoe
1954 Aunt Clara Film Gladys Smith
1953 The Vanquished Film Mrs. Pinkerton
1952 Lady Possessed Film Mme. Brune
1951 Othello Film Emilia
1951 Laughter in Paradise Film Agnes Russell
1951 Blackmailed Film Mrs. Christopher
1949 The Forbidden Street Film Mrs. Culver
1948 London Belongs to Me Film Mrs. Josser
1948 Esther Waters Film Mrs. Barfield
1947 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Film Mme. Mantalini
1947 Odd Man Out Film Rosie
1941 The Prime Minister Film Queen Victoria
1939 So This Is London Film Lady Worthing
1937 The Mill on the Floss Film Mrs. Tulliver
1934 Waltzes from Vienna Film Countess Helga von Stahl
1934 Autumn Crocus Film Jenny Grey
1931 Tell England Film Mrs. Doe
1931 Uneasy Virtue Film Dorothy Rendell
1931 Cape Forlorn Film Eileen Kell
1929 Fashions in Love Film Marie de Remy
1927 Somehow Good Film Rosalind Nightingale
1927 Robinson Crusoe Film Sophie
1927 London Love Film Sally Hope
1925 Settled Out of Court Film The Woman
1925 The Happy Ending Film Mildred Craddock
1924 The Eleventh Commandment Film Ruth Barchester
1924 Claude Duval Film Duchess Frances
1924 The Loves of Mary, Queen of Scots Film Mary Stuart
1922 A Bill of Divorcement Film Margaret Fairfield
1922 Diana of the Crossways Film Diana
1922 The House of Peril Film Sylvia Bailey
1921 A Woman of No Importance Film Rachel Arbuthnot
1921 The Old Wives' Tale Film Sophie Barnes
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