--- name: "Rosemary Leach" canonical: "https://film.one/person/rosemary-leach" fi1m_id: "rosemary-leach" imdb_id: "nm0494863" tmdb_id: 96408 wikidata_id: "Q3442508" roles: ["Actor"] born: "18 December 1935" died: "21 October 2017" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 3 updated: "2026-10-07T13:29:17.747270+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Rosemary Leach ## Identity Rosemary Leach - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/rosemary-leach - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** rosemary-leach - **IMDb ID:** nm0494863 - **TMDB ID:** 96408 - **Wikidata ID:** Q3442508 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Leach, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3442508, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0494863/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/96408 Actor. Born 18 December 1935 in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England, UK. Died 21 October 2017. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 18 December 1935, Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England, UK - **Died:** 21 October 2017 - **Active:** 1975–2000 - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 3 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (2), 2000s 50 (1) - **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 1 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 2 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Drama 2, Comedy 1, Romance 1 - **Screen time:** 2 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $21m across 1 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosemary_Leach, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3442508, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0494863/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/96408 ## Streaming the US now - **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Jewel in the Crown*](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) (85) - **HBO Max:** [*A Room with a View*](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) (84) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Rosemary Leach > Rosemary Leach brought warmth and a finely controlled voice to familiar mothers and aunts. We rate her supporting work in adaptations, though those period parts tell only part of a career that also made room for television comedy. Rosemary Leach makes Mrs Honeychurch in *A Room with a View* (1986) worth listening to. Her carefully modulated voice and the warmth of her playing give a familiar maternal part some individuality, without fuss. We warmed to her because the affection feels unforced. James Ivory's romance earns much of its appeal through Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith, but Leach helps make the people around them credible too. That is the supporting work we value her for, even when it is easily taken for granted. Television was the steady centre of her career, with Susan Weldon in *The Power Game* (1965) providing the breakthrough. Mother in the television adaptation *Cider with Rosie* (1971) and Mrs MacLaine, David Essex's mother, in *That'll Be the Day* (1973) show how early maternal roles became prominent. Such casting followed her across contemporary and period settings, and across class divides. The recurring interest is in how much she can make us believe about a person whose role in the story is already familiar. In *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), she plays Aunt Fenny within another strong company. The series' disturbing account of the British Raj's decline depends heavily on its acting, with Tim Pigott-Smith's Ronald Merrick particularly difficult to dismiss. Leach's warmth belongs comfortably in ensemble drama, though we would not make her a reason on her own to undertake fourteen episodes. The pace sometimes leaves the drama stranded, just as Ivory's film has occasional slow stretches; neither reservation cancels the pleasure of the performances. Her television work also made room for comedy, including recurring appearances in *My Family* (2003–2007) and a sitcom partnership with Ronnie Corbett. Bernard Hepton was a frequent television co-star, another reminder that her career was built largely in company. The comedy matters, because mothers and aunts in literary adaptations give only a partial account of her work. Start with *A Room with a View* for the warmth and humour, provided a supporting appearance is enough; it is a shorter commitment than fourteen episodes. ## Biography Rosemary Leach (1935–2017) was a British stage, television and film actress. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began her career in repertory theatre and at the Old Vic before becoming known to television audiences in the 1960s for her role in The Power Game. She appeared in numerous television productions including The Jewel in the Crown (1984) and My Family (2000–2007), and in films such as That'll Be the Day (1973) and A Room with a View (1985), for which she received a BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress. On stage she won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play for 84, Charing Cross Road (1982). She was married to actor Colin Starkey from 1981. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, theguardian.com, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) - *My Family* (2000), Fi1m 50, as Grace — [page](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md) - *A Room with a View* (1986), Fi1m 84, as Mrs. Honeychurch — [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) - *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), Fi1m 85, as Aunt Fenny — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) ## Complete filmography (131) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *May I Kill U?* (2013), as Mags - *The Great Ghost Rescue* (2011), as The Queen - *Mission London* (2010), as Miss Cunningham - *Margaret* (2009), as The Queen - *Waterloo Road* (2006), series, as Bessie - *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends* (2006), as Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit - *Afterlife* (2005), series, Actor - *The Secretary Who Stole £4 Million* (2005), as Carol Samson - *Brambly Hedge: Classic Collection* (2004), as Lady Daisy Woodmouse / Old Mrs Eyebright (Voice) - *The Afternoon Play* (2003), series, as HM The Queen - *The Royal* (2003), series, as Hester Hindmarch - *Prince William* (2002), as Queen Elizabeth - *The Baroness and the Pig* (2002), as Margaret - *Back Home* (2001), as Mrs. Dickinson - *Perfect* (2001), series, as Vera - *Breathtaking* (2000), as Mrs. Henshaw - *My Family* (2000), series, as Grace — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-family.md) - *Doctors* (2000), series, as Meg Carpenter - *Whatever Happened to Harold Smith?* (2000), as Harold's Mother - *Tilly Trotter* (1999), series, as Mrs Forefoot Meadows - *Berkeley Square* (1998), series, as Nanny Collins - *Bloodlines: Legacy of a Lord* (1998), Actor - *An Unsuitable Job for a Woman* (1997), series, as Miss Markland - *Midsomer Murders* (1997), series, as Evelyn Pope — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/midsomer-murders.md) - *The Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge* (1996), series, as Lady Daisy Woodmouse / Old Mrs Eyebright (voice) - *Brambly Hedge: Autumn Story: Primrose's Stormy Night* (1996), as Lady Daisy Woodmouse/Old Mrs. Eyebright - *Spywatch* (1996), series, as Amy Hobbs - *Chiller: Toby* (1995), as Mrs. Leslie - *Chiller* (1995), series, as Mrs Leslie - *Blood and Peaches* (1995), as Nan - *The Buccaneers* (1995), series, as Lady Brittlesea - *The Hawk* (1993), as Mrs Marsh - *Tender Loving Care* (1993), as Mary - *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Samuel Whiskers or The Roly-Poly Pudding* (1993), as Tabitha Twitchit (voice) - *The Mystery of Edwin Drood* (1993), as Mrs. Tope - *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Tom Kitten and Jemima Puddle-Duck* (1993), as Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit (voice) - *The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends* (1992), series, as Tabitha Twitchit (voice), Mrs. Tabitha Twitchit (voice) - *Shakespeare: The Animated Tales* (1992), series, as Narrator (voice) - *Twelfth Night* (1992), as Narrator (voice) - *An Ungentlemanly Act* (1992), as Mavis Hunt - *Bunch Of Five* (1992), series, as Mrs. Alcock - *Growing Pains* (1992), series, as Joan Craddock - *Heartbeat* (1992), series, as Miss Plum, Dorothy Plum - *Titmuss Regained* (1991), series, as Dot Curdle - *The Children* (1990), as Scopy - *Up the Garden Path* (1990), series, Actor - *Summer's Lease* (1989), series, as Nancy Leadbetter - *Screen One* (1989), series, as Mary - *The Winslow Boy* (1989), as Violet - *May to December* (1989), series, as Avril - *Bosses From Hell* (1989), Actor - *Across the Lake* (1988), as Connie Robinson - *When We Are Married* (1987), as Clara Soppitt - *The Charmer* (1987), series, Actor - *First Sight* (1987), series, as Phyllis - *Still Crazy Like a Fox* (1987), as Eleanor Trundle - *Day To Remember* (1986), as Hilda - *Worlds Beyond* (1986), series, as Ann Cranley - *Casualty* (1986), series, as Miranda Watts — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/casualty.md) - *Sunday Premiere* (1986), series, as Connie Robinson - *A Room with a View* (1986), as Mrs. Honeychurch — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-room-with-a-view.md) - *Turtle Diary* (1985), as Mrs. Inchcliff - *Displaced Person* (1985), as Sister Agnes - *The 17th Bride* (1985), as Esther - *This Office Life* (1984), as Widow Rashman - *Sharing Time* (1984), series, as Belinda - *Swallows and Amazons Forever!* (1984), series, as Mrs. Barrable - *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), series, as Aunt Fenny — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) - *Dramarama* (1983), series, as Beryl - *The Plague Dogs* (1982), as Vera (voice) - *The Critic* (1982), as Mrs. Dangle - *American Playhouse* (1982), series, as Sister Agnes - *Othello* (1981), as Emilia - *All's Well That Ends Well* (1981), as Widow of Florence - *Hands* (1980), as Pam - *S.O.S. Titanic* (1980), as Mrs. Odgen (uncredited) - *A Question Of Faith* (1979), as Anna Petrovna - *Disraeli* (1978), series, as Queen Victoria - *Disraeli* (1978), as Queen Victoria - *Life Begins at Forty* (1978), series, as Katy Bunting - *The Sunday Drama* (1977), series, as Vera - *The Velvet Glove* (1977), series, as Annie Besant - *Hindle Wakes* (1976), as Mrs. Jeffcote - *Laurence Olivier Presents* (1976), series, as Mrs Jeffcote - *Second Verdict* (1976), series, as Lizzie Borden - *Dad* (1976), as Irene - *Tiptoe Through the Tulips* (1976), as Rita - *Brief Encounter* (1976), as Mrs. Gaines - *Rumpole of the Bailey* (1975), series, as Mrs. Ida Tempest - *Sadie, It's Cold Outside* (1975), series, as Sadie Potter - *When Day Is Done* (1975), as Rosemary Warne - *Armchair Cinema* (1974), series, as Rosemary Warne - *The Prince of Denmark* (1974), series, as Laura - *Playhouse* (1974), series, as Irene - *Bedtime Stories* (1974), series, as Ivy Burr - *That'll Be The Day* (1973), as Mrs. MacLaine - *Armchair 30* (1973), series, as Val - *The Adventures Of Don Quixote* (1973), as Dulcinea / Aldonza - *Ghost in the Noonday Sun* (1973), as Kate - *Pebble Mill at One* (1972), series, Actor - *Bermondsey* (1972), as Iris - *Cider with Rosie* (1971), as Mother - *Now Look Here...* (1971), series, Actor - *The Mosedale Horseshoe* (1971), as Helen - *The Wild Duck* (1971), as Gina Ekdal, Hedvig's mother - *Play for Today* (1970), series, as Rita - *The Roads to Freedom* (1970), series, as Marcelle - *Chariot of Fire* (1970), as Shelley Mitchell - *Germinal* (1970), series, Actor - *Strange Report* (1969), series, as Mary Hanson - *Never Talk to Strangers* (1969), as Olive Bunclark - *Judge Dee* (1969), series, as Madame Ko - *ITV Saturday Night Theatre* (1969), series, as Judy Williams, Mary Nichols - *Birthday* (1969), Actor - *Toggle* (1968), as Jean Marfield - *ITV Playhouse* (1967), series, as Faith, Helen, Pam - *The Power Game* (1965), series, as Susan Weldon - *Serjeant Musgrave's Dance* (1965), series, as Annie - *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, as Gina Ekdal, Dulcinea / Aldonza, Mrs Dangle - *Thirty-Minute Theatre* (1965), series, as Iris Purvis, Josie - *Londoners* (1965), series, as Liz - *Gideon's Way* (1965), series, as Marion Grove - *The Wednesday Play* (1964), series, as Shelley Mitchell, Katharine Elliott, Jean Marfield, Jess - *Face of a Stranger* (1964), as Mary Bell - *Sherlock Holmes* (1964), series, as Kitty Winter - *Theatre 625* (1964), series, as Margaret, Claire - *Sharp at Four* (1964), as Jean Hobley - *Z-Cars* (1962), series, Actor - *Edgar Wallace Mysteries* (1959), series, as Mary Bell - *Armchair Theatre* (1956), series, as Amy, Jean Hobley, Fay Morton, Sheila - *Hallmark Hall of Fame* (1951), series, as Mrs. Gaines ## Awards ### Other awards — 1 won - Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play 1982: Laurence Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play (won) *From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.* --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/rosemary-leach