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Ann Way

1915-11-14 – 1993-03-13 (age 77) Wiveliscombe, Somerset, England, UK
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Biography

Ann Way (14 November 1915 – 13 March 1993) was an English film and television character actress. Born in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, she began her career in repertory in Birmingham in the 1950s moving from there to the Dundee Rep.

Her petite build and deep-set eyes saw her frequently typecast as a stereotypically dotty or timid and mouse-like spinster. She nonetheless appeared in a wide range of roles, including the television series Dr Finlay's Casebook, Emmerdale Farm where she played an aunt of publican and newspaper correspondent Amos Brearly, Fawlty Towers (where she memorably played the Colonel's wife inadvertently served the raw red mullet in "Gourmet Night") and Rumpole of the Bailey as Dodo Mackintosh. She played the vicar's wife in Last of the Summer Wine. She also read the Mrs. Pepperpot books on the children's series Jackanory.

Film roles included Carry On Loving (1970), Endless Night (1972) and Clockwise (1986) (in which she sang the Vivian Ellis standard This is my Lovely Day on the soundtrack and made comic use of the repeated line "Aren't we all such lucky people") and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) (where she played the headmistress's secretary, Miss Gaunt). A more unusual role was the 1987 short film Unusual Ground Floor Conversion in which she played an old lady gradually driving her downstairs neighbour mad by throwing water out of her window every few minutes.

Way died in London, England on 13 March 1993.

Known For

Brazil
Brazil

1985

as Old Lady with Dog

Little Lord Fauntleroy
Little Lord Fauntleroy

1980

as Miss Smith

Once Upon a Crime
Once Upon a Crime

1992

as Housekeeper

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie
Clockwise
Clockwise

1986

as Mrs. Way

Endless Night
Endless Night

1972

as Mrs. Philpott

Anchoress
Anchoress

1993

as Alice

Haunted Honeymoon
Haunted Honeymoon

1986

as Rachel

Crystalstone
Crystalstone

1987

as Housekeeper

🎦
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

2005

as Mrs. Hall (archive footage) (uncredited)

Carry On Loving
Carry On Loving

1970

as Aunt Victoria Grubb

The Dresser
The Dresser

1983

as Miss White

The Dawning
The Dawning

1988

as George Brabazon

Dead Lucky
Dead Lucky

1988

as Lena Finn

Bread or Blood
Bread or Blood

1981

as Mrs Tucker

The Sailor's Return
The Sailor's Return

1978

as Mrs Clall

🎦
How's Business

1991

as Miss Jolly

Whinfrey's Last Case
Whinfrey's Last Case

1979

as Old Lady (Lotte)

The Pigman's Protege
The Pigman's Protege

1982

as Gregoria Windy