As a devoted admirer of the enchanting world of stage and screen, I find myself deeply moved by the passing of Barbara Leigh-Hunt. Her seven-decade journey through the annals of British theater, gracing both the West End and Broadway with her indomitable presence, is a testament to an unwavering passion for her craft. From her electrifying portrayal of Brenda Blaney in Alfred Hitchcock’s chilling masterpiece, Frenzy, to her regal turn as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the iconic 1995 Pride and Prejudice adaptation, Leigh-Hunt has left an indelible mark on the hearts of countless audiences.
Actress Barbara Leigh-Hunt, who won an Olivier Award and played one of the victims in Alfred Hitchcock’s second-to-last movie, Frenzy, starring Barry Foster’s Necktie Murderer, has passed away at the age of 88.
Leigh-Hunt died peacefully Sept. 16 at her home in Warwickshire, England, her family announced.
Apart from being renowned, this notable British actor is recognized for portraying Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the critically-acclaimed 1995 BBC production of “Pride and Prejudice,” which featured Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle.
Throughout a seven-decade long acting career, Leigh-Hunt graced the stages of the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre, both in London’s West End and on Broadway in New York. She was honored with an Olivier Award in 1993 for her exceptional portrayal of Sybil Birling in a revival of J.B. Priestley’s play “An Inspector Calls“, which was directed by Stephen Daldry.
In the 1972 film “Frenzy,” set in London, the actor Leigh-Hunt played the role of Brenda Blaney, a past wife of an unsuccessful former RAF squadron leader (Jon Finch). Initially, the authorities suspected this man as the culprit behind the serial killings. A scene considered by many to be the most intense and graphic ever filmed by Hitchcock depicts Brenda’s violent rape and subsequent death.
Her filmography encompasses titles such as “Henry VIII and His Six Wives” from 1972, “Bequest to the Nation” from 1973, “Oh Heavenly Dog,” directed by Joe Camp, in 1980, “Paper Mask” from 1990, “A Merry War” from 1997, “Billy Elliot,” helmed by Stephen Daldry, in 2000, and Mira Nair’s “Vanity Fair” from 2004.
Leigh-Hunt was born on the 14th of December, 1935, in Bath, Somerset, England. After completing her education at Bristol Old Vic theater school in 1953, she embarked on her theatrical career with a debut in London’s theatre scene, associated with the Old Vic, the following year.
In 1954, she journeyed with her company to Broadway for a performance of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. Later in 1958-59, she graced the stage in “Hamlet” and “King Henry V”. During the 1970s, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and acted in productions of “Travesties”, “King Lear”, and “Sherlock Holmes”. She even brought these performances to Broadway in 1973.
Leigh-Hunt graced the stage for directors such as Mike Newell, Tom Stoppard, and Richard Eyre in plays like “Mrs. Mouse, Are You Within?”, “Travesties”, “Bartholomew Fair” and “Racing Demon”. Additionally, Leigh-Hunt played Big Mama in the 1988 National Theatre production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”.
She had been wedded to the actor Richard Pasco from 1967 up until his passing in 2014. Memorial contributions in her honor may be given to The Royal Theatrical Fund.
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2024-09-27 20:54