Felicity Montagu

Felicity Montagu
Born
Felicity Jane Montagu

(1960-09-12) 12 September 1960 (age 64)
OccupationActress
Years active1985–present
Spouse
Alan Nixon
(m. 1984; div. 2006)
Children2

Felicity Jane Montagu (born 12 September 1960) is an English actress.[1] She is best known for playing Lynn Benfield, the long-suffering assistant of Alan Partridge.

Early life

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Montagu was born in Leeds, West Riding of Yorkshire,[2] to Lieutenant-Colonel John Drogo Montagu (1916–2013), whose great-great-grandfather, Admiral George Montagu, was the great-great-grandson of the Hon. James Montagu (d. 1665), who, in turn, was the third son of Henry Montagu, 1st Earl of Manchester.[3] She attended Loughborough University and the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.[4]

Career

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Film

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Montagu's reputation in comedy character parts was enhanced by her performance in Bridget Jones's Diary as Perpetua, Bridget's unpleasant colleague.[5] She also appeared in the 2006 film Confetti as highly strung magazine editor Vivien Kay-Wylie.[6] She appeared in the film I Want Candy in which she plays the mother of an ambitious teenager.[7] She appeared in How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008).[6] In 2013, she reprised her role as Lynn Benfield for the Alan Partridge film Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa,[8] and Mrs Mainwaring in the 2016 Dad's Army film.[9] In 2016, Montagu reprised her role as Miss Adolf from the Hank Zipzer series in the TV movie Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe.[10]

Television

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In 2004 and 2005, Montagu starred in the ITV comedy drama Doc Martin as Caroline Bosman, the radio presenter of Radio Portwenn. She played Lynn, the faithful but put-upon personal assistant in I'm Alan Partridge, and the vicar's wife Sue in Nighty Night. In 2006, she took the leading role of housewife and gang queen Barbara Du Prez in the comedy series Suburban Shootout.[6] Her other television credits include Mapp & Lucia, The Bill, Lovejoy, Health and Efficiency, Wish Me Luck, Tumbledown, Harry Enfield's Television Programme, 2point4 Children, A Touch of Frost, My Life as a Popat, Johnny and the Bomb, Peak Practice, The Queen's Sister, Coogan's Run, Doc Martin, Lead Balloon, Alexei Sayle's Stuff, Skins, Hank Zipzer, M.I. High, The Durrells, The End of the F***ing World, Rab C. Nesbitt, and Sally4Ever.[11] In 2020, she appeared as a contestant on Celebrity Masterchef.[12]

Theatre

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After graduating from drama school, Montagu was cast in the Terry Johnson play Unsuitable for Adults at the Bush Theatre.[13] She went on to work at the Royal Court Theatre and the Royal National Theatre.[4] After a long hiatus due to her screen work, Montagu returned to the stage when she starred as Melanie alongside Rowan Atkinson in the 2013 West End production of Quartermaine's Terms at Wyndham's Theatre.[13] In 2017, she appeared at the Liverpool Playhouse in a stage adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice as Mrs Bennet, alongside Matthew Kelly as Mr Bennet.[14]

Radio

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Montagu has also been a regular voice on a range of comedy programmes on BBC Radio 4 since the mid-1980s. Her credits include Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Delve Special, Ayres on the Air, Dial M For Pizza, Old Harry's Game, The Million Pound Radio Show, Revolting People, and No Commitments.

Personal life

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Montagu married Alan Nixon in 1984. They divorced in 2006. The couple have two children, Olivia and Luke. Felicity and Olivia worked together in 2016 in the BBC Radio 4 series Guilt Trip, where they played a fictional mother and daughter.[13]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV Anthea Episode: "Episode #1.5"
1985 Coming Through Jesse Chambers TV film
1986 We'll Think of Something Celia Episode: "You Know Who Your Friends Are"
Who Dares Wins Pregnant Woman 2 episodes
1987–1989 Ffizz Griselda 12 episodes
Tumbledown Tricia Television film
This is David Lander Linda Timson Episode: "Reduced to Tears"
1988–1989 Alexei Sayle's Stuff Various Roles 7 episodes
1989 Norbert Smith, a Life Cecilia Johanson Television film
1990 Wish Me Luck Nicole Dissard 7 episodes
Harry Enfield's Television Programme Thirties Player Episode: "Episode #1.1"
1991 The Bill Pearce Episode: "Furthers"
Josie Jacklyn 2 episodes
Casualty Karen Forrester 2 episodes
Paul Merton: The Series Various Characters Episode: "Episode #1.6"
1992 Lovejoy Deborah Frobisher Episode: "Out to Lunch
2Point4 Children Janice Episode: "I'm Going Slightly Mad"
Funny Business Performer Episode: "Visual Comedy"
1993 Bonjour la Classe Parent 2 Episode: "Red Card"
KYTV Horsey Woman Episode: "Get Away with You"
1993–1995 Health and Efficiency Dr. Kate Russell 12 episodes
1994 A Touch of Frost Anne Butler Episode: "Nothing to Hide"
The All New Alexei Sayle Show Various Characters Episode: "Episode #1.6"
1995 Coogan's Run Florence Mullinger Episode: "Handyman for All Seasons"
1995–1998 Smith & Jones Various 3 episodes
1997 Brass Eye Dinner Party Guest (uncredited) Episode: "Animals"
Holding the Baby Jane Episode: "Episode #1.6"
Hospital! Sally Television film
Harry Enfield and Chums Woman in Cholmondeley-Warner Film Episode: "Harry Enfield and Christmas Chums"
1997–2002 I'm Alan Partridge Lynn Benfield 12 episodes
1998 Hetty Wainthropp Investigates Susan Dent Episode: "Blood Relations"
Babes in the Wood Sasha Episode: "Christmas Special"
1999 All Along the Watchtower Mrs. Carter Episode: "Keeping the Peace"
Acts of Passion Rosemary Episode: "Hungry"
People Like Us Various Episode: "The Estate Agent"
2000 The Mrs Bradley Mysteries Ruby Larkin Episode: "The Rising of the Moon"
City Central Jenny Wilson Episode: "Everything Must Go"
Trust Beth Simpson Television film
Peak Practice Marian Lowther Episode: "On a Clear Day"
2001 Bridget Jones's Diary Perpetua
Mr Charity Mrs. Gilbert Episode: "You and Whose Tsunami?"
Dr. Terrible's House of Horrible Lavinia Episode: "And Now the Fearing..."
2003 The Eustace Bros. Ginny Topley Episode: "Episode #1.5"
Blackball Astronomer
The Crouches Eileen Episode: "Uncle Sonny"
Hear the Silence Mary Watt Television film
2004–2005 Nighty Night Sue Forks 10 episodes
2004–2007 My Life as a Popat Ivy Saviour 5 episodes
2004–2013 Doc Martin Caroline Bosman 7 episodes
2005 The Afternoon Play Marjorie Goldblum Episode: "The Singing Cactus"
Bremner, Bird and Fortune Unknown Episode: "Episode #7.6"
The Queen's Sister Gillian Fleming Television film
Planet Sketch Various (voice) 26 episodes
2006 Johnny and the Bomb Mildred Seeley 2 episodes
Uncle Dad Mrs. Farquharson Television series
My Family Lydia Episode: "Dentally Unstable"
Confetti Vivian
2006–2007 Suburban Shootout Barbara du Prez 11 episodes
2007 I Want Candy Val, Joe's Mum
Daphne Director, 'September Tide' Television film
2008 M.I. High Big Sister/Mary Taylor Episode: "Big Sister"
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Clipboard Nazi
2009 No Holds Bard Paula Pickford Television film
Off the Hook Danny's Mum/Mrs. Gordon 2 episodes
Outnumbered Mrs. Bain Episode: "The Robbers"
2010 Skins Anne Episode: "Emily"
The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret Ms Whitehead Episode: "The Snooker Player, the Black Canadian, the Turkish Terrorist, and the Peanut"
2011 North by Northamptonshire Jan (voice) Radio series
Lead Balloon Libby Episode: "Off"
Happy Clapper Cath Short film
Comedy Showcase Meriel Episode: "Chickens"
Chickens Meriel Episode: "Pilot"
Rab C. Nesbitt Reverend Biddulph Episode: "Stool"
2011–2012 Little Crackers Mrs. Peters/Mrs. Phipps 2 episodes
2012 Parents Mary Episode: "Episode #1.6"
Just Desserts Carol Short film
2012–2013 Watson & Oliver Various 2 episodes
2013 It's Kevin Various Episode: "Episode #1.2"
Playhouse Presents Meg Episode: "Stage Door Johnnies"
Alan Partridge: Alpha Papa Lynn Benfield
You, Me & Them Mags Episode: "Three Dinners"
2014 The Slammer Polly Meadows Episode: "Polly Meadows"
The Boy in the Dress Miss Price Television film
Mapp & Lucia Godiva "Diva" Plaistow 3 episodes
2014–2016 Hank Zipzer Miss Adolf 38 episodes
2015 Funny Valentines Isabel Episode: "Last Chance"
Two Down Mrs. Hannon
BBC Comedy Feeds Joy Episode: "Fishbowl"
2016 Dad's Army Elizabeth Mainwaring
The Alan Dimension Wendy (voice) Short film
Brief Encounters Joan 5 episodes
Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe Miss Adolf Television film
2016–2019 The Durrells Cousin Prue 4 episodes
2017 Husk Mother Short film
Porridge Caroline Hawley Episode: "The Witness"
The End of the F***ing World Jocelyn Episode: "Episode #1.6"
Chinese Burn Sue Episode: "Pilot"
2017-2018 The Tunnel Winnie Miles 6 episodes
2018 Urban Myths Paula Strasberg Episode: "Marilyn Monroe and Billy Wilder"
Vanity Fair Arabella Briggs 4 episodes
Butterfly Alice 2 episodes
Zapped Head Librarian Episode: "Book"
Sally4Ever Eleanor 7 episodes
Death on the Tyne Denise Television film
It's Me, Sugar Paula Strasberg Short film
2019 The Road to Brexit Jill Spiller Television film
Lasagne Betty Short film
Four Weddings and a Funeral Duffy's Mom Episode: "New Jersey"
National Theatre Live: A Midsummer Night's Dream Quince
2019–2021 This Time with Alan Partridge Lynn Benfield 12 episodes
2020 Resistance Mrs. Garner (Emma's Mother)
Heart to Heart Hen Holligan Short film
Miss Marx Helen Demuth
2021 The Announcement Patricia Short film
Censor Valerie
Brassic Lesley Anne Episode: "Episode #3.1"
Landscapers Patricia Wycherley 3 episodes
2022 Sister Boniface Mysteries Canoness Basil Episode: "Lights, Camera, Murder!"
Hullraisers Gloria 2 episodes
The Train Tina 4 episodes
2023 Tom Jones Bridget Allworthy Episode: "Episode #1.1"
Black Ops Superintendent Edwards 6 episodes
Beyond Paradise Margo Martins 6 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Maltin, Leonard (5 August 2008). Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide. Penguin. pp. 275–. ISBN 9780452289789. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  2. ^ "This page no longer exists". Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Felicity Jane Montagu". thepeerage.com. 12 August 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Felicity Montagu". TVGuide.com.
  5. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Comedy - Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency - Felicity Montagu". www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. ^ a b c "Felicity Montagu". BFI. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019.
  7. ^ "I Want Candy (2007) - Stephen Surjik | Cast and Crew | AllMovie" – via www.allmovie.com.
  8. ^ "'Alan and Lynn have magic together': Felicity Montagu on This Time with Alan Partridge". inews.co.uk. 25 March 2019.
  9. ^ Murphy, Amy (26 October 2014). "Dad's Army film: First photos of Catherine Zeta Jones, Toby Jones and Bill Nighy released". the Independent.
  10. ^ "BAFTA Kids TV Preview: Hank Zipzer's Christmas Catastrophe". www.bafta.org. 18 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Felicity Montagu". www.aveleyman.com.
  12. ^ Darvill, Josh (28 June 2020). "Celebrity MasterChef 2020 line up of celebrity contestants revealed". TellyMix. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Groves, Nancy (15 September 2016). "Pride and Partridge: Felicity Montagu's comedy gold with Coogan and Austen". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Pride and Prejudice | Cambridge Live". www.cambridgelive.org.uk.
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