Biography
Born in Yorkshire and trained at RADA, the actress began her career on stage in repertory theater before eventually finding success in the West End. Parfitt was already close to 30 when she debuted in films in a small role in "Hide and Seek" (1964). She first caught international audiences' attention playing Gertrude to Nicol Williamson's "Hamlet" (1969), recreating her stage performance. (As has often been the case, she was only three years …
Latest Tv Credits
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Career Milestones
2011 | Appeared in the horror feature "The Moth Diaries," starring Scott Speedman and Lily Cole | |
2008 | Cast in BBC romantic drama miniseries "Little Dorrit" | |
2005 | Appeared on the BBC "dramedy" series "Funland" | |
2004 | Co-starred with Martin Landau in "The Aryan Couple" as a Jewish couple trying to escape Nazi Germany by giving up everything | |
2000 | Had recurring guest role as the mother of Dr Elizabeth Corday on NBC's "ER" | |
1999 | Appeared on Broadway opposite Matthew Broderick in a revival of Emlyn Williams' "Night Must Fall" | |
1998 | Played the mother of the prince in "Ever After" | |
1997 | Had supporting role as Lady Mount-Temple in the biopic "Wilde" | |
1995 | Delivered a scene-stealing turn as the imperious employer of "Dolores Claiborne" | |
1993 | Co-starred in the three-part drama "The Blackheath Poisonings"; hosted US presentation | |
| Debut as series regular on US television, playing the wicked Queen Lillian, the stepmother to Snow White, in the ABC sitcom "The Charmings" | ||
1987 | Was one of the many females who succumbed to Nigel Havers' "The Charmer" (London Weekend Television); aired in the USA in 1989 on "Masterpiece Theatre" | |
1987 | Cast as Hugh Grant's mother in "Maurice" | |
1984 | Delivered a strong turn as Geraldine James' alcoholic mother in BBC miniseries "The Jewel in the Crown" (aired on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre" in the USA) | |
1983 | Played Cleopatra in Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra" at the Young Vic | |
1975 | Had supporting role in the minseries "Shoulder to Shoulder" (shown on PBS' "Masterpiece Theatre") | |
1971 | Played title role in the Royal Court Theatre production of "The Duchess of Malfi" | |
1970 | Appeared in a supporting role in the 6-part thriller "Diamond Crack Diamond" (London Weekend Television) | |
1969 | Portrayed Gertrude to Nicol Williamson's "Hamlet"; recreated stage performance for film | |
1967 | Had title role in the London production of "The Widowing of Mrs. Holroyd" | |
1964 | Film debut, "Hide and Seek" | |
1956 | London stage debut, "A Likely Tale" | |
1954 | Stage acting debut in "Fools Rush In" | |
Awards
2003 | BAFTA Award for Actress In a Supporting Role in Girl With a Pearl Earring |