Quick Facts
Biography
Denise Coffey (born 1936) is an English actress, director and playwright.
Coffey was born in Aldershot in 1936. After training at the Glasgow College of Dramatic Art, she began a career in repertory at the Gateway Theatre in Edinburgh, then moved to the Palladium Theatre there. She later worked for the BBC as a radio interviewer before appearing in London's West End. In the 1970s she was a member of director Frank Dunlop's repertory company in London's Young Vic Theatre, appearing in several productions including Scapino (1974) and beginning her career as a playwright with some children's shows.
Coffey has had a few supporting film roles: Sidonia in Waltz of the Toreadors (1962), Peg in Georgy Girl (1966), Soberness in Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), and Mrs E. in Vivian Stanshall's Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980). Her television appearances include Do Not Adjust Your Set, the Stanley Baxter series (1968, 1971), Girls About Town (1970–71), Hold the Front Page (1974; which she also created), End of Part One (1979) and The Adventure Game (1980).
Coffey played the role of Librarian "Jenny" in the BBC Schools 10 episode Look and Read series Dark Towers (1981).
She always refused to appear in commercials declaring that it was reprehensible to try to persuade people to buy things they didn't need.
On radio, Coffey featured in The Wordsmiths at Gorsemere, in the first series of The Burkiss Way and in The Next Programme Follows Almost Immediately and has made guest appearances on several programmes, including I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue and Just a Minute. She starred with Miriam Margolyes in two series of Alison and Maud (2002–4). She was also a regular panelist on The Law Game.
Selected filmography
- Waltz of the Toreadors (1962)
- The Wild and the Willing (1962)
- What a Crazy World (1963)
- Farewell Performance (1963)
- Georgy Girl (1966)
- Far from the Madding Crowd (1967)
- Start the Revolution Without Me (1970)
- Percy (1971)
- Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980)
- Another Time, Another Place (1983)
- End of Part One (1980)
- Dark Towers (Look and Read) (1981)
- Saving Grace (2000)