# Cherie Lunghi

Cherie Mary Lunghi (born 4 April 1952) is an English film, television, theatre actress and voice-over artist. She is known for her roles in many British dramas. Her international fame stems from her role as Guenevere in the 1981 film Excalibur. Lunghi's long list of screen, stage and TV credits include football manager Gabriella Benson in the 1990s television series The Manageress and a series of advertisements for Kenco coffee. She also competed in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing. She is the mother of the actress Nathalie Lunghi.

## Early life

Lunghi was born in Nottingham. Her father, Alessandro Lunghi, was Italian. She was raised by her mother, aunt and grandmother, seeing her father only occasionally. Lunghi has described herself as feeling "different" as she did not have a mother and father like other children.$^{:89,90}$

## Career

Educated at London's Arts Educational School, Lunghi played Hedvig in The Wild Duck and Alice in Alice in Wonderland on BBC radio while still at school. After graduating from Homerton College, Cambridge and London's Central School of Speech and Drama, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1970s, taking leading roles such as Perdita, Celia, and Viola. She had a starring role in the 1979 British short film Diversion (the prototype for the 1987 U.S. film Fatal Attraction). In 1981 she landed the role of Guenevere in the film Excalibur.
She starred in the 1982 television serial Praying Mantis, based on the book (Les Mantes Religieuses) by Hubert Monteilhet. The thriller co-starred Pinkas Braun, Carmen du Sautoy, and Jonathan Pryce. In 1985 Lunghi played Michal in King David alongside Edward Woodward and Richard Gere. She also appeared alongside Robert De Niro in The Mission. Lunghi told author Paul Stenning, "It was wonderful working with him, it was extraordinary actually. He transforms right in front of you. You are aware when watching him on screen that he has transformed – he is not Robert De Niro – he is somebody else. I don't think you can learn how to do that; it's just the power of your imagination."$^{:94and95}$
In the mid-1980s, she relocated to Los Angeles for eight years, but returned to England to care for her mother. After the birth of her daughter she took various short-term parts, including playing the band members' mutual love interest in the music video for Level 42's song "Something About You". Lunghi has described how she had been working during pregnancy and was working again three months after giving birth, saying, "it was working mother guilt. I was juggling and balancing, trying to be fair to my career and to my child. Nathalie would come everywhere with me."$^{:95}$
Lunghi took on the lead role in football drama The Manageress (1989–90), and participated in the BBC adaptation of Edith Wharton's posthumously published novel, The Buccaneers (1995), as Laura Testvalley. In addition to film and television work, she appeared in a long-running advertising campaign on British television for Kenco coffee from the late 1990s onwards.
In 2006, Lunghi appeared on television in Casualty 1906, playing Matron Eva Luckes, and had a recurring guest role in the regular Casualty series as Professor Camille Windsor. In 2013, she narrated some episodes of the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?.

### Strictly Come Dancing

In 2008, she competed in the sixth series of BBC television's Strictly Come Dancing (14-week run), partnered by James Jordan. After her first dance, the Foxtrot on the Ladies Night in week two, she scored the highest points of the first two weeks (33). She beat this score with another series-best score of 35/40 for the rumba to finish week four atop the remaining 12 contestants with an average score of 34/40. The score for her third dance, the American Smooth, was an impressive 34 to maintain her average, though she slipped to 31/40 for the Paso Doble, and further to 26/40 on her fifth outing, in the Salsa. She returned to form the following week with a Waltz, scoring 36/40, and was joint first on the leaderboard.
She was voted off the competition on 16 November 2008 (week nine), losing by three votes to one in the dance-off against model Lisa Snowdon after performing a Cha-Cha-Cha. In the January/February 2009 Strictly Tour, she danced an American Smooth and a rumba with James Jordan.

## Personal life

Lunghi was briefly married to South African student Ralph Lawson after the pair met while studying at London's Central School of Speech and Drama. The 1975 marriage was one of convenience so that Lawson could remain in the UK. The couple never lived together as husband and wife, instead staying in separate homes in Newcastle. Lawson moved back to South Africa two years later to take a new job. She has a daughter, Nathalie Lunghi (b. 1986), with the director Roland Joffé.

## Filmography

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1980 | Diversion | Erica |
| 1981 | Excalibur | Guenevere |
| 1985 | King David | Michal |
| 1985 | Parker | Jenny Parker |
| 1986 | The Mission | Carlotta |
| 1986 | Letters to an Unknown Lover | Helene |
| 1987 | Coast to Coast | Susan |
| 1988 | Intrigue | Adriana |
| 1988 | To Kill a Priest | Halina |
| 1990 | Ransom | Claire Stein |
| 1993 | Silent Cries | Audrey |
| 1994 | Mary Shelley's Frankenstein | Baroness Frankenstein (Victor's Mother) |
| 1995 | Jack and Sarah | Anna |
| 1997 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn | Myrna Smithee |
| 2001 | Back to the Secret Garden | Lady Mary Craven |
| 2004 | Viper in the Fist | Miss Chilton |
| 2011 | Love's Kitchen | Margaret |
| 2018 | Patrick | Rosemary |

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1964 | The Valiant Varneys | | Episode: "The Incredible Adventures of James Rupert Varney" |
| 1967 | A Pretty Row of Pretty Ribbons | The young girl | |
| 1968 | Sherlock Holmes | Emily | Episode: "The Second Stain" |
| 1969 | Dr. Finlay's Casebook | Kirstie (Antonio) | Episode: "The Visitation" |
| 1973 | The Brontës of Haworth | Student | Episode: "Home and Abroad" |
| 1976 | Peter and the Princess | Princess | |
| 1976 | Bill Brand | Alex Ferguson | |
| 1978 | Edward and Mrs. Simpson | Lady Thelma Furness | |
| 1978 | The Comedy of Errors | Ephesus Townsperson | |
| 1978 | Play of the Month | Anna Danby | Episode: "Kean" |
| 1979 | Prince Regent | Princess Charlotte | Episode: "Milk and Honey" |
| 1980 | Festival: The Misanthrope | Celimene | |
| 1980 | Armchair Thriller | Stephanie | Episode: "Dead Man's Kit" |
| 1980 | 'Tis Pity She's a Whore | Annabella | |
| 1981 | Tales of the Unexpected | Karen Masterson | Episode: "Death in the Morning" |
| 1981 | The Manhood of Edward Robinson (The Agatha Christie Hour - TV series) | Lady Noreen Elliot | |
| 1981 | If Winter Comes | Csöppi/Ilóna | |
| 1982 | Playhouse | Emily | Episode: "Preview" |
| 1982 | Oliver Twist | Nancy | |
| 1982 | Praying Mantis | Beatrice Manceau | |
| 1982 | Jackanory | Storyteller | Episodes: "Puss in Boots", "Jack and the Beanstalk" and "Cinderella" |
| 1983 | Play of the Month | Celimene | Episode: "The Misanthrope" |
| 1983 | The Sign of Four | Mary Morstan | |
| 1984 | Play for Today | Sue | Episode: "Desert of Lies" |
| 1984 | Strangers and Brothers | Margaret Davidson/Eliot | |
| 1984 | Master of the Game | Margaret Van der Merwe | |
| 1984 | Ellis Island | Una Marbury | |
| 1984 | Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | |
| 1984 | Bones | Jenny Parker | |
| 1985 | Vicious Circle | Estelle | |
| 1985 | "Something About You" by Level 42 | Love interest | Music video |
| 1985 | The Daughter-in-Law | Minnie | |
| 1986 | Harem | Usta | |
| 1986 | The Monocled Mutineer | Dorothy | |
| 1987 | Screen Two | Susan | Episode: "Coast to Coast" |
| 1987 | Coast to Coast | Susan | |
| 1987 | The Lady's Not for Burning | Jennet Jourdemayne | |
| 1988 | The Man Who Lived at the Ritz | Lili | |
| 1989 | The Manageress | Gabriella Benson | |
| 1990 | The Ruth Rendell Mysteries | Natalie Arno | Episode: "Put on by Cunning" |
| 1991 | The Strauss Dynasty | Jetti | |
| 1992 | Covington Cross / Charing Cross | Lady Elizabeth | |
| 1993 | A Question of Guilt | Helen West | |
| 1995 | The Buccaneers | Laura Testvalley | |
| 1996 | Strangers | Joan | Episode 1 of Canadian TV series |
| 1996 | The Canterville Ghost | Lucille Otis | |
| 1996 | Moloney | Dr. Sarah Bateman | |
| 1998 | Little White Lies | Julia | |
| 1999 | Hornblower | Duchess of Wharfedale/Kitty Cobham | Episode: "The Duchess and the Devil" |
| 1999 | David Copperfield | Mrs Steerforth | |
| 2000 | A Likeness in Stone | Merie Kirschman | |
| 2001 | EastEnders | Jan Sherwood | |
| 2002 | The Inspector Lynley Mysteries | Sarah Gordon | Episode: "For the Sake of Elena" |
| 2002 | Waking The Dead | Leah Gold | Episode: "Thin Air" |
| 2002 | The Seasons Alter | Titania | |
| 2003 | Cutting It | Zinnia Raggitt | |
| 2003 | Midsomer Murders | Lillian Webster | Episode: "The Green Man" |
| 2003 | New Tricks | Diane Loveless | Episode: "Good Work Rewarded" |
| 2004 | The Brief | Cleo Steyn | |
| 2005 | Agatha Christie's Marple | Sadie Swettenham | Episode: "A Murder is Announced" |
| 2006 | Dalziel & Pascoe | Kay Miclean | Episode: "Houdini's Ghost" |
| 2006 | Casualty 1906 | Matron Eva Luckes | |
| 2007 | Hotel Babylon | Mrs. Poldark | |
| 2007–2011 | Secret Diary of a Call Girl | Stephanie | Series regular |
| 2007–2008 | Casualty | Camille Windsor | Episodes: "Inheritance", "This Mess We're In – Part One" and "This Mess We're In – Part Two" |
| 2008 | Casualty 1907 | Matron Eva Luckes | |
| 2008 | A Touch of Frost | Detective Sergeant Annie Marsh | Episode: "Dead End" |
| 2008 | Apparitions | Woman | Episode 6 |
| 2008 | Strictly Come Dancing | Herself | |
| 2009 | Casualty 1909 | Matron Eva Luckes | |
| 2011 | Lewis | Grace Orde | Episode: "The Gift of Promise" |
| 2013 | Who Do You Think You Are? | Narrator | |
| 2013 | Pat & Cabbage | Cabbage (Jean) | |
| 2013 | Death in Paradise | Jayne Smythe | Episode: "Death in the Clinic" |
| 2014 | Holby City | Kathy David | Episode: "Self Control" |
| 2014 | Wizards vs Aliens | Eva Starling | Episode: "The Quantum Effect" |
| 2016 | Midsomer Murders | Alexandra Monkford | Episode: "A Dying Art" |
| 2022 | Strike | Gloria Conti | Episode: "Troubled Blood" |

## Radio

| Date | Title | Role | Director | Station |
| 12 Mar 1965 | The Raft of the Medusa | Second girl | Archie Campbell | Network Three |
| 21 Apr 1965 | The Long Childhood | Marilyn | Hugh Stewart | BBC Home Service Afternoon Theatre |
| 1 Jul 1965 | A Day Like Sunday | Alison | Charles Lefeaux | Network Three |
| 27 Sep 1965 | The Wild Duck | Hedvig | Charles Lefeaux | BBC Home Service |
| 26 Jan 1966 | Quiet Wedding | Miranda Bute | David H. Godfrey | Light Programme Midweek Theatre |
| 28 Feb 1966 | The Turn of the Screw | Flora | John Tydeman | BBC Home Service |
| 13 Apr 1966 | The Monument | Fanny's children | Douglas Cleverdon | Network Three |
| 23 May 1966 | International Couriers: The Kidnappers | Judith Carroway | David H Godfrey | Light Programme |
| 26 Jul 1966 – 13 Sep 1966 | The Dark Rising | Mary Durban | David H. Godfrey | Light Programme |
| 20 Feb 1967 | Ye Daughters of Jerusalem | Debbie Hudson | Charles Lefeaux | BBC Home Service |
| 29 Apr 1967 | When Sam was King | Gail Fleming | Brian Miller | BBC Home Service Saturday-Night Theatre |
| 30 Jan 1969 | Kittens Are Brave | Barbara Shiplake | Charles Lefeaux | BBC Radio 3 |
| 25 Dec 1969 | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Alice | Charles Lefeaux | BBC Radio 4 |
| 6 Jun 1972 | Golden Ring on my Finger | Clara | Richard Keen | BBC Radio 4 |
| 31 May 1975 | Blood Sport | Lynnie Keeble | David H. Godfrey | BBC Radio 4 Saturday-Night Theatre |
| 7 Oct 1975 | Lost Yer Tongue? | Janet | Tony Cliff | BBC Radio 3 Drama Now |
| 4 Apr 1986 – 11 Apr 1986 | Joyous Days in the Desert | Janet Ross | Brian Miller | BBC Radio 4 |
| 21 Sep 1986 | Six Characters in Search of an Author | the Step-daughter | Walter Acosta | BBC Radio 4 & BBC World Service |
| 30 Jul 1988 | Peter Ibbetson | Mary Duchess of Towers | Brian Miller | BBC Radio 4 Saturday-Night Theatre |

## Theatre

Her stage credits include:
| Date | Title | Role | Director | Company / Theatre |
| 25 October 1972 – 27 October 1972 | The Country Wife | Alithea | David Terence | Royal Central School of Speech and Drama / Embassy Theatre, London |
| 26 December 1974 – 1975 | Canterbury Tales | Nun | Roger Chapman | Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse |
| 30 January 1975 – | She Stoops to Conquer | Miss Kate Hardcastle | Robert Knights | Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse |
| 20 March 1975 – | Major Barbara | Sarah | Prunella Scales | Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse |
| 1975 | Teeth 'n' Smiles | Laura | | English Stage Company / Royal Court Theatre, London |
| 5 April 1976 – 1977 | Much Ado About Nothing | Hero | John Barton | Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon |
| 10 March 1977 – 7 April 1977 | Much Ado About Nothing | Hero | John Barton | Royal Shakespeare Company / Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 29 June 1977 – | Much Ado About Nothing | Hero | John Barton | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre, London |
| 28 September 1976 – | Destiny | Liz and Carol | Ron Daniels | Royal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place, Stratford-on-Avon |
| 29 March 1977 – 9 April 1977 | Destiny | Liz and Carol | Ron Daniels | Royal Shakespeare Company / Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| 10 May 1977 – | Destiny | Liz and Carol | Ron Daniels | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre, London |
| 17 January 1977 – | The Boy Friend | Maisie | Gillian Lynne | Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon |
| 25 March 1977 – 2 April 1977 | The Phoenix and the Turtle | Roberta | Peter Stevenson | Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
| 1 June 1976 – | The Winter's Tale | Perdita | John Barton | Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon |
| 1 November 1977 – | The Days of the Commune | Genevieve | Howard Davies | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre |
| 26 July 1977 – 1977 | That Good Between Us | Rhoda | Barry Kyle | Royal Shakespeare Company / Warehouse Theatre, London |
| 3 August 1977 – | Bandits | Madeline and Pat | Howard Davies | Royal Shakespeare Company / Warehouse Theatre |
| 2 May 1977 – | King Lear | Cordelia | Trevor Nunn | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre |
| 15 September 1978 – 1978 | As You Like It | Celia | John Caird Trevor Nunn | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre |
| 21 December 1978 – 1979 | Saratoga | Lucy Carter | Ronald Eyre | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre |
| 12 June 1979 – 1980 | Twelfth Night | Viola | Terry Hands | Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre |
| 11 March 1980 – | Twelfth Night | Viola | Terry Hands | Royal Shakespeare Company / Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 11 April 1980 – | Twelfth Night | Viola | Terry Hands | Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre |
| 7 May 1982 – | Uncle Vanya | Yelena Andreyevna | Michael Bogdanov | National Theatre Company / Lyttelton Theatre, London |
| 14 January 1987 – | Holiday | Julia Seton | Lindsay Anderson | Old Vic, London |
| 3 January 1990 – 1991 | The Homecoming | Ruth | Peter Hall | Comedy Theatre, London |
| 21 June 2000 – 9 September 2000 | Passion Play | Eleanor | Michael Grandage | Comedy Theatre, London |