# Claire Davenport

Claire Bernice Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English character actress well known for her large physique.

## Life and career

Davenport was born on 24 April 1933 in Sale, Cheshire, and began acting in 1961 with a theatre role in Caesar and Cleopatra at the Playhouse in Oxford.
Her film work includes roles in Return of the Jedi (as Yarna d'al' Gargan, originally billed as "Fat Dancer"), The Return of the Pink Panther, Adventures of a Plumber's Mate, Carry On Emmannuelle, The Tempest and The Elephant Man. On television, she appeared in The Dick Emery Show, Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses, among others. She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language. Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.

## Death

Davenport stopped working after suffering a series of strokes in the 1990s. She died at the age of 68 in London on 25 February 2002 (not 4 March, as often stated) from kidney failure.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1963 | Ladies Who Do | Passerby | Uncredited |
| 1969 | Crossplot | Wedding guest | |
| 1969 | Carry On Again Doctor | Wedding Guest | Uncredited |
| 1970 | Some Will, Some Won't | Blowzy Woman | |
| 1971 | On the Buses | Peggy | |
| 1973 | The Best Pair of Legs in the Business | Eating lady | |
| 1975 | The Return of the Pink Panther | Masseuse | |
| 1976 | The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones | Mrs Bakewell | Uncredited |
| 1976 | The Pink Panther Strikes Again | Hotel Maid | Scenes deleted |
| 1976 | Intimate Games | Fat stripper | |
| 1978 | Rosie Dixon - Night Nurse | Mrs Buchanan | |
| 1978 | Jubilee | First Customs Lady | |
| 1978 | Adventures of a Plumber's Mate | Belinda | |
| 1978 | Carry On Emmannuelle | Blonde in pub | |
| 1979 | The Tempest | Sycorax | |
| 1979 | Birth of the Beatles | Nude | |
| 1980 | The Elephant Man | Fat Lady | |
| 1983 | Screamtime | Mrs. Harlett | Uncredited |
| 1983 | Return of the Jedi | Yarna d'al' Gargan | |
| 1989 | War Requiem | Charge Sister / Britannia | |
| 1990 | Camping | English camper | |

## Partial television roles

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1962 | Bulldog Breed | Landlady |
| 1963 | The Rag Trade | Myrtle |
| 1964 | Doctor Who | The Empress |
| 1964 | Love Story | Miss Denning |
| 1964 | Crossroads | Miss Montgomery |
| 1965 | The Sullavan Brothers | Mrs Melvin |
| 1966 | The Baron | Anna Lubovitch |
| 1966 | Gideon's Way | Helen |
| 1966 | Ways with Words | Woman in restaurant |
| 1968 | George and the Dragon | Samantha |
| 1968 | ITV Playhouse | Mrs Mosscrop |
| 1968 | Theatre 625 | Mrs Bliss |
| 1968 | Boy meets Girl | Nurse Vileski |
| 1969 | Armchair Theatre | Mrs Kapodis |
| 1970 | W. Somerset Maugham | Rosa |
| 1970 | The Other Reg Varney | Various characters |
| 1971 | Play for Today | Nurse |
| 1971 | The Misfit | Boris |
| 1971 | Queenie's Castle | Glenda |
| 1972 | Stage 2 | Woman |
| 1972 | Menace | Barmaid |
| 1973 | On the Buses | Mrs Webb |
| 1973 | The Song of Songs | Neighbour |
| 1973 | Hey Brian! | Woman |
| 1973 | Pollyanna | Mrs Spencer |
| 1974 | Shoulder to Shoulder | Nurse Pine |
| 1975 | Fawlty Towers | Mrs Wilson |
| 1975 | Don't Drink The Water | Bertha |
| 1976 | Couples | Mrs Bagley |
| 1976 | George and Mildred | Shop assistant |
| 1977 | The Fuzz | Miss Bullock |
| 1978 | Angels | Doreen Smith |
| 1978 | George and Mildred | Gloria Rumbold |
| 1979 | Mind Your Language | Eva |
| 1981 | Metal Mickey | Cavewoman |
| 1983–1985 | By the Sword Divided | Mrs Dumfrey |
| 1985 | Minder | Nigel's Mum |
| 1986 | Alice in Wonderland | The Duchess |