Renée Asherson

Dorothy Renée Ascherson(19 May 1915 – 30 October 2014),known professionally asRenée Asherson, was an English actress. Much of her theatrical career was spent inShakespeareanplays, appearing at such venues as theOld Vic, theLiverpool Playhouse, and theWestminster Theatre. Her first stage appearance was on 17 October 1935, aged 20, and her first major film appearance was inThe Way Ahead(1944). Her last film appearance was inThe Others(2001).
Dorothy Renée Ascherson was born inKensington, London, the younger daughter of shipowner Charles Stephen Ascherson (1877–1945) and Dorothy Lilian (néeWiseman; 1881–1975).Her father was of German-Jewish extraction.She was brought up inGerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, as well as Switzerland andAnjou. She later trained for the stage at theWebber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art.
Asherson made her first stage appearance on 17 October 1935, as awalk-oninJohn Gielgud's production ofRomeo and Juliet, though she was also the secondunderstudyforJuliet.It was the production in which Gielgud andLaurence Olivieralternated the roles of Romeo and Mercutio.For eighteen months from 1937 through 1938, Asherson was a member of theBirmingham Repertory Theatrecompany. She first appeared atThe Old Vicin May 1940 as Iris inThe Tempest. Asherson toured with the Old Vic company from 1940 through 1941 in the roles of Kate Hardcastle inShe Stoops to Conquer, Maria inTwelfth Night, Nerissa inThe Merchant of Venice, and Blanche inKing John. Asherson appeared at theNew Theatreas Blanche in July 1941 before resuming her tour with the Old Vic company.
Asherson appeared at other venues. It was at theWestminster Theatrethat she gained especially good notices for her appearance inWalter Greenwood'sThe Cure for Lovein 1945 withRobert Donat.Laurence Olivier wanted her to join his company at The Old Vic, but she chose to continue working with Donat instead.At theAldwych Theatre, she playedBeatriceto Donat's Benedict inMuch Ado About Nothingin 1947 and Stella in the first London production ofA Streetcar Named Desirein 1949. The latter production was directed by Olivier, withVivien Leighas Blanche.
She also performed at theApollo Theatrein 1956, theCriterion Theatrealso in 1956,St Martin's Theatrein 1962, theSavoy Theatrein 1963 and 1977 and theYork Theatre Royalin 1973 and 1976.
An early lead role for Asherson was as KingHenry V's love interest,Princess Katherine, in Laurence Olivier's film ofShakespeare's playHenry V(1944).
On film, Donat and Asherson reprised their stage roles inThe Cure for Love(1949) in Donat's only film as director. During its production, the couple fell in love. They frequently appeared together in later films, such asThe Magic Box(1951).In 1945 she appeared inThe Way to the Starsas Iris Winterton, the love interest of Peter Penrose (John Mills).
Her final film role was as the unnamed old woman in the haunted house thrillerThe Others(2001), starringNicole Kidman.
In 1976, she played the tragic Miss Gailey in seven episodes of ATV's epic dramatisation ofArnold Bennett'sClayhangeroppositeJanet SuzmanandDenis Quilley. In 1978, she portrayed Mother Ancilla in theArmchair Thrilleradaptation of theAntonia FrasernovelQuiet as a Nun, and appeared as Mrs Wainwright in the 1979 TV miniseriesA Man Called Intrepid. In 1981, Asherson played the role of Sylvia Ashburton in the first season and for eight episodes ofTenko.She played Dora Bunner in the 1985Miss Marpleepisode,A Murder Is Announced. In 1997, she played murder victim Emily Simpson in the first episode ofMidsomer Murders.
In 1953 she moved to 8The Grove, Highgateupon her marriage to fellow actorRobert Donat,separating before his death five years later. She never remarried and died inPrimrose Hill,Londonon 30 October 2014, aged 99.Among her surviving relatives is her nephew, the journalistNeal Ascherson.