Claire Davenport

Claire Davenport (24 April 1933 – 25 February 2002) was an English actress well known for her bigform and who was often cast in character roles which highlighted her large physique.[1]
== Life and career ==
She was born Claire Bernice Davenport 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.[2]
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 Remington Steele, Doctor Who, Minder, George and Mildred, Robin's Nest, Fawlty Towers and at least three episodes of On the Buses among others.[3] She also made a cameo appearance in an episode of Mind Your Language.[4] Among the last of her television appearances was a 1993 episode of The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer.[5]
== Death ==
She suffered a series of strokes in the 1990s, which stopped her working. Claire Davenport died in London on 25 February 2002[3] (not 4 March as often stated), aged 68, 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	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 	
1982	Trail of the Pink Panther 	Hotel Maid 	Uncredited
1983	Screamtime 	Mrs. Harlett 	Uncredited
1983	Return of the Jedi 	Fat Dancer 	
1989	War Requiem 	Charge Sister / Britannia	
1990	Camping 	English camper 	
== Partial Television roles ==
Title 	Year	Role
Bulldog Breed 	1962	Landlady
The Rag Trade 	1963	Myrtle
Doctor Who 	1964	The Empress
Love Story 	1964	Miss Denning
Crossroads 	1964	Miss Montgomery
The Sullivan Brothers	1965	Mrs Melvin
The Baron 	1966	Anna Lubovitch
Gideon's Way 	1966	Helen
Ways with Words 	1966	Woman in restaurant
George and the Dragon	1968	Samantha
ITV Playhouse 	1968	Mrs Mosscrop
Theatre 625 	1968	Mrs Bliss
Boy meets Girl 	1968	Nurse Vileski
Armchair Theatre 	1969	Mrs Kapodis
W. Somerset Maugham 	1970	Rosa
The Other Reg Varney 	1970	Various characters
Play for Today 	1971	Nurse
The Misfit 	1971	Boris
Queenie's Castle 	1971	Glenda
Stage 2 	1972	Woman
Menace 	1972	Barmaid
On the Buses 	1973	Mrs Webb
The Song of Songs 	1973	Neighbour
Hey Brian! 	1973	Woman
Pollyanna 	1973	Mrs Spencer
Shoulder to Shoulder 	1974	Nurse Pine
Fawlty Towers 	1975	Mrs Wilson
Don't Drink The Water	1975	Bertha
Couples 	1976	Mrs Bagley
George and Mildred 	1976	Shop assistant
The Fuzz 	1977	Miss Bullock
Angels 	1978	Doreen Smith
George and Mildred 	1978	Gloria Rumbold
Mind Your Language 	1979	Eva
Metal Mickey 	1981	Cavewoman
Alice in Wonderland 	1986	The Duchess