Nicola Pagett
Nicola Mary Pagett Scott (15 June 1945 – 3 March 2021), known professionally as Nicola Pagett, was a British actress. She is known for her role as Elizabeth Bellamy in the 1970s TV drama series "Upstairs, Downstairs" (1971–73) as well as being one of the leads in the sitcom "Ain't Misbehavin'" (1994–95). Her film appearances include "Anne of the Thousand Days" (1969), "" (1973), "Operation Daybreak" (1975), "Privates on Parade" (1982) and "An Awfully Big Adventure" (1995). Early life. Born in Cairo, Egypt, Nicola Pagett spent most of her childhood out of Britain—in Hong Kong, Cyprus and Japan , the family moving with her father who worked for a major oil company. She was educated at Saint Maur International School, in Yokohama, Japan. In 1962 Pagett entered Britain's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she studied for two years. Career. In 1964, Pagett appeared in several productions with Worthing Repertory Company and the Glasgow Citizen's Theatre.. Then her performance in the television play "The Girl in the Picture" caught the attention of Sir Robert Helpmann who cast her to tour with Vivien Leigh in the stage play "La Contessa". In 1965, she appeared in the Incorporated Television  Company (ITC) production of "Gideon's Way", episode 10, "How to Retire without Really Working" in an uncredited role as girl at railway station. Also in 1965, under the name Nicola Paget, she appeared in "Gideon's Way" series 1 episode 15 called "The Alibi Man". She also appeared in the British TV series, "Danger Man", in an episode called 'The Mirror's New'. She appeared in episode 13 of "The Persuaders!" After starring as Florence Maybrick in an episode of "Wicked Women", she appeared as Elizabeth Bellamy in the British series "Upstairs, Downstairs". This was followed in 1975 by  an appearance in the British television police drama, "The Sweeney". Pagett appeared in the episode "Stoppo Driver" in which she played the character of Sara Prince, part of a family of criminals involved in the kidnap of the wife of Detective Constable Brian Cooney, a Flying Squad driver. In May 1976, she appeared as Bella Manningham in "Gas Light" at the Criterion Theatre, London, with Peter Vaughan and Anton Rodgers. She played the title role in the 1977 BBC adaptation of "Anna Karenina" and gave a memorable performance in David Nobbs's TV series "A Bit of a Do". She  appeared in films such as "The Viking Queen" (1967), "Some Like It Sexy" (1969), "Anne of the Thousand Days" (1969), "There's a Girl in My Soup" (1970), "" (1973), "Operation Daybreak" (1975), "Oliver's Story" (1978), "Privates on Parade" (1982) and "An Awfully Big Adventure" (1995). She appeared in leading roles (as the young Irish bride Conor) in the 1980 Australian mini-series "The Timeless Land" and in the 1994 to 1995 sitcom "Ain't Misbehavin'". Personal life. Pagett married actor/writer Graham Swannell in 1975. They had one daughter, Eve. The couple divorced in 1997. Pagett was diagnosed with  bipolar disorder in 1997 after becoming obsessed with the then prime minister's chief press secretary Alastair Campbell. She relates in her book "Diamonds Behind My Eyes" that she later recovered. Pagett died on 3 March 2021, aged 75, after suffering from a brain tumour.