
Person
Brenda De Banzie
Acting · 1909–1981 · Manchester, England, UK
Biography
Brenda D. M. De Banzie was a British actress of stage and screen. She was the daughter of Edward De Banzie and his second wife Dorothy, whom he married in 1908. In 1911, the family lived in Salford. She appeared as Maggie Hobson in the David Lean film version of Hobson's Choice (1954) with John Mills and Charles Laughton. Her most notable film role was as Phoebe Rice, the hapless wife of comedian Archie Rice (played by Laurence Olivier), in the 1960 film version of The Entertainer. She had also appeared on Broadway in John Osborne's original play, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. Other memorable film roles were in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and The Pink Panther (1963) directed by Blake Edwards.
Known for

The Adventures of Robin Hood
Lady Geraldine Pomfret
Drama 61-67
Mrs Massingham Fox

Out of the Unknown
Mrs. Dakers

The Pink Panther
Angela Dunning

The Man Who Knew Too Much
Lucy Drayton
W. Somerset Maugham
Mrs. Albert Forrester
The Ten Commandments
Mother

Armchair Theatre
Mrs. Alden

Come September
Margaret Allison

Hobson's Choice
Maggie Hobson
Filmography
- 1987James Stewart: A Wonderful LifeSelf (archive footage)
- 1971The Ten CommandmentsMother
- 1969W. Somerset MaughamMrs. Albert Forrester
- 1967Pretty PollyMrs. Innes-Hook
- 1966Walk's EndMrs. Dakers
- 1965Out of the UnknownMrs. Dakers
- 1963The Pink PantherAngela Dunning
- 1962I Thank a FoolNurse Drew
- 1962A Pair of BriefsGladys Rose Hanley
- 1961Come SeptemberMargaret Allison
- 1961Flame in the StreetsNell Palmer
- 1961Drama 61-67Mrs Massingham Fox
- 1961The MarkGertrude Cartwright
- 1960The EntertainerPhoebe Rice
- 1959You'll Never See Me AgainMrs. Alden
- 1959The 39 StepsNellie Lumsden
- 1959Too Many CrooksLucy Gordon
- 1958Passport to ShameAggie
- 1956House of SecretsMme. Isabella Ballu
- 1956Armchair TheatreMrs. Alden
- 1956The Man Who Knew Too MuchLucy Drayton
- 1955The Adventures of Robin HoodLady Geraldine Pomfret
- 1955A Kid for Two FarthingsLady Ruby
- 1955Doctor at SeaMiss Muriel Mallet
- 1955As Long as They're HappyStella Bentley
- 1954The Happiness of Three WomenJane Price
- 1954The Purple PlainMiss McNab
- 1954What Every Woman WantsSarah Brown
- 1954Hobson's ChoiceMaggie Hobson
- 1954Don't Blame the StorkEvelyn Steele
- 1953A Day to RememberMrs. Collins
- 1953The Yellow BalloonFruit and Veg Stall Customer (uncredited)
- 1952Private InformationDolly Carson
- 1952I Believe in YouMrs. Hooker
- 1952Never Look BackMolly Wheeler
- 1951The Long Dark HallMrs Rogers
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