Lesley-Anne Down (born 17 March 1954) is a British actress and singer. She made her motion picture debut in the 1969 drama film The Smashing Bird I Used to Know and later appeared in films Assault (1971), Countess Dracula (1971) and Pope Joan (1972). She achieved fame as Georgina Worsley in the ITV period drama series Upstairs, Downstairs (1973–75).
Down received further recognition for her performances in the films The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), A Little Night Music (1977), The First Great Train Robbery (1978), Hanover Street (1979), Rough Cut (1980), Sphinx (1981) and Nomads (1986). On television, she played the leading roles in The One and Only Phyllis Dixey (1978), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1982), Murder Is Easy (1982), and most notably starred as Madeline Fabray in one of the highest rated miniseries in TV history North and South (1985–86), for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1986.
In 1990, Down played the role Stephanie Rogers in the CBS drama series Dallas. During 1997–99, she played Olivia Richards in the NBC soap opera Sunset Beach. From April 2003 to February 2012, she portrayed Jackie Marone in the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.
Early life
Down was born on 17 March 1954 and brought up in Wandsworth, London, England. She began acting and modelling, and in her teenage years won several beauty pageants. She was voted Britain's most beautiful teenager at the age of 15. Down left school at 15 and went to America for the first time at 17. In 1969, she made her feature film debut in a supporting role in the British drama sexploitation film The Smashing Bird I Used to Know.
1970s
In 1971, Down guest-starred in the British television series Six Dates with Barker, Out of the Unknown, and Public Eye. Also that year, she starred in three movies: first was Countess Dracula, a horror film based on some of the legends surrounding the Countess Elizabeth Báthory playing the role of Elisabeth's daughter. She starred in the thriller film Assault playing the role of schoolgirl who was raped on her way home from school. She also had a supporting role in the 20th Century Fox's drama film All the Right Noises. In 1972, Down starred in the historical drama film Pope Joan opposite Liv Ullmann and Olivia de Havilland. In 1973, she appeared in the Western film Scalawag starring and directed by Kirk Douglas.
In 1973, Down was cast as Georgina Worsley in the Emmy Award-winning British period drama series Upstairs, Downstairs. She made her debut in the episode "Goodwill to All Men" in December 1973. In 1974, she appeared in the anthology horror film From Beyond the Grave and the following year had supporting role in the action thriller Brannigan. Her television appearances includes Bedtime Stories, The Sweeney and When the Boat Comes In. Her fame led to a nude photoshoot for the magazine Mayfair in 1975. Upstairs, Downstairs was her career breakthrough; after the show ended in 1975, she moved to Hollywood and began her film career.
In 1976, Down starred in the comedy film The Pink Panther Strikes Again opposite Peter Sellers. The film was released by United Artists, received positive reviews from critics and grossed $75 million worldwide. The following year she starred in the musical comedy film A Little Night Music starring opposite Elizabeth Taylor in the adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's 1973 musical of the same name. The film received mostly negative reviews. In 1978, Down played the leading role of burlesque artist Phyllis Dixey in the BAFTA Award-nominated made-for-television drama film, The One and Only Phyllis Dixey. She appeared in the romantic drama film The Betsy and played the female lead opposite Sean Connery in the heist comedy film The First Great Train Robbery. The latter received positive reviews from critics and Downs' performance was noted by Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times. Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Sutherland, as the none-too-bright locksmith, and Miss Down, who must appear in several figuratively transparent disguises, have fun with what are, in effect, character roles. The three work together beautifully." In 1979, Down starred opposite Harrison Ford in the romantic war drama film Hanover Street, it received mixed-to-positive reviews and was considered a box-office failure.
1980s
In 1980, Down starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the crime comedy film Rough Cut. Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote: "Lesley-Anne Down often looks as ravishing as Ava Gardner in her prime. The heady sensation created when her generous lips expand into a brilliant smile is an incidental pleasure well worth overindulging, but it would be even better if she had a role that permitted her more relaxation and confidence (and a costumer and hairdresser who consistently enhanced her beauty). The heroine's dialogue seems to have been contrived under the influence of vague recollections of Grace Kelly in "To Catch a Thief." The role affects an hauteur that doesn't become Lesley-Anne Down somehow. It also appears to tax her acting technique, which isn't nearly as sleek as Kelly's. I suspect that the very idea of presenting her as a bitchy-elegant society girl inhibits Down rather more than it flatters her. There are moments when she seems to stiffen up as severely as Kim Novak at her least secure." In 1981, Down went to star in the adventure film Sphinx directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Robin Cook. Down played Egyptologist researching a paper about the chief architect to Pharaoh Seti in the movie. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics. Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "The performers are terrible, none more so than Mr. Langella, who is supposed to be mysterious and romantic but behaves with all of the charm of a room clerk at the Nile Hilton. Miss Down spends a good deal of her time going, Eeeeeeek! and is frequently hysterical - Egyptian room service being especially maddening. At her best, she reminds one of Jacqueline Bisset, but unlike Miss Bisset, who has survived many movies like this with her identity intact, Miss Down seems to dissolve as the film lurches on. By the end, I was sure she was Jacqueline Bisset."
After Sphinx, Down returned to television playing British socialite Unity Mitford in an episode of anthology series BBC2 Playhouse. The following year she starred in Agatha Christie' Murder Is Easy and played the role of Esméralda in an American production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Anthony Hopkins. In 1984, Down again starred with Anthony Hopkins, this time in the romantic war drama Arch of Triumph based on the novel Arch of Triumph by Erich Maria Remarque. Later that year, she appeared in the ABC miniseries The Last Days of Pompeii. She also appeared onstage in Hamlet and a musical version of Great Expectations.
In 1985, Down starred as Madeline Fabray LaMotte in the ABC miniseries North and South based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes. The following year the sequel miniseries was released. The 1985 first installment, North and South, remains the seventh-highest rated miniseries in TV history. For her performance she received positive reviews and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television in 1986. During the filming of the miniseries, Down's divorce from film director William Friedkin received wide press coverage. Allegations of adultery, drug use and violence accompanied Down and Friedkin's acrimonious battle for full custody of their son in the divorce proceedings. In 1986, she returned to big screen starring alongside Pierce Brosnan in the horror film Nomads written and directed by John McTiernan. In 1988 she starred in the made-for-television remake of the 1958 romantic comedy Indiscreet. The Los Angeles Times said: "The vapidity of both [lead] performances is magnified by come-hither camera shots that linger too long on…