Judy Parfitt

Judy Catherine Claire Parfitt, born on 7 November 1935 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, emerged from a modest upbringing as the daughter of Catherine Josephine (née Caulton) and Lawrence Hamilton Parfitt. After attending Notre Dame High School for Girls, she honed her craft at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1953. Parfitt’s stage debut came a year later with Fools Rush In at the Amersham Repertory Company, launching a career that would span over six decades. She quickly transitioned to screen, making her film debut in the 1950s and gaining early television fame in the BBC serial David Copperfield (1966). Notable early film work includes her portrayal of Queen Gertrude in Tony Richardson’s 1969 adaptation of Hamlet, demonstrating her versatility in both classical and contemporary roles. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s she cemented herself as a distinguished character actress, delivering memorable performances such as Mildred Layton in the acclaimed series The Jewel in the Crown (1984) – earning her first BAFTA nomination – and Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the 1980 TV adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

In later years Parfitt continued to captivate audiences with roles like Vera Donovan in Dolores Claiborne (1995) and Maria Thins in Girl with a Pearl Earring (2003), the latter securing another BAFTA nod for Best Supporting Actress. Since 2012 she has been a beloved fixture of the BBC’s Call the Midwife, embodying the frail yet indomitable Sister Monica Joan. Her television résumé also boasts appearances on The Charmings, Murder, She Wrote, ER, and Agatha Christie’s Poirot. Off‑screen, she married fellow actor Tony Steedman in 1963, with whom she had one son before his death in 2001. Parfitt’s enduring presence in theatre, film, and television underscores her reputation as one of Britain’s most respected and prolific actresses.