Eleanor Bron, a talented actress, writer, and performer, was born in 1938 in Stanmore, London, to a family of Eastern European Jewish descent. Her father, Sidney Bronstein, was a music publisher, and her brothers, Gerry and another, pursued careers in the entertainment industry. Eleanor was educated at the North London Collegiate School and Newnham College, Cambridge.
She began her career in comedy, sharing the stage with Peter Cook in a Cambridge Footlights revue, "The Last Laugh," in 1959. This led to a plethora of comedy offers, writing and performing satires and spoofs on radio and TV from the late 1960s on. Her notable works include "Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life," "World in Ferment," "Where Was Spring," "Beyond a Joke," and "After That, This."
Eleanor made her film debut in the Beatles' second feature film, "Help!" (1965),and went on to appear in prominent roles in "Alfie" (1966),"Two for the Road" (1967),"Bedazzled" (1967),and "A Touch of Love" (1969). Her performances in "Women in Love" (1969) and "The National Health" (1973) showcased her versatility as an actress.
Eleanor's work in TV was also notable, with appearances in "Absolutely Fabulous" (1992),"The Day Christ Died" (1980),and "The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank" (1988). Her feature film output in later years included "The House of Mirth" (2000),"The Heart of Me" (2002),"Love's Brother" (2004),and "Wimbledon" (2004).
Throughout her career, Eleanor maintained close ties with the classical and contemporary stage, performing in numerous plays, including "The Doctor's Dilemma," "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie," "Major Barbara," "Hedda Gabler," and "A Little Princess." She has also written several books, including "Life and Other Punctures," "The Pillow Book of Eleanor Bron, or An Actress Despairs," and "Double Take" (1996).
Eleanor is the widow of architect Cedric Price, whom she married and had no children with. She has continued to work in the entertainment industry, appearing in various stage productions and writing her own one-woman shows, including "On My Own" and "Desdemona: If You Had Only Spoken."
