Francesca Annis, a renowned English actress, has been active in the entertainment industry for an impressive seven decades, showcasing her remarkable talent in films, television shows, and theater productions. Born on May 14, 1945, in London, just six days after V-E Day, Annis is the daughter of Lester, an English father, and Mariquita (also known as Mara Purcell),a mother of Brazilian-French heritage.
As a young child, Annis lived in Brazil with her family from the age of one to seven, during which time she learned to speak Portuguese, the official language of the country. Educated at a convent school, Annis initially dreamed of becoming a nun, but she later pursued her passion for the performing arts by training as a ballet dancer and studying drama at the Corona Theatre School.
A talented and versatile actress, Annis began her acting career in the 1950s, taking on small roles before gradually moving on to more significant parts. Her extensive experience in the entertainment industry has led her to become a member of the prestigious Royal Shakespeare Company.
Some of Annis's most notable roles include her portrayal of Lady Macbeth in Roman Polanski's 1971 adaptation of Macbeth, which featured a notorious nude sleepwalking scene, and her role as Lady Jessica, the mother of Kyle MacLachlan's character Paul Atreides, in David Lynch's 1984 film adaptation of Frank Herbert's classic novel Dune.
Annis has received numerous accolades for her outstanding performances, including the British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 1979 for her portrayal of Lily Langtry in the miniseries Lillie. She has also appeared alongside James Warwick as the husband-and-wife detective duo Tommy and Tuppence Beresford in the television series Partners in Crime, and as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the television movie Onassis: The Richest Man in the World.
