Brenda De Banzie

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 Man Who Knew Too Much

as Lucy Drayton

The Pink Panther

as Angela Dunning

The Dam Busters

as Waitress (uncredited)

Hobson's Choice

as Maggie Hobson

Come September

as Margaret Allison

The Purple Plain

as Miss McNab

The Entertainer

as Phoebe Rice

The 39 Steps

as Nellie Lumsden

A Kid for Two Farthings

as Lady Ruby

Too Many Crooks

as Lucy Gordon