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English actress (1906–1999) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aimée Delamain (21 April 1906 – 18 June 1999) was an English actress, known for spending most of her career playing elderly ladies.
Aimée Delamain | |
|---|---|
 Delamain in Never the Twain (1981) | |
| Born | Aimee Margaret Delamain 21 April 1906 |
| Died | 18 June 1999 (aged 93) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1932–1992 |
Her father, Colonel Frank Delamain was a member of King Edward VII's Bengal Lancers. Upon his retirement in 1909, the family moved to Lamberhurst, Kent.[2] Tragedy struck in 1915 when Aimée's mother Mabel (née Bullock) died of rheumatic fever and the following year her elder brother Frank Gun Delamain was killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.[3]
Brought up by relatives, she expressed a desire to act and in 1931, she graduated from RADA.[4] This was followed by playing in the provinces but when the Second World War broke out, Aimée worked as a nurse with the Voluntary Aid Detachment, later playing in an ENSA company.[2]
Theatre roles soon followed, as did film and television work, the actress being a popular choice among directors for portraying old ladies. One such director was Peter Moffatt. According to The Two Doctors DVD commentary, they had known each other since 1945 when they were both members of the same repertory company. Subsequently, he often cast her in several of his productions. Some parts were small but memorable, especially her appearance as a type of deus ex machina in Fawlty Towers episode "The Pyschiatrist", precipitating Basil Fawlty's mental breakdown. Larger roles in The Saint, Angels, Thriller and The Avengers showed her range.
Never married, Delamain moved into Denville Hall, the retirement home for actors in February 1991, retiring from acting not long afterwards. There, she spent her final years and indulged in a life-long passion for gardening.[2]
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