Cherie Lunghi

Cherie Mary Lunghi (born 4 April 1952) is an English film, television, theatre actress and voice-over artist. She is known for her roles in many British dramas. Her international fame stems from her role as Guenevere in the 1981 film Excalibur. Lunghi's long list of screen, stage and TV credits include football manager Gabriella Benson in the 1990s television series The Manageress and a series of advertisements for Kenco coffee. She also competed in the 2008 series of Strictly Come Dancing.^[2] She is the mother of the actress Nathalie Lunghi.

Cherie Lunghi
Lunghi in 2015
Born	Cherie Mary Lunghi[1] (1952-04-04) 4 April 1952 (age 73) Nottingham, England
Alma mater	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama
Occupation(s)	Actress and voice-over artist
Years active	1975–present
Spouse	Ralph Lawson ​ ​ (m. 1975; div. 1976)​
Children	Nathalie Lunghi

Early life

Lunghi was born in Nottingham.^[3] Her father, Alessandro Lunghi, was Italian.^[4] She was raised by her mother, aunt and grandmother, seeing her father only occasionally. Lunghi has described herself as feeling "different" as she did not have a mother and father like other children.^{[5]: 89, 90}

Career

Educated at London's Arts Educational School,^[6] Lunghi played Hedvig in The Wild Duck ^[7] and Alice in Alice in Wonderland ^[8] on BBC radio while still at school. After graduating from Homerton College, Cambridge^{[failed verification]} and London's Central School of Speech and Drama, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in the late 1970s, taking leading roles such as Perdita, Celia, and Viola.^[6] She had a starring role in the 1979 British short film Diversion (the prototype for the 1987 U.S. film Fatal Attraction). In 1981 she landed the role of Guenevere in the film Excalibur.^[6]

She starred in the 1982 television serial Praying Mantis, based on the book (Les Mantes Religieuses) by Hubert Monteilhet. The thriller co-starred Pinkas Braun, Carmen du Sautoy, and Jonathan Pryce. In 1985 Lunghi played Michal in King David alongside Edward Woodward and Richard Gere. She also appeared alongside Robert De Niro in The Mission. Lunghi told author Paul Stenning, "It was wonderful working with him, it was extraordinary actually. He transforms right in front of you. You are aware when watching him on screen that he has transformed – he is not Robert De Niro – he is somebody else. I don't think you can learn how to do that; it's just the power of your imagination."^{[5]: 94 and 95}

In the mid-1980s, she relocated to Los Angeles for eight years, but returned to England to care for her mother. After the birth of her daughter she took various short-term parts, including playing the band members' mutual love interest in the music video for Level 42's song "Something About You". Lunghi has described how she had been working during pregnancy and was working again three months after giving birth, saying, "it was working mother guilt. I was juggling and balancing, trying to be fair to my career and to my child. Nathalie would come everywhere with me."^[5]: 95

Lunghi took on the lead role in football drama The Manageress (1989–90), and participated in the BBC adaptation of Edith Wharton's posthumously published novel, The Buccaneers (1995), as Laura Testvalley. In addition to film and television work, she appeared in a long-running advertising campaign on British television for Kenco coffee from the late 1990s onwards.

In 2006, Lunghi appeared on television in Casualty 1906, playing Matron Eva Luckes, and had a recurring guest role in the regular Casualty series as Professor Camille Windsor. In 2013, she narrated some episodes of the BBC genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are?.^[9]

Strictly Come Dancing

In 2008, she competed in the sixth series of BBC television's Strictly Come Dancing (14-week run), partnered by James Jordan.^[10] After her first dance, the Foxtrot on the Ladies Night in week two, she scored the highest points of the first two weeks (33). She beat this score with another series-best score of 35/40 for the rumba to finish week four atop the remaining 12 contestants with an average score of 34/40. The score for her third dance, the American Smooth, was an impressive 34 to maintain her average, though she slipped to 31/40 for the Paso Doble, and further to 26/40 on her fifth outing, in the Salsa. She returned to form the following week with a Waltz, scoring 36/40, and was joint first on the leaderboard.

She was voted off the competition on 16 November 2008 (week nine), losing by three votes to one in the dance-off against model Lisa Snowdon after performing a Cha-Cha-Cha.^[11] In the January/February 2009 Strictly Tour, she danced an American Smooth and a rumba with James Jordan.

Personal life

Lunghi was briefly married to South African student Ralph Lawson after the pair met while studying at London's Central School of Speech and Drama.^[4] The 1975 marriage was one of convenience so that Lawson could remain in the UK. The couple never lived together as husband and wife, instead staying in separate homes in Newcastle. Lawson moved back to South Africa two years later to take a new job.^[12] She has a daughter, Nathalie Lunghi (b. 1986), with the director Roland Joffé.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role
1980	Diversion	Erica
1981	Excalibur	Guenevere
1985	King David	Michal
	Parker	Jenny Parker
1986	The Mission	Carlotta
	Letters to an Unknown Lover	Helene
1987	Coast to Coast	Susan
1988	Intrigue	Adriana
	To Kill a Priest	Halina
1990	Ransom	Claire Stein
1993	Silent Cries	Audrey
1994	Mary Shelley's Frankenstein	Baroness Frankenstein (Victor's Mother)
1995	Jack and Sarah	Anna
1997	An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn	Myrna Smithee
2001	Back to the Secret Garden	Lady Mary Craven
2004	Viper in the Fist	Miss Chilton
2011	Love's Kitchen	Margaret
2018	Patrick	Rosemary

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	The Valiant Varneys		Episode: "The Incredible Adventures of James Rupert Varney" [13]
1967	A Pretty Row of Pretty Ribbons	The young girl	[14]
1968	Sherlock Holmes	Emily	Episode: "The Second Stain"
1969	Dr. Finlay's Casebook	Kirstie (Antonio)	Episode: "The Visitation" [15]
1973	The Brontës of Haworth	Student	Episode: "Home and Abroad" [16]
1976	Peter and the Princess	Princess	[17]
1976	Bill Brand	Alex Ferguson
1978	Edward and Mrs. Simpson	Lady Thelma Furness
	The Comedy of Errors	Ephesus Townsperson
1978	Play of the Month	Anna Danby	Episode: "Kean" [18]
1979	Prince Regent	Princess Charlotte	Episode: "Milk and Honey" [19]
1980	Festival: The Misanthrope	Celimene	[20]
1980	Armchair Thriller	Stephanie	Episode: "Dead Man's Kit"
1980	'Tis Pity She's a Whore	Annabella	[21]
1981	Tales of the Unexpected	Karen Masterson	Episode: "Death in the Morning"[22]
	The Manhood of Edward Robinson (The Agatha Christie Hour - TV series)	Lady Noreen Elliot
1981	If Winter Comes	Csöppi/Ilóna	[23]
1982	Playhouse	Emily	Episode: "Preview" [24]
1982	Oliver Twist	Nancy
	Praying Mantis	Beatrice Manceau
1982	Jackanory	Storyteller	Episodes: "Puss in Boots",[25] "Jack and the Beanstalk" [26] and "Cinderella" [27]
1983	Play of the Month	Celimene	Episode: "The Misanthrope" [28]
1983	The Sign of Four	Mary Morstan
1984	Play for Today	Sue	Episode: "Desert of Lies" [29]
1984	Strangers and Brothers	Margaret Davidson/Eliot
	Master of the Game	Margaret Van der Merwe
	Ellis Island	Una Marbury
	Much Ado About Nothing	Beatrice
	Bones	Jenny Parker
1985	Vicious Circle	Estelle	[30]
	"Something About You" by Level 42	Love interest	Music video
1985	The Daughter-in-Law	Minnie	[31]
1986	Harem	Usta
	The Monocled Mutineer	Dorothy
1987	Screen Two	Susan	Episode: "Coast to Coast" [32]
1987	Coast to Coast	Susan
	The Lady's Not for Burning	Jennet Jourdemayne
1988	The Man Who Lived at the Ritz	Lili
1989	The Manageress	Gabriella Benson
1990	The Ruth Rendell Mysteries	Natalie Arno	Episode: "Put on by Cunning"
1991	The Strauss Dynasty	Jetti
1992	Covington Cross / Charing Cross	Lady Elizabeth
1993	A Question of Guilt	Helen West	[33]
1995	The Buccaneers	Laura Testvalley
1996	Strangers	Joan	Episode 1 of Canadian TV series
	The Canterville Ghost	Lucille Otis
	Moloney	Dr. Sarah Bateman
1998	Little White Lies	Julia
1999	Hornblower	Duchess of Wharfedale/Kitty Cobham	Episode: "The Duchess and the Devil"
	David Copperfield	Mrs Steerforth
2000	A Likeness in Stone	Merie Kirschman
2001	EastEnders	Jan Sherwood
2002	The Inspector Lynley Mysteries	Sarah Gordon	Episode: "For the Sake of Elena"
	Waking The Dead	Leah Gold	Episode: "Thin Air"
	The Seasons Alter	Titania
2003	Cutting It	Zinnia Raggitt
	Midsomer Murders	Lillian Webster	Episode: "The Green Man"
	New Tricks	Diane Loveless	Episode: "Good Work Rewarded"
2004	The Brief	Cleo Steyn
2005	Agatha Christie's Marple	Sadie Swettenham	Episode: "A Murder is Announced"
2006	Dalziel & Pascoe	Kay Miclean	Episode: "Houdini's Ghost"
	Casualty 1906	Matron Eva Luckes
2007	Hotel Babylon	Mrs. Poldark
2007–2011	Secret Diary of a Call Girl	Stephanie	Series regular
2007–2008	Casualty	Camille Windsor	Episodes: "Inheritance", "This Mess We're In – Part One" and "This Mess We're In – Part Two"
2008	Casualty 1907	Matron Eva Luckes
	A Touch of Frost	Detective Sergeant Annie Marsh	Episode: "Dead End"
	Apparitions	Woman	Episode 6
	Strictly Come Dancing	Herself
2009	Casualty 1909	Matron Eva Luckes
2011	Lewis	Grace Orde	Episode: "The Gift of Promise"
2013	Who Do You Think You Are?	Narrator
	Pat & Cabbage	Cabbage (Jean)
	Death in Paradise	Jayne Smythe	Episode: "Death in the Clinic"
2014	Holby City	Kathy David	Episode: "Self Control"
2014	Wizards vs Aliens	Eva Starling	Episode: "The Quantum Effect"
2016	Midsomer Murders	Alexandra Monkford	Episode: "A Dying Art"
2022	Strike	Gloria Conti	Episode: "Troubled Blood"

Radio

Date	Title	Role	Director	Station
12 Mar 1965	The Raft of the Medusa [34]	Second girl	Archie Campbell	Network Three
21 Apr 1965	The Long Childhood [35]	Marilyn	Hugh Stewart	BBC Home Service Afternoon Theatre
1 Jul 1965	A Day Like Sunday [36]	Alison	Charles Lefeaux	Network Three
27 Sep 1965	The Wild Duck [7]	Hedvig	Charles Lefeaux	BBC Home Service
26 Jan 1966	Quiet Wedding [37]	Miranda Bute	David H. Godfrey	Light Programme Midweek Theatre
28 Feb 1966	The Turn of the Screw [38]	Flora	John Tydeman	BBC Home Service
13 Apr 1966	The Monument [39]	Fanny's children	Douglas Cleverdon	Network Three
23 May 1966	International Couriers: The Kidnappers [40]	Judith Carroway	David H Godfrey	Light Programme
26 Jul 1966 – 13 Sep 1966	The Dark Rising [41]	Mary Durban	David H. Godfrey	Light Programme
20 Feb 1967	Ye Daughters of Jerusalem [42]	Debbie Hudson	Charles Lefeaux	BBC Home Service
29 Apr 1967	When Sam was King [43]	Gail Fleming	Brian Miller	BBC Home Service Saturday-Night Theatre
30 Jan 1969	Kittens Are Brave [44]	Barbara Shiplake	Charles Lefeaux	BBC Radio 3
25 Dec 1969	Alice's Adventures in Wonderland [8]	Alice	Charles Lefeaux	BBC Radio 4
6 Jun 1972	Golden Ring on my Finger [45]	Clara	Richard Keen	BBC Radio 4
31 May 1975	Blood Sport [46][47]	Lynnie Keeble	David H. Godfrey	BBC Radio 4 Saturday-Night Theatre
7 Oct 1975	Lost Yer Tongue? [48]	Janet	Tony Cliff	BBC Radio 3 Drama Now
4 Apr 1986 – 11 Apr 1986	Joyous Days in the Desert [49]	Janet Ross	Brian Miller	BBC Radio 4
21 Sep 1986	Six Characters in Search of an Author [50]	the Step-daughter	Walter Acosta	BBC Radio 4 & BBC World Service
30 Jul 1988	Peter Ibbetson [51]	Mary Duchess of Towers	Brian Miller	BBC Radio 4 Saturday-Night Theatre

Theatre

Her stage credits include:^[52]

Date	Title	Role	Director	Company / Theatre
25 October 1972 – 27 October 1972	The Country Wife	Alithea	David Terence	Royal Central School of Speech and Drama / Embassy Theatre, London [53][54]
26 December 1974 – 1975	Canterbury Tales	Nun	Roger Chapman	Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse [55]
30 January 1975 –	She Stoops to Conquer	Miss Kate Hardcastle	Robert Knights	Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse [56]
20 March 1975 –	Major Barbara	Sarah	Prunella Scales	Nottingham Playhouse Company / Nottingham Playhouse [57]
1975	Teeth 'n' Smiles	Laura		English Stage Company / Royal Court Theatre, London
5 April 1976 – 1977	Much Ado About Nothing	Hero	John Barton	Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon [58]
10 March 1977 – 7 April 1977				Royal Shakespeare Company / Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne [59]
29 June 1977 –				Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre, London [60]
28 September 1976 –	Destiny	Liz and Carol	Ron Daniels	Royal Shakespeare Company / The Other Place, Stratford-on-Avon [61]
29 March 1977 – 9 April 1977				Royal Shakespeare Company / Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle-upon-Tyne [62]
10 May 1977 –				Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre, London [63]
17 January 1977 –	The Boy Friend	Maisie	Gillian Lynne	Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon [64]
25 March 1977 – 2 April 1977	The Phoenix and the Turtle	Roberta	Peter Stevenson	Gulbenkian Studio, Newcastle-upon-Tyne [65]
1 June 1976 –	The Winter's Tale	Perdita	John Barton	Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon [66]
1 November 1977 –	The Days of the Commune	Genevieve	Howard Davies	Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre [67]
26 July 1977 – 1977	That Good Between Us	Rhoda	Barry Kyle	Royal Shakespeare Company / Warehouse Theatre, London [68]
3 August 1977 –	Bandits	Madeline and Pat	Howard Davies	Royal Shakespeare Company / Warehouse Theatre [69]
2 May 1977 –	King Lear	Cordelia	Trevor Nunn	Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre [70]
15 September 1978 – 1978	As You Like It	Celia	John Caird Trevor Nunn	Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre [71]
21 December 1978 – 1979	Saratoga	Lucy Carter	Ronald Eyre	Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre [72]
12 June 1979 – 1980	Twelfth Night	Viola	Terry Hands	Royal Shakespeare Company / Royal Shakespeare Theatre [73]
11 March 1980 –				Royal Shakespeare Company / Theatre Royal, Newcastle upon Tyne [74]
11 April 1980 –				Royal Shakespeare Company / Aldwych Theatre [75]
7 May 1982 –	Uncle Vanya	Yelena Andreyevna	Michael Bogdanov	National Theatre Company / Lyttelton Theatre, London [76]
14 January 1987 –	Holiday	Julia Seton	Lindsay Anderson	Old Vic, London [77]
3 January 1990 – 1991	The Homecoming	Ruth	Peter Hall	Comedy Theatre, London [78]
21 June 2000 – 9 September 2000	Passion Play	Eleanor	Michael Grandage	Comedy Theatre, London [79]