Francoise Pascal
Encyclopedia
Françoise Pascal is an actress/model who was born to French
Mauritian
parents; Mauritius
was then a colony of the United Kingdom
. She is best known for her comedy role in the British sitcom Mind Your Language
(1977–79).
. She had two minor film roles in 1968, but her breakthrough role was playing Paola in There's a Girl in My Soup
(1970) with Peter Sellers
. She also appeared in Penthouse
magazine in 1970. She went on to do the 1971 black comedy Burke & Hare
, playing Marie. In 1974, she appeared in another Sellers' film, Soft Beds, Hard Battles
. After that appearance, she moved to France where she starred in such films as Si tu n'en veux pas (French Undressing, 1974). In 1972 the producer of the Jean Rollin
's horror film La Rose de Fer
offered her the lead in the film, although she was not Rollin's choice. Her performance won rave reviews but the film was not a success. She later appeared in Rollin's Les Raisins de la Mort
(1978). Meanwhile, by 1976 she had returned to England to star in Keep It Up Downstairs
alongside Diana Dors
, Jack Wild
and William Russell
.
Her first television work came in October 1971 with a role in Coronation Street
, playing Ray Langton's friend. Then came two roles in BBC's Play of the Month
anthology strand Tennessee Williams
' Summer & Smoke (1972) with Lee Remick
and The Adventures of Don Quixote (1973) with Rex Harrison
. She did numerous guest starring appearances in many television comedy series including My Honourable Mrs (1975) with Derek Nimmo
, Happy Ever After (1976) with Terry Scott
, and the game show Blankety Blank, hosted by Terry Wogan, all for the BBC. She co-starred in an episode of the thriller You're On Your Own starring Denis Quilley
, also for the BBC.
In the mid 1970s, she met comedy writer Vince Powell
at Thames Television
while co-starring on one of his TV comedy shows, Rule Britannia! Later, she learned that he was writing the part of Danielle Favre for her in his sitcom Mind Your Language. She did three seasons of the show. She then commenced on a stage career with Happy Birthday (reuniting with Frazer Hines
), and starred in a pantomime of Aladdin. Pascal left for the United States in 1982, where she had a two year contract in The Young and The Restless
. Other shows she appeared in while in Hollywood included Gavillan, My Man Adam, and Lightning, the White Stallion. Her stage presence in Twelfth Night as Olivia won her rave reviews.
Whilst in Hollywood she lived for two years with the lead singer Tim Hauser
of The Manhattan Transfer
. She returned to England in 1987 where she has been an advocate for the disadvantaged, whether children, or the elderly.
On 4 December 2010, she joined Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood at Claygate Village Christmas Lights where she joined the guitarist in turning on the village lights and singing a solo of Silent Night
.
She will be resuming her acting career in January 2011 in a comedy film for the first time in 20 years. She has written her autobiography, Mind Your Language...Please, to be published later this year.
* Autobiography Information, Register for information on Francoise Pascal's Autobiography to be published soon - 2011
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Mauritian
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
parents; Mauritius
Mauritius
Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...
was then a colony of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. She is best known for her comedy role in the British sitcom Mind Your Language
Mind Your Language
Mind Your Language is a British comedy television series, that premiered on ITV in late 1977. Produced by LWT and directed by Stuart Allen, it is set in an adult education college in London and focuses on the English as a Foreign Language class taught by Mr. Jeremy Brown, portrayed by Barry Evans,...
(1977–79).
Career
She had her start in show business in London as a dancer for Top of the PopsTop of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. She had two minor film roles in 1968, but her breakthrough role was playing Paola in There's a Girl in My Soup
There's a Girl in My Soup
There's a Girl in My Soup is a 1970 British comedy film, directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. Sellers appears as Robert Danvers, a vain, womanizing and wealthy host of a high-profile cooking show...
(1970) with Peter Sellers
Peter Sellers
Richard Henry Sellers, CBE , known as Peter Sellers, was a British comedian and actor. Perhaps best known as Chief Inspector Clouseau in The Pink Panther film series, he is also notable for playing three different characters in Dr...
. She also appeared in Penthouse
Penthouse (magazine)
Penthouse, a men's magazine founded by Bob Guccione, combines urban lifestyle articles and softcore pornographic pictorials that, in the 1990s, evolved into hardcore. Penthouse is owned by FriendFinder Network. formerly known as General Media, Inc. whose parent company was Penthouse International...
magazine in 1970. She went on to do the 1971 black comedy Burke & Hare
Burke and Hare (film)
Burke and Hare is a British black comedy film, loosely based on the Burke and Hare murders. Directed by John Landis, the film stars Simon Pegg and Andy Serkis as William Burke and William Hare respectively. It was Landis's first feature film release in twelve years, the last being 1998's Susan's...
, playing Marie. In 1974, she appeared in another Sellers' film, Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Soft Beds, Hard Battles
Soft Beds, Hard Battles is a 1974 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting, and starring Peter Sellers....
. After that appearance, she moved to France where she starred in such films as Si tu n'en veux pas (French Undressing, 1974). In 1972 the producer of the Jean Rollin
Jean Rollin
Jean Michel Rollin Roth Le Gentil was a French film director, actor, and novelist best known for his films in the fantastique genre such as the vampire film Le Viol du Vampire and the first French gore film Les Raisins de la Mort .-Early life:Jean Rollin was born in Neuilly-sur-Seine , France to...
's horror film La Rose de Fer
La Rose de Fer
La Rose de Fer is a 1972 film directed by Jean Rollin, it is his first film not to feature vampires, a theme for which he is best known. It still features all the dream-like qualities associated with his films.-Plot:...
offered her the lead in the film, although she was not Rollin's choice. Her performance won rave reviews but the film was not a success. She later appeared in Rollin's Les Raisins de la Mort
Les Raisins de la Mort
Les Raisins de La Mort , is a 1978 French horror film directed by Jean Rollin. It centres on a young woman who becomes trapped in a village where a dangerous pesticide has turned the residents into zombies.-Plot:...
(1978). Meanwhile, by 1976 she had returned to England to star in Keep It Up Downstairs
Keep It Up Downstairs
Keep It Up Downstairs is a 1976 British comedy film directed by Robert Young and starring Diana Dors, Jack Wild and William Rushton. The film depicts the adventures of the inhabitants of Cockshute Castle.-Cast:* Diana Dors ... Daisy Dureneck...
alongside Diana Dors
Diana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
, Jack Wild
Jack Wild
Jack Wild was a British actor who is best remembered for his performances in both stage and screen productions of the Lionel Bart musical Oliver! with Ron Moody, Shani Wallis, and Oliver Reed. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the age of 16 for the role of the...
and William Russell
William Russell
-Kingdom of England:* William Russell , Bishop of Sodor and Man from 1348 to 1374* Sir William Russell, 1st Baronet, of Chippenham , English MP for Windsor...
.
Her first television work came in October 1971 with a role in Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, playing Ray Langton's friend. Then came two roles in BBC's Play of the Month
Play of the Month
Play of the Month is a BBC television anthology series featuring productions of classic and contemporary stage plays which were usually broadcast on BBC1. Each production featured a different work, often using prominent British stage actors in the leading roles...
anthology strand Tennessee Williams
Tennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
' Summer & Smoke (1972) with Lee Remick
Lee Remick
Lee Ann Remick was an American film and television actress. Among her best-known films are Anatomy of a Murder , Days of Wine and Roses , and The Omen .-Early life:...
and The Adventures of Don Quixote (1973) with Rex Harrison
Rex Harrison
Sir Reginald Carey “Rex” Harrison was an English actor of stage and screen. Harrison won an Academy Award and two Tony Awards.-Youth and stage career:...
. She did numerous guest starring appearances in many television comedy series including My Honourable Mrs (1975) with Derek Nimmo
Derek Nimmo
Derek Robert Nimmo was an English character actor. He was particularly associated with upper-class "silly-ass" roles, and clerical roles.-Career:...
, Happy Ever After (1976) with Terry Scott
Terry Scott
Owen John "Terry" Scott was an English actor and comedian who appeared in seven Carry On films. He also appeared in BBC1's popular domestic sitcom Terry and June with June Whitfield...
, and the game show Blankety Blank, hosted by Terry Wogan, all for the BBC. She co-starred in an episode of the thriller You're On Your Own starring Denis Quilley
Denis Quilley
Denis Clifford Quilley OBE was an English theatre, television and film actor who was long associated with the Royal National Theatre....
, also for the BBC.
In the mid 1970s, she met comedy writer Vince Powell
Vince Powell
Vince Powell was a British television writer.Powell was born as Vincent Smith to Roman Catholic parents in Miles Platting, Manchester. When he was five, his mother died; two years later, his father remarried...
at Thames Television
Thames Television
Thames Television was a licensee of the British ITV television network, covering London and parts of the surrounding counties on weekdays from 30 July 1968 until 31 December 1992....
while co-starring on one of his TV comedy shows, Rule Britannia! Later, she learned that he was writing the part of Danielle Favre for her in his sitcom Mind Your Language. She did three seasons of the show. She then commenced on a stage career with Happy Birthday (reuniting with Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines is an English actor best known for his roles as Jamie McCrimmon in Doctor Who and Joe Sugden in Emmerdale. Hines was born in Horsforth, a civil parish of Leeds.-Acting career:...
), and starred in a pantomime of Aladdin. Pascal left for the United States in 1982, where she had a two year contract in The Young and The Restless
The Young and the Restless
The Young and the Restless is an American television soap opera created by William J. Bell and Lee Phillip Bell for CBS. The show is set in a fictional Wisconsin town called Genoa City, which is unlike and unrelated to the real life village of the same name, Genoa City, Wisconsin...
. Other shows she appeared in while in Hollywood included Gavillan, My Man Adam, and Lightning, the White Stallion. Her stage presence in Twelfth Night as Olivia won her rave reviews.
Personal life
She lived with film actor Richard Johnson for eleven turbulent years, which ended in 1980. They never married: "We are both free spirits so there are no hurdles in the way of our relationship except marriage itself" Francoise Pascal said. A son Nicholas was born in 1976.Whilst in Hollywood she lived for two years with the lead singer Tim Hauser
Tim Hauser
Tim Hauser is an accomplished singer who was a member of the vocal group The Manhattan Transfer.-Early life:He was born in Troy, New York. Hauser, his sister Fayette, and their parents moved to the Jersey Shore when he was seven years old. He lived in Ocean Township, New Jersey and Asbury Park,...
of The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer
The Manhattan Transfer is an American vocal music group. There have been two manifestations of the group, with Tim Hauser being the only person to be part of both...
. She returned to England in 1987 where she has been an advocate for the disadvantaged, whether children, or the elderly.
On 4 December 2010, she joined Rolling Stones guitarist Ronnie Wood at Claygate Village Christmas Lights where she joined the guitarist in turning on the village lights and singing a solo of Silent Night
Silent Night
"Silent Night" is a popular Christmas carol. The original lyrics of the song "Stille Nacht" were written in Oberndorf bei Salzburg, Austria, by the priest Father Joseph Mohr and the melody was composed by the Austrian headmaster Franz Xaver Gruber...
.
She will be resuming her acting career in January 2011 in a comedy film for the first time in 20 years. She has written her autobiography, Mind Your Language...Please, to be published later this year.
Further reading
- Simon Sheridan, Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema (Reynolds & Hearn Books) (third edition) 2007
* Autobiography Information, Register for information on Francoise Pascal's Autobiography to be published soon - 2011