Sally Thomsett

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Sally Thomsett
Born (1950-04-03) 3 April 1950 (age 73)
Sussex, England
Years active 1964-76
Spouse(s) Paul Agnew

Sally Thomsett (born 3 April 1950) is an English actress who was born in Sussex, England. She is best known for featuring in the film The Railway Children (1970), and for playing Jo in the TV sitcom, Man About the House (1973–76). She also appeared in the film, Straw Dogs (1971), where she played a young girl accidentally killed by the mentally handicapped character.

The Railway Children

In 1970, Thomsett was cast as the 11-year-old Phyllis, despite the actress being 20 years old at the time, three years older than Jenny Agutter, who played her older sister, Bobbie. Her contract forbade her to reveal her true age during the making of the film, and she was not allowed to be seen smoking, drinking, driving her car, or in the company of her boyfriend during the shoot.[1][2] She did have experience of playing girls, and the Edwardian smocks disguised her bust. Even the film crew were unaware of her age, and they gave her sweets while treating Agutter as nearly an adult.[3] She did, however, make an appearance on BBC children's television shortly after, where the interviewer said, "I wouldn't dream of asking a lady her age, but you're obviously quite a bit older than the part you played in the film". She received a nomination for the BAFTA Film Award for Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.

Personal life

For three years, in the 1970s, Thomsett dated fellow actor Richard O'Sullivan, at the time her co-star in Man About The House.[4] She is married to Paul Agnew, a landscape gardener; they have one child, Charlotte Agnew.[5]

Filmography

  • Seventy Deadly Pills (1964)
  • Danny the Dragon (1967)
  • Take Three Girls (1969-70 TV series)
  • The Railway Children (1970)
  • Softly Softly: Task Force (1970 TV series)
  • Wicked Women' (1970 TV series)
  • Z Cars (1970 TV series)
  • Shirley's World (1971 TV series)
  • Doomwatch (1971 TV series)
  • The Fenn Street Gang (1971 TV series)
  • Straw Dogs (1971)
  • Baxter! (1973)
  • Man About the House (1973 TV series)

References

  1. The 100 Greatest Family Films, Granada Television (2005)
  2. Article on the film, The Guardian, 22 March 2010
  3. "How we made The Railway Children", The Guardian, G2 page 19, 7 May 2013
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links