Katharine Blake (actress)

Katharine Blake (11 September 1921 – 1 March 1991) was a British actress, born in South Africa with an extensive career in television and films. She was married to director Charles Jarrott. She had two daughters, each by different fathers, Jenny Kastner (Nee Jacobs), with her first husband, actor Anthony Jacobs (father of Martin Jameson, Matthew Jacobs and Amanda Jacobs), and Lindy Greene, with her second husband, actor/director David Greene. She was estranged from both daughters at the time of her death.

Blake won the BAFTA for Best Actress for her work in television in 1964. In 1969/1970 she played the character Chris Nourse in first an episode of Public Eye and then in Armchair Theatre's Wednesday's Child; one of the first lesbian love affairs to be seen on UK television. Blake replaced Googie Withers as the Prison Governor in the ITV series Within These Walls in 1977, but only appeared in one season, leaving the role due to ill health.

Selected filmography

 * Trottie True (1949) – Ruby Rubarto (uncredited)
 * Assassin for Hire (1951) – Maria Riccardi
 * The Dark Light (1951) – Linda
 * Hunted (1952) – Waitress
 * Saturday Island (1952) – Nurse
 * Hammer the Toff (1952) – Janet Lord
 * Now That April's Here (1958) – Hilda Adams (segment "The Rejected One")
 * Edgar Wallace Mysteries (episode: To Have and to Hold - Claudia (1963) – (Working Title: BFI: 'Sleep Long, My Love')
 * Anne of the Thousand Days (1969) – Elizabeth Boleyn

Selected television

 * 1948: Wuthering Heights - Cathy
 * 1961: The Avengers – Dr. Ampara Alvarez Sandoval
 * 1962: Sir Francis Drake – The Dark Lady
 * 1962: Maigret – Mado
 * 1963: The Saint – Rosemary Chase
 * 1967: The Baron – Madame Nicharos
 * 1969: Public Eye – ('My Life's my Own', episode) - Mrs. Chris Nourse (broadcast 20th. Aug., UK)
 * 1971: Paul Temple – Drucilla Ardrey
 * 1972: The Shadow of the Tower – Signora Cabot
 * 1972: No Exit – Claire Dufort
 * 1959–1973: Armchair Theatre – Sylvia Forsyth / Chris Nourse / Hilary / Marie / Carla Melini / Doris Binstead
 * 1974: Crown Court – Irene Rutland - (' The Woman Least Likely ', episode)
 * 1976: Within These Walls – Prison Governess — Helen Forrester