Gentle-mannered British character actress, the daughter of an engineer and a district nurse. Trained as a dancer at the Arts Educational School in London. Gave up a dancing career after injuring her knee and began acting in local repertory theatre. Acted on screen from 1949, and provided voices for most of the female characters in "The Goon Show" on radio (1951-60). On television, best known as housekeeper Amy Winthrop in "The Adventures of Black Beauty" (1972). From the mid-60's, also active as a playwright and screenwriter.