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Fay Compton
ACTOR

Fay Compton

Known for Othello · Laughter in Paradise · Maigret

From Wikipedia Fay Compton CBE (18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978) was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her elder sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century theatrical luminary Henry Compton. Author Compton Mackenzie was her elder…

Snapshot 2026-10-16

Born
Sep 18, 1894
Died
Dec 12, 1978
Birthplace
Fulham, London, England, UK
Known For
Acting

Biography

From Wikipedia

Fay Compton CBE (18 September 1894 – 12 December 1978) was an English actress from a notable acting lineage; her father was actor/manager Edward Compton; her mother, Virginia Bateman, was a distinguished member of the profession, as were her elder sister, the actress Viola Compton, and her uncles and aunts. Her grandfather was the 19th-century theatrical luminary Henry Compton. Author Compton Mackenzie was her elder brother.

Compton's film work is not as well known as her stage appearances. She appeared in more than forty films between 1914 and 1970. Her most popular performances in films are Odd Man Out (1947), Laughter in Paradise (1951), Orson Welles' Othello (1952), The Haunting (1963) and I Start Counting (1969).

Among her television performances, she appeared in 1965 with Michael Hordern in the television play, Land of My Dreams by Clive Exton. One of her last major roles was as Aunt Ann in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of The Forsyte Saga. She had a successful career in the radio, television and gramophone recordings.

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Known For

Filmography

Movies

A Woman of No ImportanceRachel Arbuthnot
1921
TO
The Old Wives' TaleSophie Barnes
1921
A Bill of DivorcementMargaret Fairfield
1922
DO
Diana of the CrosswaysDiana
1922
TH
The House of PerilSylvia Bailey
1922
Claude DuvalDuchess Frances
1924
TE
The Eleventh CommandmentRuth Barchester
1924
The Loves of Mary, Queen of ScotsMary Stuart
1924
SO
Settled Out of CourtThe Woman
1925
TH
The Happy EndingMildred Craddock
1925
LL
London LoveSally Hope
1927
Robinson CrusoeSophie
1927
Somehow GoodRosalind Nightingale
1927
Fashions in LoveMarie de Remy
1929
Cape ForlornEileen Kell
1931
Tell EnglandMrs. Doe
1931
Uneasy VirtueDorothy Rendell
1931
Autumn CrocusJenny Grey
1934
Waltzes from ViennaCountess Helga von Stahl
1934
The Mill on the FlossMrs. Tulliver
1937
So This Is LondonLady Worthing
1939
The Prime MinisterQueen Victoria
1941
Odd Man OutRosie
1947
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas NicklebyMme. Mantalini
1947
Esther WatersMrs. Barfield
1948
London Belongs to MeMrs. Josser
1948
The Forbidden StreetMrs. Culver
1949
BlackmailedMrs. Christopher
1951
Laughter in ParadiseAgnes Russell
1951
OthelloEmilia
1951
Lady PossessedMme. Brune
1952
The VanquishedMrs. Pinkerton
1953
Aunt ClaraGladys Smith
1954
DoublecrossAlice Pascoe
1956
The Story of Esther CostelloMother Superior
1957
Town on TrialMrs. Crowley
1957
The HauntingMrs. Sanderson
1963
Uncle VanyaMarya, the mother
1963
I Start CountingMrs. Bennett
1970
The Virgin and the GypsyGrandma
1970

Television

Armchair Theatre1 eps
1956
Armchair TheatreAngelica · 1 eps
1956
Armchair TheatreVictoria · 1 eps
1956
NN
Nicholas Nickleby2 eps
1957
No Hiding Place3 eps
1959
Maigret1 eps
1960
SP
Story ParadeMiss Babbage · 1 eps
1964
KO
Knock on Any DoorHester Warren · 1 eps
1965
S
SanctuarySister Juliana · 26 eps
1967
The Forsyte Saga'Aunt Ann' Forsyte · 5 eps
1967
Cold Comfort FarmAunt Ada Doom (Starkadder) · 3 eps
1968
Journey to the UnknownQueen Victoria · 1 eps
1968
Dombey and SonMrs. Brown · 13 eps
1969

Photos

Fay Compton photo
Fay Compton photo
Fay Compton photo
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