Rosemary Leach

Born in 1935 in Shropshire, England, Rosemary Leach was surprised when she was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and didn't much like her time there, but that didn't stop her from pursuing her craft. She made a number of appearances on the stage before her first onscreen roles, mainly guest supporting parts on British TV series such as "Police Surgeon" (ITV, 1960). Her first series regular role came in the three part mini-series "Serjeant Musgrave's Dance" (BBC, 1965), at nearly the same time, she appeared as a series regular on the first two seasons of British series, "The Power Game" (ITV, 1965-1969). Leach was nominated for Best Actress at the 1971 BAFTA TV Awards for her performances in "Germinal" (BBC, 1970) and "The Roads to Freedom" (BBC2, 1970). She would be nominated for Best Actress BAFTA TV Awards again in 1972 (for "ITV Playhouse" (ITV, 1971) and "Cider With Rosie" (BBC, 1971), and 1974 (for "The Adventures of Don Quixote" (BBC, 1973). In 1982, Leach won the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play, for her part in "84 Charing Cross Road." Her most recognized roles came in supporting parts in the mid-1980's, on the mini-series "The Jewel in the Crown" (ITV, 1984), and the film "A Room With a View" (1985). The latter earned her a BAFTA Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Leach continued to make appearances in supporting roles, playing Queen Elizabeth II a number of times, notably in "Margaret" (BBC2, 2009), a TV movie about Margaret Thatcher's last days as Prime Minister. Leach passed away in 2017.