Susan Hampshire

Best known to American audiences for her portrayal of sturdy upper crust Brits on public TV imports, Susan Hampshire was a celebrated British actress of stage, screen and TV, mostly in her native land. American audiences came to know her through such serials as "The Forsyte Saga" (PBS, 1969-70), in which she was Fleur, the stalwart member of a merchant family, "The First Churchills" (PBS, 1971), in which she was Sarah, the focused member of the Duke of Marlborough's clan, and as Becky Sharpe in the TV rendition of "Vanity Fair" (PBS, 1972). She won Emmy Awards for all three portrayals, and is also remembered as Agnes Wickfield in the "David Copperfield" adaptation shown on NBC in 1970. Additionally, Hampshire was the outspoken Glencora in "The Pallisers" (PBS, 1977), a series about a Victorian family with political leanings.