Wikipedia / Beatie Edney
Wikipedia / Beatie Edney
Beatrice Edney (born 23 October 1962) is an English actress. She is best known for playing Heather MacLeod in Highlander (1986), and Prudie Paynter in Poldark (2015–2019).
Early life
Born in London, she is the daughter of actress Sylvia Syms and her husband Alan Edney. Her brother is Benjamin Edney and her cousin was musician Nick Webb.
Career
Edney first came to audiences' attention as Heather MacLeod in the 1986 film Highlander, the first entry in the Highlander series. She returned to the role again in the 2000 film Highlander: Endgame.
In 1989, Edney starred as Maud in the television production of Uncle Silas with Peter O'Toole, shown as The Dark Angel in America. In 1990, she appeared in the Bruce Beresford film Mister Johnson, alongside Pierce Brosnan and Edward Woodward.
Her many television appearances include a leading role in the 1986 series Lost Empires, based on the novel by J. B. Priestley, in which she acted alongside Colin Firth. She has also appeared in episodes of a host of successful British television dramas such as Rosemary & Thyme, A Touch of Frost, Prime Suspect, Inspector Morse (and its spin-off, Lewis), Agatha Christie's Poirot (in the episodes "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" and "The Clocks") and Wallander. In 1994, Edney played the role of Louisa Gradgrind in the television adaptation of Charles Dickens' Hard Times. In 1995, she had a starring role in the Channel 4 sitcom Dressing for Breakfast.
In 2012, she played Queen Charlotte in The Madness of George III at the Apollo Theatre, London. Other stage appearances have included The Girlfriend Experience at the Royal Court. From 2015 to 2019, she played Prudie in the BBC One period drama Poldark.
Filmography
Film and television
A Day at the Beach (1970) - Winnie
Lost Empires (1986, TV series) - Nancy Ellis
Highlander (1986) - Heather MacLeod
Diary of a Mad Old Man (1987) - Simone (Marcel's daughter-in-law)
A Handful of Dust (1988) - Marjorie
Inspector Morse (1989, TV series, Episode: "The Last Enemy") - Deborah Burns
The Dark Angel (1989, TV mini-series) - Maud Ruthyn
Trouble in Paradise (1989) - Ann Kusters
Frederick Forsyth Presents: Just Another Secret (1989, TV film) - Anneliese
The Lilac Bus (1990, TV film) - Dee
Mister Johnson (1990) - Celia Rudbeck
Agatha Christie's Poirot (1990, TV series, Episode: "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" - Mary Cavendish
Hard Times (1994, TV mini-series) - Louisa Gradgrind
Mesmer (1994) - Marie Antoinette
MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday (1994, TV film) - Natalia
Prime Suspect (1995, TV series, Episode: "The Lost Child") - Susan Covington
The Affair (1995, TV film) - Esther
Thief Takers (1995–1996, TV series) - Cathy Worsley
Dressing for Breakfast (1995–1998, TV series) - Louise
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (1996, TV mini-series) - Annabella
Bloodlines: Legacy of a Lord (1998) - Kate Manning
Highlander: Endgame (2000) - Heather MacLeod
Murder Rooms: Mysteries of the Real Sherlock Holmes (2001, TV series, Episode: "The White Knight Stratagem") - Lyla Milburn
Animated Tales of the World (2002, TV series, Episode: "King Solomon & the Bee") - Queen of Sheba (voice)
A Touch of Frost (2003, TV series, Episode: "Hidden Truth") - Sheila Hadley
My Uncle Silas (2003, TV series, Episode: "The Christening") - Ellen
Messiah: The Harrowing (2005, TV mini-series) - Grace Eccleshall
Doctors (2005, TV series, Episode: "Running Free") - Laura Aherne
Rosemary & Thyme (2006, TV series, Episode: "The Gooseberry Bush") - Penelope Braxton
Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! (2006, TV film) - Joan Sims
Hotel Babylon (2007, TV series) - Louise
The Bill (2007, TV series, Episode: "Man Down" - Jessica Stamford
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008) - Mrs. Brummegan
In Your Dreams (2008) - Zoe
New Tricks (2009, TV series, Episode: "Last Laugh") - Janet Spencer
Agatha Christie's Poirot (2009, TV series, Episode: "The Clocks" - Mrs. Hemmings
Wallander (2010, TV series, Episode: "The Fifth Woman") - Adela Blomberg
Law & Order: UK (2010, TV series, Episode: "Duty of Care") - Megan Parnell
Lewis (2013, TV series, Episode: "Down Among the Fearful") - Justine Skinner
The Coroner (2015–2016, TV series) - Judith Kennedy
Year of the Rabbit (2019, TV mini-series, Episode: "Gangs") - Miss McHenry
Poldark (2015–2019, TV series) - Prudence "Prudie" Paynter
Save the Cinema (2022) - Mrs. Griffiths (Beehive Woman)
Van der Valk (2022, TV series, Episode: "Plague on Amsterdam") - Cassie Davids
Am I Being Unreasonable? (2022, TV series) - Carol
Andor (2022, TV series, Episode: "Announcement") - Judge
References
External links