Janet Davies (actress)

Janet Davies (born 14 September1927 in Wakefield - died 22 September 1986) was an English actress.

Davies's father, a solicitor, died in his early thirties, and as a result she was sent to boarding school. She started training as a solicitor but left and qualified as a shorthand typist instead. She worked as a secretary at the BBC for two years, assigned to programmes including "Dick Barton" before eventually moving into repertory in 1948, appearing at Leatherhead, Watford, Shrewsbury, Bedford and Northampton.

She is mainly remembered for her role as Mrs. Pike in the television series "Dad's Army". She also featured in a number of television and film roles including "Dixon of Dock Green", "The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin", "All Creatures Great and Small", "Z Cars", "The Citadel", as well as in the film "Under Milk Wood". Davies was upset that she did not appear in the 1971 film version of "Dad’s Army" (in which her character was played by Liz Fraser).

When she wasn't acting, Davies exploited her typing and shorthand training by working with various theatrical agencies. Nearing the end of her life, she became notable for making generous donations to various parish charities, earning for herself the title "generous Janet" Fact|date=May 2007. She was married to the actor Ian Gardiner, who was best known for having played Reginald Molehusband in a Central Office of Information public information film in the 1960s. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4733518.stm Article on BBC News Magazine.] Retrieved 8 October 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0203773/ Janet Davies at The Internet Movie Database]