Joan Blackham

Joan Blackham (15 May 1946 – 6 September 2020) was a British actress known for her extensive career in stage, film, and television. She attended The Alice Ottley School in Worcester and later became the head of Carroll House. Blackham studied at the New College of Speech and Drama in London and also with the Open University. In addition to her acting work, she was a board member of Women in Film and Television UK and co-produced script-reading sessions for its Writers' Group. Some of her notable stage roles include Brenda Hulse/Lady Cravenshire in Calendar Girls, Mrs. Reed/Mrs. Fairfax in Jane Eyre, and Lady Townley in The Man of Mode. On screen, she appeared in films such as Return to Waterloo, Keep the Aspidistra Flying, and Bridget Jones's Diary.