Louisa Rix | |
|---|---|
| Born | Louisa MacGregor Rix 2 February 1955 Kensington, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, interior designer |
| Years active | 1970s–2012 (acting) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2, including Jolyon |
Louisa MacGregor Rix (born 2 February 1955) is a former actress of theatre, film and television, and interior designer. She is perhaps best known for her role as "Mum" in the BBC sketch series, Harry Enfield & Chums, and its spin-off film, Kevin and Perry Go Large.
Early life
Rix was born in Kensington, London to actors Brian Rix[1] and Elspet Gray.[2] She has one sister and two brothers, one of which is children's author, Jamie Rix.[3] She studied drama at LAMDA and acted for many years on TV and in the theatre.
Career
Rix gained early theatre experience at the Nottingham Playhouse while Richard Eyre was the artistic director, and in Peter Cheeseman's company at Stoke-on-Trent. Her subsequent West End appearances included roles in How the Other Half Loves and Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn; The Pocket Dream by Sandi Toksvig & Elly Brewer; and Whose Life is it Anyway? by Brian Clark, as well as several productions at the National Theatre.
Rix is known for playing Kevin the teenager's mum (Mrs Patterson)[4] in the TV series Harry Enfield and Chums, and in the movie Kevin & Perry Go Large. For Granada Television she co-starred with Tim Bentinck in Made In Heaven. She played Mel Smith's girlfriend in two series of Colin's Sandwich[5] and starred in two series of Side By Side, both for the BBC. In Brookside she performed with Anna Friel as the solicitor representing the Jordache family in the 'body under the patio' storyline. She played the vocally-challenged night club singer Melody Lane in a feature-length Coronation Street special with the QEII as the location. One of her final acting roles was as the Home Secretary in The Execution of Gary Glitter.
Having originally studied art before she went to drama school, Rix retired from acting to pursue her passion for design. Since 2012, she has run the interior design company Forbes Rix Designs with her business partner Natalie Forbes.
Personal life
In 1980, Rix married actor Jonathan Coy, with whom she has two children, Charlotte and Jolyon Coy. Charlotte Elizabeth (born 1983) is married to Tom Mison. Jolyon is married to Blanche Schofield, daughter of David Schofield and Lally Percy. Rix and Coy divorced in 1990. She married writer Richard Ommanney in 1994.
Louisa's elder sister Shelley was born with Down's Syndrome. From the date of her birth onward, her father, actor Brian Rix, promoted awareness and understanding of learning difficulties. Shelley died in 2005. Their brother Jamie Rix is a television producer and an author of children's books, while their other brother, Jonty Rix, is a Professor of Participation and Learning Support at the Open University and author of the rites-of-passage novel Some Hope.[6] Their paternal aunt, Sheila Mercier, played Annie Sugden in Emmerdale Farm for over 20 years.
Rix is a member of the House Committee at Denville Hall and a Trustee.[7]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | A Roof Over My Head | Maureen | Series 1, Episodes 1, 3 & 9 (recurring) |
| 1978 | Breakaway Girls | Sally Wharton | Series 1, Episode 4 (guest) |
| 1978 | Coronation Street | Carole Gordon | Episodes 1853, 1854, 1855 & 1856 (guest) |
| 1979 | Danger UXB | Angie | Series 1, Episodes 2 & 3 (guest) |
| 1979 | Kids | Jenny Bramley | Series 1, Episode 9 (guest) |
| 1980 | The Professionals | Judy Shaw | Series 4, Episode 13 (guest) |
| 1981 | Goodbye Darling | Beth | Series 1, Episode 5 (guest) |
| 1981 | A Fine Romance | Ann | Series 1, Episode 6 (guest) |
| 1983 | Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime | Mary Chilcott | Series 1, Episode 3 (guest) |
| 1987 | Alas Smith & Jones | Series 4, Episodes 2 & 3 (guest) | |
| 1988 | French and Saunders | Woman in Shower | Series 2, Episode 2 (guest) |
| 1988 | Paris by Midnight | Nurse | Feature film |
| 1988–89 | Colin's Sandwich | Jenny Anderson | Series 1 & 2 (regular, 12 episodes) |
| 1989 | The Return of Shelley | Donna | Series 2, Episode 2 (guest) |
| 1990 | Made in Heaven | Helen Nicholson | Miniseries (regular, 4 episodes) |
| 1991 | Second Thoughts | Hilary | Series 1, Episode 4 (guest) |
| 1991 | Boon | Diana Fawley | Series 6, Episode 3 (guest) |
| 1992–93 | Side by Side | Gilly Bell | Series 1 & 2 (regular, 13 episodes) |
| 1993 | Harry | Margaret Clarke | Series 1, Episodes 11 & 12 (guest) |
| 1994 | The Detectives | Mrs. Sharpe | Series 2, Episode 6 (guest) |
| 1994 | Brookside | Alison Dicks | Episodes 1597 & 1600 (guest) |
| 1994–97 | Harry Enfield and Chums | Mum | Series 1 & 2 (supporting, 13 episodes) |
| 1995 | Coronation Street: The Feature Length Special | Melody Lane | Video |
| 1997 | Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... | Wife | Series 2, Episode 4 (guest) |
| 1999 | Harry Enfield Presents Kevin's Guide to Being a Teenager | Mum | Video |
| 2000 | Kevin & Perry Go Large | Mum | Feature film |
| 2000 | Always and Everyone | Belinda | Series 2, Episode 9 (guest) |
| 2009 | Doctors | Cynthia Robertson | Series 11, Episode 70 (guest) |
| 2009 | The Execution of Gary Glitter | Valerie Clarke | TV movie |
| 2010 | Miranda | Jennifer | Series 2, Episode 6 (guest) |
| 2010 | Come Fly with Me | Posh Lady | Series 1, Episode 2 (guest) |
References
- ↑ Barker, Dennis; Brindle, David (21 August 2016). "Lord Rix obituary". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ↑ Barker, Dennis (19 February 2013). "Elspet Gray obituary". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ↑ "Who is this man?". jamierix.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ↑ "Kevin & Perry go large". Cine Image. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ↑ "Colin's Sandwich". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
- ↑ "The Open University".
- ↑ "Denvillehall". Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
External links
- Louisa Rix at IMDb