Patricia Brake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patricia Brake | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Patricia Ann Brake 25 June 1942 |
| Died | 28 May 2022 (aged 79) |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1960–2020 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Patricia Ann Kennedy (25 June 1942 – 28 May 2022), better known by her stage name Patricia Brake, was an English actress. Her credits include Lorna Doone (1963), The Ugliest Girl in Town (1968-1969), My Lover, My Son (1970), The Optimists of Nine Elms (1973), Emmerdale (1975), Nicholas Nickleby (1977), A Sharp Intake of Breath (1977), EastEnders (2004), and Coronation Street (2005-2006). She was most notable for her role as Ingrid Fletcher, eldest daughter of Norman Stanley Fletcher, in the BBC sitcom Porridge (1974-1977), and its sequel Going Straight (1978), and for starring as Gwen Lockhead in 128 episodes of Eldorado (1992-1993).
Brake was born in Bath on 25 June 1942, the daughter of Victor Brake, a butcher, and Doreen Brake (née Wilkey). She was educated at the City of Bath Girls' School,[1] and beginning at age 16, she trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School,[1] before joining the Salisbury Playhouse for two years, from 1960 to 1961.[1][2] She moved then to Harrogate for a year, where she was a member of the White Rose Players.[1]
Career
She joined the Royal Shakespeare Company where (among other roles) she played Hermia in a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Peter Hall, which also featured Judi Dench, Diana Rigg, Ian Richardson and Ian Holm.[3] This was followed by a period in the West End.[2]
She began appearing on television in such series as Lorna Doone (1963),[4] The Ugliest Girl in Town (1968-1969),[4] Nicholas Nickleby (1977),[4] and A Sharp Intake of Breath (1977) with David Jason,[4] and also had film roles in My Lover, My Son (1970),[4] The Optimists of Nine Elms (1973).[4]
Brake played Ingrid Fletcher, the daughter of Norman Stanley Fletcher, in the BBC sitcom Porridge (1974-1977),[5] and its sequel Going Straight (1978).[5] In 2015, she guest-starred in the BBC ongoing drama Casualty and in Midsomer Murders for ITV.[4]
Alongside her extensive body of work in West End theatres, she also appeared in UK soaps Emmerdale (1975),[4] EastEnders (2004),[4] Coronation Street (2005-2006),[4] and starred in 128 episodes of Eldorado (1992-1993).[4]
