Editing Gwyneth Powell

{{Short description|British actress (1946–2022)}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = Gwyneth Powell
| image         = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] -->
| alt           = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption       = 
| birth_name    = <!-- only use if different from name -->
| birth_date    = {{Birth date|df=yes|1946|07|05}}
| birth_place   = [[Levenshulme]], Manchester, England
| death_date    = {{death date and age|df=yes|2022|9|8|1946|7|5}}
| death_place   = [[Brighton]], East Sussex, England
| education     = [[Goldsmiths, University of London]]
| occupation    = Actress
| years_active  = 1969–2022
| television    = ''[[Grange Hill]]''
| spouse        = {{marriage|Alan Leith|1971}}
}}

'''Gwyneth Leith''' (5 July 1946 – 8 September 2022), better known by her stage name '''Gwyneth Powell''', was an English actress. She was best known for her portrayal of headmistress Bridget McClusky in the [[BBC]] television series ''[[Grange Hill]]'' for eleven series between 1981 and 1991.

==Background==
Powell was born on 5 July 1946<ref name="ThePress-Obit" /> in [[Levenshulme]], Manchester, and attended Cheadle County Grammar School for Girls, during which time she appeared to some acclaim as Fat Urs in the National Youth Theatre's production of Ben Jonson's ''Bartholemew Fair''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sansome |first1=Jessica |title=Grange Hill actress Gwyneth Powell dies aged 76 after surgery complications |url=https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/grange-hill-actress-gwyneth-powell-24999235 |access-date=13 September 2022 |work=Manchester Evening News |date=12 September 2022}}</ref> She originally trained as a teacher at [[Goldsmiths, University of London]], but instead chose to act in [[repertory theatre]].<ref name = BBC>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2006/08/15/gwyneth_powell_interview_feature.shtml |title=BBC Beds Herts and Bucks – Entertainment – School's out for Gwyneth! |publisher=BBC |accessdate=10 December 2009 }}</ref>

==Career==
Powell's first major television role was in the 1971 [[London Weekend Television|LWT]] [[dystopia]]n drama series, ''[[The Guardians (British TV series)|The Guardians]]''.<ref name="ThePress-Obit" /> She was a regular, if minor, player in many television dramas until being cast in ''Grange Hill'', in which she played the "firm but fair"<ref name = BBC/> headmistress Bridget ("The Midget") McClusky for eleven years. Of her role, she said in 2008:

{{blockquote|At first Mrs McClusky was written as a 'twin set and pearls' role but I was quite young at the time and didn't want to play it like that. We started with the clothes and she was quite fashion conscious and chic. I was told by lots of people she was a great fillip to young women teachers who started applying for headships. The show had repercussions in all kinds of ways and the character did too. My period did coincide with the [[Margaret Thatcher|Thatcher]] years. I think Mrs McClusky became memorable because we had a prime minister like that.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7231367.stm |title=  Mrs McClusky remembers her school  |accessdate=10 December 2009 | date=6 February 2008 | publisher=BBC News}}</ref>}}

Eventually, however, Powell wanted to pursue other interests and gave the ''Grange Hill'' producers and writers a year to write McClusky out of the series.<ref name = BBC/> She bought the rights to [[E. M. Delafield]]'s ''Diary of a Provincial Lady'' and adapted it as a self-financed one-woman show in [[Edinburgh]], also touring the production.<ref name = BBC/>

Powell went on to appear in other television programmes such as ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]'', ''[[A Touch of Frost]]'', ''[[Holby City]]'', ''[[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]]'' and ''[[Father Brown (1974 TV series)|Father Brown]]'', and in 2008, ''[[Moving Wallpaper/Echo Beach|Echo Beach]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.sky.com/story/grange-hill-star-gwyneth-powell-who-played-headmistress-mrs-mcclusky-dies-after-surgery-complications-12695952|title=Grange Hill star Gwyneth Powell, who played headmistress Mrs McClusky, dies after surgery complications|website=Sky News}}</ref> She played the role of a school teacher in a Victorian School Day in an episode of the [[BBC Schools]] TV series ''Watch''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/sep/12/gwyneth-powell-actor-grange-hill-dies|title=Gwyneth Powell, actor who played Grange Hill's headteacher, dies aged 76|first=P. A.|last=Media|date=12 September 2022|website=the Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metro.co.uk/2022/09/12/gwyneth-powell-dead-grange-hill-actress-dies-aged-76-17359152/|title=Grange Hill actress Gwyneth Powell dies aged 76|first=Alicia|last=Adejobi|date=12 September 2022}}</ref> In 2009, using archive footage, coupled with some newly recorded lines, Powell reprised her ''Grange Hill'' role as Mrs McClusky for a cameo appearance in an episode of ''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]'', set in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tv.sky.com/ashes-resurrects-grange-hill |title=Ashes Resurrects Grange Hill – Sky TV |publisher=Sky UK |accessdate=10 December 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091027223259/http://tv.sky.com/ashes-resurrects-grange-hill |archivedate=27 October 2009 }}</ref> She also appeared in ''[[Arsenic and Old Lace (play)|Arsenic and Old Lace]]'' at the [[Salisbury Playhouse]].<ref name = arse>{{cite web |url=http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/leisure/entertainments/4711840.Why_comedy_is_simply_the_best_form_of_theatre/ |title=Why comedy is simply the best form of theatre |work=Salisbury Journal |publisher=salisburyjournal.co.uk |accessdate=10 December 2009 }}</ref> In 2010, Powell starred as Nana in ''[[The Gemma Factor]]''. Subsequently, in 2011–2013, she became a support character in the teen programme ''[[House of Anubis]]'', playing the role of Nina Martin's gran who ends up in hospital but is later released. She featured in seven episodes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/news/grange-hill-gwyneth-powell-mrs-mcclusky-death/|title=Grange Hill legend Gwyneth Powell - known for her role as Mrs McClusky - has died at the age of 76|first=Helen|last=Fear|date=12 September 2022|website=Entertainment Daily}}</ref> In 2013 she took the role of [[Greg Davies]]' mother Polly Davies in the [[Channel 4]] comedy ''[[Man Down (TV series)|Man Down]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.channel4.com/press/news/man-down-interview-gwyneth-powell|title=Man Down - Interview with Gwyneth Powell &#124; Channel 4|website=www.channel4.com}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Powell married actor Alan Leith in 1971.<ref name = arse/> She lived in [[Hurstpierpoint]], [[West Sussex]], where she was a patron of a local drama group, the Hurstpierpoint Players.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hurstplayers.org.uk/ |title=Hurstpierpoint Players |publisher=hurstplayers.org.uk |accessdate=10 December 2009 }}</ref>

She died in [[Brighton]] on 8 September 2022, aged 76. Her death was attributed to complications following surgery for a perforated colon.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-62879845|title=Grange Hill's Mrs McClusky actress Gwyneth Powell dies aged 76|work=BBC News |date=12 September 2022}}</ref><ref name="ThePress-Obit">{{cite news|url = https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/national/21325385.grange-hill-actress-gwyneth-powell-dies-aged-76/|title = Grange Hill actress Gwyneth Powell dies aged 76|newspaper = [[The Press (York)|The Press]]|agency = [[Press Association]]|date = 12 September 2022|accessdate = 12 September 2022}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! 2022
! Grace
! Joan Talbot
! 1 episode
! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1969
| ''[[Rogues' Gallery (TV series)|Rogues' Gallery]]''
| Second Lady
| 1 episode
| rowspan="52"| <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/gwyneth-powell/credits/3000218948/|title=Gwyneth Powell|website=TVGuide.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digiguide.tv/celebrity/Gwyneth+Powell/26567/|title=Gwyneth Powell : Actress - Films, episodes and roles on digiguide.tv|website=digiguide.tv}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/prime-video/actor/Gwyneth-Powell/nm0694129/|title=Gwyneth Powell: Movies, TV, and Bio|website=www.amazon.co.uk}}</ref>
|-
| 1971
| ''[[The Guardians (British TV series)|The Guardians]]''
| Clare Weston
| 11 episodes
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Villains (TV series)|Villains]]''
| Belinda
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1972
| ''[[Z Cars]]''
| Jean Knight
| 1 episode
|-
| 1972
| ''Rest assured: Lift Off''
| Mrs Johnson
| TV film
|-
| 1973
| ''Putting on the Agony''
| Gill
| TV film
|-
| 1973
| ''ITV Sunday Knight Theatre''
| Willy
| 
|-
|1974
| ''A Raging Calm''
| Agnes Sutton
| TV mini series, 4 episodes
|-
| 1974
| ''[[Father Brown (1974 TV series)|Father Brown]]''
| Helen Smaill
| 1 episode
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Play for Today]]''
| Elvira Lewis
| 1 episode
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Public Eye (TV series)|Public Eye]]''
| Clare
| 1 episode
|-
| 1975
| ''[[Beryl's Lot]]''
| Anita
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1976
| ''Couples''
| Lynn Baker
| TV series, 6 episodes
|-
| 1972–1976
| ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]''
| Val Colebrook (1972), Mrs Regan (1972), Anne Hastings (1973), Diane Barnet (1979), Jane Mason (1976)
| TV series, 5 episodes
|-
| 1976
| ''Face of Darkness''
| Eileen
| 
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Coronation Street]]''
| Diana Kenton
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1976
| ''[[Emmerdale]]''
| Julie Croft
| Guest role
|-
| 1978
| ''[[ITV Playhouse]]''
| Doreen
| 1 episode
|-
|1978
| ''People Like Us''
| Frances Hopkins
| 5 episodes
|-
| 1978
| ''Accident''
| Betty Richards
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1978–1980
| ''[[Armchair Thriller]]''
| Woman PC (1978), Doris (1980)
| 6 episodes
|-
| 1980
| ''[[The Enigma Files]]''
| Anne Gerrard
| 1 episode
|-
| 1980
| ''Can We Get on Now, Please?''
| 
| 1 episode
|-
| 1978
| ''[[Loophole (1981 film)|Loophole]]''
| Doreen
| 
|-
| 1982
| ''[[Squadron (TV series)|Squadron]]''
| Margaret Gran
| 4 episodes
|-
| 1982, 1984
| ''[[The Gentle Touch]]''
| DI Mary Woods
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1986
| ''[[Chance in a Million]]''
| Maureen
| 1 episode
|-
| 1980–1991
| ''[[Grange Hill]]''
| Mrs McClusky
| 169 episodes
|-
| 1994
| ''[[Open Fire (British film)|Open Fire]]''
| Gloria Martin
| TV film
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Hetty Wainthropp Investigates]]''
| Marian Horner
| 1 episode
|-
| 1997
| ''[[A Touch of Frost]]''
| Kitty Rayford
| 3 episodes
|-
| 1998
| ''Magic with Everything''
| Aunt Matilda
| TV series
|-
| 1998, 2002
| ''[[Peak Practice]]''
| Annie Gibson (1998), Rose Meredith (2002)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 1999
| ''A Kind of Hush''
| Mrs P.
|
|-
| 2001, 2006
| ''[[Holby City]]''
| Jean (2001), Margaret Tanner (2006)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Back to the Secret Garden]]''
| Toby the Maid
| Film
|-
| 2003
| ''[[Family Affairs]]''
| Judge Yardley
| 1 episode
|-
| 2003, 2006
| ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]''
| Janet Armstrong (2003), Janice Wilson (2006)
| Guest roles
|-
| 2004
| ''[[Down to Earth (2000 TV series)|Down to Earth]]''
| Mrs Dean
| 1 episode
|-
| 2004, 2009
| ''[[Heartbeat (British TV series)|Heartbeat]]''
| Shirley Baxter (2004), Margaret Millwood (2009)
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2004
| ''[[The Royal]]''
| Bunty Weatherill
| 1 episode
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Emmerdale]]''
| Sophie Kidderminster
| Guest role
|-
| 2007
| ''Piccadilly Cowboy''
| Alice
| 
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Echo Beach (TV series)|Echo Beach]]''
| Ivy Trehearne
| 11 episodes
|-
| 2009
|''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]''
|Mrs McClusky
|1 episode, archive footage with newly recorded audio from Powell.
|-
| 2010
| ''[[The Gemma Factor]]''
| Nana
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Little Crackers]]''
| Headmistress
| 1 episode
|-
| 2012
| ''[[House of Anubis]]''
| Nina's Grandmother
| 7 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''[[The Matt Lucas Awards]]''
| Herself
| 1 episode
|-
| 2013
| ''[[A Touch of Cloth]]''
| Mrs McClusky
| 1 episode
|-
| 2013–2017
|''[[Man Down (TV series)|Man Down]]''
| Polly Davies<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/man_down/details/ | title = Man Down – Production Details | date = 23 August 2013 | accessdate = 2 October 2013 | publisher = [[British Comedy Guide]] | archive-date = 4 March 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205050/http://www.comedy.co.uk/guide/tv/man_down/details/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
| 19 episodes
|-
| 2014
|''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]''
|Gloria Pots
| 1 episode
|-
| 2022
|''[[Not Going Out]]''
|Nice lady
| 1 episode
| <ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/proginfo/2022/16/not-going-out | title=Not Going Out }}</ref>
|-
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0694129|name=Gwyneth Powell}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Powell, Gwyneth}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Actresses from Manchester]]
[[Category:Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:People from Hurstpierpoint]]
[[Category:People from Levenshulme]]
[[Category:20th-century English actresses]]
[[Category:21st-century English actresses]]