Brenda De Banzie

Who was Brenda De Banzie?

Brenda Doreen Mignon de Banzie was a British actress of stage and screen.

She was the daughter of Edward Thomas de Banzie, conductor and musical director, and his second wife Dorothy, whom he married in 1908. In 1911, the family lived in Salford, Lancashire.

She appeared as Maggie Hobson in the David Lean film version of Hobson's Choice with John Mills and Charles Laughton, set in Salford.

Her most notable film role was as Phoebe Rice, the hapless wife of comedian Archie Rice, in the 1960 film version of John Osborne's The Entertainer. She had also appeared on Broadway in the original play, for which she received a Tony Award nomination.

Other memorable film roles included The Man Who Knew Too Much, directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and The Pink Panther directed by Blake Edwards.