Zahrah Mary Chassib Jaber (19 August 1924 – 9 October 2016) better known by her stage name Zara Nutley, was an English actress. She is best known for her roles in two television comedy series, Mind Your Language (as college principal Miss Courtney) and Never the Twain (as Aunt Eleanor).
Biography Nutley was born in Cornwall in 1924, the daughter of Stanley Jaber and Gladys Gregory, who married in 1923. She was the granddaughter of Khazʽal Ibn Jabir, the last Sultan of Mohammerah (present-day Khuzestan province, Iran).
Early in her career she was involved in amateur stage productions and subsequently repertory theatre. In the 1950s she studied and later taught at the Florence Moore Drama Studio in Hove, Sussex. Prior to 1977, she was variously billed as Zahrah, Zarah, or Zara Jaber.
In the television sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–1979 and 1986), Nutley played Dolores Courtney, the principal of an adult education college. Her character was scripted as a stern, authoritarian feminist and spinster who was detested and feared by the staff and students at the school. Her other regular television role was the final three seasons of Never the Twain (1981–1991), in which she played Donald Sinden's Aunt Eleanor.
Nutley died aged 92 in Uckfield, East Sussex, on 9 October 2016.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1995 Grange Hill Eve 1 episode 1994 Lovejoy Mrs. Addison Episode: Breaking the Broker 1993 Last of the Summer Wine Mrs. Jack Attacliffe Episode: The Black Widow 1988 Gentlemen and Players Mrs. Fothergill Episode: One for Sorrow Two for Joy 1987 Terry and June Mrs Bunce Episode: The Family Way 1986 Full House Saleslady Episode: It's in the Book 1985–1986 Victoria Wood as Seen on TV Care Home Worker / Headmistress 2 episodes 1984–1991 Never the Twain Aunt Eleanor 19 episodes 1984 Tales of the Unexpected Ann Dibbell Episode: The Mugger Bottle Boys Dr. Gardner Episode: All in a Day's Work 1980 Metal Mickey Miss Beadle Episode: Top Secret Mickey 1979 Mr. Selkie Mrs. Craine 1978 Within These Walls Nancy Episode: Mixer 1977 Spaghetti Two-Step Mrs. Danby TV film 1977–1986 Mind Your Language Miss Dolores Courtney 42 episodes 1976 Dawnbreakers Short film 1975 Prometheus: The Life of Balzac Madame du Bordello Episode: The Human Comedy 1974 Father Brown Nurse Episode: The Dagger with Wings Dial M for Murder Serafina Episode: Frame 1973 Second City Firsts Mrs. Shakespeare Episode: The Movers Jane Eyre Grace Poole 4 episodes
Notes
References
External links
Zara Nutley at the British Film Institute