Deborah Makepeace (1 November 1957 – 2 February 1999) was a British television, theatre, and voiceover actress.
Biography
Prior to her acting career, she originally aspired to become a ballerina and trained at Elmhurst Ballet School in Surrey. Before to her breakout in 1973, she also auditioned for the film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971) as one of the Grand Duchesses, as well as the title role of Alice in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972).
At 14, Makepeace's debut role was as Sara Crewe in the BBC television remake of A Little Princess (1973). She was selected out of over 200 girls for this part, which was originally played by Shirley Temple in 1939. The following year she landed a minor role playing the younger Janet Suzman as Florence Nightingale in the television film Miss Nightingale (1974), which was followed by the leading role in the BBC six-part children's adventure series, The Chinese Puzzle (1974).
By 1975, she was starring in bit parts and reoccurring roles in various television productions. She played Nigel Davenport’s daughter on an adaptation of the 1928 play The Apple Cart for BBC Play of the Month, which also starred a young Helen Mirren. Makepeace also landed a reoccurring role as a student nurse on the hit BBC television series, Angels. She then appeared as Princess Helena of the United Kingdom in three episodes of the Emmy and BAFTA winning ATV costume drama series, Edward the Seventh (1975). Other television credits include Just William (1977), Penmarric (1979), Byron: A Personal Tour (1981), and Sorry (1987).
She appeared in rep at Pitlochry Festival Theatre in the 1978 season.http://special.lib.gla.ac.uk/sta/search/detaile.cfm?EID=779 She had roles in The Tempest, While the Sun Shines and The Chalk Garden. In 1984, she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Bianca in a stage production of The Taming of the Shrew.
Makepeace made her voice acting debut in 1993 for the English dub of the anime The Heroic Legend of Arislan as Elam. She would also provide voices for the English dub of Rumic World: Fire Tripper, where she provided the voice of Suzuko (credited as Cynthia Meade), and the English dub of Seiden RG Vega, which would ultimately be her final known credit.
She died from cancer on 2 February 1999. Her funeral services were held on Friday February 11, 1999 at South London Crematorium, and she was interred in Hailsham Cemetery in Hailsham, Wealden District, East Sussex, England.
Filmography
YearTitleRoleNotes1973A Little PrincessSara Crewe6 episodes1974Miss Nightingale Florence Nightingale (as a child)Television movie 1974The Chinese PuzzleAllison Frazer6 episodes 1975BBC Play of the MonthPrincess Royal AliceSeries 10, Episode 5: The Apple Cart1975Edward the SeventhPrincess Helena4 episodes 1975-76AngelsLynn Gale3 episodes 1977Just WilliamPeggy Barton 1 episode 1978Jackanory PlayhouseLilli-Tsee1 episode 1979PenmarricIsabella Clay 1 episode1981Byron: A Personal TourClaire ClairmontTelevision movie1986Rumica World: Fire TripperSuzukoEnglish dub, credited as Cynthia Meade1987Sorry!Martha1 episode1990Theater NightChorus of women from Chalics1 episode1990The Heroic Legend of ArislanElamManga UK Dub, 1 episode1992Seiden RG VedaAshuraEnglish dub
Theatre roles YearTitleRoleTheater1976EquusJill MasonWest End National Theatre1977Murder ExcludedUnknownAdeline Genne Theatre1977Peter PanWendy DarlingWest End National Theatre1977The Merchant of VeniceJessicaSt. George's Theatre1978While the Sun ShinesLady Elizabeth RandallEden Court Theater/Pitlochry Festival Theatre1978Know Your Own MindLady Belle Pitlochry Festival Theatre1978The TempestGoddessPitlochry Festival Theatre1979The Chalk GardenLaurelWest End National Theatre1979Romeo and JulietJulietSt. George's Theatre1979The Caucasian Chalk CircleUnknownPitlochry Festival Theatre1980A Normal ManUnknownTraverse Theatre Company1982King LearCordeliaSt. George's Theatre1984Taming of The ShrewBiancaSt. George's Theatre1985Henry IVLady Percy St. George's Theatre1989The CrucibleElizabeth ProctorTheatre Royal1990-91Twelfth NightFirst GentlewomanThe Peter Hall Company1992-93An Ideal HusbandLady BasildonTheatre Royal
References
External links