Penny Downie is an Australian actress who dedicated more than three decades of her life to the entertainment industry. She has been working as an actress especially in the United Kingdom since the early 1980s. Penny has appeared in several films and television series. She is most famously known for her role as Phoebe Maybury in The Ice House.
Early Life
Penny was born in 1954 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. There is not much information about her parents. Penny went to a high school in Australia. She completed her education in Australia and decided to take up an acting career at a very young age. She was a student of theatre director, Joan Whalley and did her training at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), Sydney. Penny began her career in Australia. She joined the Twelfth Night Theatre and Brisbane Art Theatre.
Penny Downie Career
Penny started acting in Australian theatres. After graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Art she started acting in soap operas. Penny made her television debut in 1976 in soap opera Bellbird. Later she appeared in Television series such as The Sullivans, Prisoner, and Learned Friends. Penny moved to the United Kingdom in the early 1980s. She continued acting in television series in the UK.
She appeared as Dee Rogers in one episode of ‘If Money Be the Food of Love, Play On’ in 1984. In 1991, Penny was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress award for her role of Marianne in Scenes from a Marriage. Further she got many other opportunities to work in television shows. She has acted in Inspector Morse, Kavanagh QC, New Tricks, The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, and Spooks.
Penny was also an associate artist with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She has played the role of Lady Anne in Richard III production and Hermione and Petrida in The Winter’s Tale. Penny acted in both the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Hamlet and its television adaptation in 2009. She played the role of Gertrude. In 2009 she was seen in the Clint Eastwood film Invictus as Mrs.Pienaar.
She appeared in the Father Brown episode ‘The Bride of Christ’ as Rev Mother Augustine and in an episode of Suspects as Fiona. She was seen in the famous show Downtown Abbey as Lady Sinderby. Meanwhile she has also acted in stage dramas. In 2013 she played the lead role in the play A Storm in a Flower Vase. The play is based on the life of Constance Spry. Most recently she has played the reoccurring role of Alice the Duchess of Gloucester in the series The Crown.
Penny Downie Biography |
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| Real Name | Penny Downie |
| Birth Date | 1954 |
| Age (as of 2023) | 69 Years |
| Birth Place | Brisbane, Australia |
| Profession | Actress |
| College | NIDA – National Institute of Dramatic Art |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Physical Statistics |
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| Height | in feet inches – 5’ 6” – in Centimeters – 168 cm |
| Weight | in Kilograms – 60 kg – in Pounds – 132 lbs |
| Hair Color | Blonde |
| Eye Color | Brown |
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Family |
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| Father | – |
| Mother | – |
| Sister | – |
| Brother | – |
Relationship Status |
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| Marital Status | In a relationship |
| Affair? | – |
| Who is her husband/partner? | Nick Dear |
Personal Life
Penny has not shared much information about her personal life with social media. She is reportedly dating Nick Dear. It is not clear whether the two are married or not. She has kept her personal life private.
Penny Downie Net worth
Penny has been working as an actress for more than four decades. She has played several supporting roles in many films and television series. She has also acted in stage dramas. Her estimated net worth is USD $2 million approx.
Trivia
- Penny has always faked her English accent.
- Her favourite hobby is dancing.
- She once played a role of a prostitute in a Television series.