Barbara New Explained

Barbara New
Birthname:Barbara Helene New
Birth Date:1923 5, df=yes
Birth Place:Hammersmith, London, England[1]
Death Place:Paddington, London, England
Occupation:Actress

Barbara Helene Barrington (9 May 1923 – 24 May 2010)[2] better known by her stage and birth maiden name Barbara New was an English character actress, well known for playing Mabel the scullery maid in the David Croft sitcom You Rang, M'Lord?. Following this role, she appeared as Vera Plumtree in all twenty episodes of the BBC's final David Croft sitcom Oh, Doctor Beeching!. She had previously played smaller parts in Croft's sitcoms Dad's Army and Hi-de-Hi!.

New had a lengthy acting career, mainly in British television and played many other roles including appearances in Z-Cars, Emu's Broadcasting Company, Ripping Yarns and the silent Ronnie Barker comedy By the Sea. One of her last screen appearances was as Ali G's Nan in the 2002 film Ali G Indahouse.[3]

New also appeared in television adverts for Vicks over a twenty-year period, initially as a mother and later as a grandmother.

She was married to the actor Michael Barrington until his death in 1988.

Film and television roles

Year Title Role
1958 Pride and Prejudice Charlotte Lucas
1958 Emergency Ward 10 Mrs Clarke
1962 Fernande Steuvals
1962 Z-Cars Pet
1968 ...And Mother Makes Five Mrs James
1974 The Wednesday Play Casualty sister
1975 The Picnic The Aunt
1975 Home Office Visitor
1975 Within These Walls Prisoner
1977 The Black Panther Woman in Post Office
1977 Ripping Yarns Jehovah's Witness / Mrs Olthwaite
1973 to 1980 The Two Ronnies Various
1981 Happy Since I Met You Mum
1982 By the Sea The Aunt
1986 Bread (TV series) May's neighbour
You Rang, M'Lord? Mabel Wheeler
1996 Casualty May Davies
Oh, Doctor Beeching! Vera Plumtree
2000 Mrs Wright

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Index entry. 3 November 2010. FreeBMD. ONS.
  2. http://announcements.thetimes.co.uk/obituaries/timesonline-uk/obituary.aspx?n=barbara-helene-barrington&pid=143171285 Obituary
  3. Web site: Barbara New . https://web.archive.org/web/20161027020937/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2ba1f5ac0d . dead . 27 October 2016 .