Jane Asher

Jane Asher (born 5 April 1946) is an English actress, author and entrepreneur, who achieved early fame as a child actress, and has worked extensively instage, film and TV throughout her career.

She has appeared in TV shows and films such as ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ (1964), ‘Alfie’ (1966), ‘Deep End’ (1970), ‘The Mistress’ (1985–1987), ‘Crossroads’ (2001–2003), ‘Death at a Funeral’ (2007) and ‘The Old Guys’ (2009-). She is also known for supplying specialist cakes and kitchenware, as well as publishing three bestselling novels.

Asher was the middle of three children born to Richard Alan John and Margaret Asher, née Eliot, in Willesden, North West London. Her father was a consultant in blood and mental diseases at the Central Middlesex Hospital, as well as being a broadcaster and the author of notable medical articles. Asher’s mother was a professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Asher attended Queen’s College in Harley Street, London and is the elder sister of Clare Asher, a radio actress and school inspector. Asher’s elder brother is record producer Peter Asher, of Peter and Gordon.

She was a key figure of 1960s show-business society as the fiancée of Paul McCartney. Asher met the illustrator Gerald Scarfe in 1971, and they married ten years later. They have three children, daughter actress Katie Scarfe (born April 17, 1974), and sons Alex Scarfe (born December 1981) and Rory (born 1984).

Current & Upcoming productions

Lady Catherine Champion-Cheney, The Circle 29^th April – 17^th June 2023, Orange Tree Theatre, Richmond.

Past productions

Carlotta Gray, A Song at Twilight, Theatre Royal Bath Productions 13^th February – 13^th April 2019, Festival Theatre, Malvern, Theatre Royal, Bath, and other locations.
Greek Chorus, Orpheus – The Mythical 23^rd – 31^st March 2018, The Other Palace, London.
Madame Baurel, An American in Paris 1^st April 2017 – 27^th January 2018, Dominion Theatre, London.
Miss Havisham, Great Expectations 4^th March – 2^nd April 2016, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds.
Olivia Pennington, The Gathered Leaves 15^th July – 15^th August 2015, Park Theatre, London.
Claudia, Moon Tiger 17^th February – 8^th March 2014, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames, The Lowry, Salford, and other locations.
Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Pride and Prejudice 20^th June – 20^th July 2013, Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, London.
Donna Lucia D'Alvadorez, Charley’s Aunt 20^th September – 10^th November 2012, Menier Chocolate Factory, London.
Lady Bracknell, The Importance of Being Earnest 22^nd September – 30^th October 2011, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames.
Dorothy, Farewell to the Theatre 30^th September – 30^th October 2011, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames.
Sheila Broadbent, The Reluctant Debutante 9^th February – 26^th March 2011, Theatre Royal, Brighton, Richmond Theatre (London), and other locations.
The Wicked Queen, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 4^th December 2009 – 10^th January 2010, Richmond Theatre (London).
Delia, Bedroom Farce 2^nd October – 28^th November 2009, Rose Theatre, Kingston upon Thames.
Mrs Thomas, The World’s Biggest Diamond, Royal Court Theatre 28^th October – 26^th November 2005, Royal Court Theatre (Upstairs), London.
Else, Festen 23^rd September 2004 – 16^th April 2005, Lyric Theatre (Shaftesbury Ave), London.
Mrs Prentice, What the Butler Saw, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 23^rd – 28^th July 2001, Theatre Royal, Bath.
Trish Platt, House, National Theatre 29^th July – 23^rd September 2000, Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre.
Barbara, Things We Do for Love 10^th February 1998 – 30^th January 1999, Duchess Theatre, London, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, and other locations.
Alison Toop, The Shallow End 16^th February – 15^th March 1997, Duke of York’s Theatre, London.
Diana Harrington, Making It Better, Hampstead Theatre Company 11^th February – 5^th December 1992, Criterion Theatre, London, Hampstead Theatre, and other locations.
Lady Sneerwell, The School for Scandal, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company and National Theatre 12^th April – 10^th November 1990, Olivier Theatre, National Theatre.
Corinna, Henceforward…, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company October 1988 – 16^th September 1989, Vaudeville Theatre, (Strand) London and Richmond Theatre (London).
Semi-Monde, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 1987 – 1988, Royalty Theatre, Kingsway, London.
Ruth, Blithe Spirit, Avenue Productions Ltd 30^th January – 23^rd August 1986, Vaudeville Theatre, (Strand) London.
Laura Whittingham, Before the Party, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company and Oxford Playhouse Company 22^nd January – ? 1980, Apollo Theatre (Shaftesbury Avenue), London, Oxford Playhouse, and other locations.
Peter Pan, Peter Pan started December 1978, Shaftesbury Theatre (1963 – Present Day), London.
Dr Scott, Whose Life Is It Anyway?, Mermaid Theatre Trust Ltd and Ray Cooney Productions Ltd 6^th March 1978 – 27^th October 1979, Savoy Theatre, London and Mermaid Theatre, London.
Performer, To Those Born Later, National Theatre started 1^st June 1977, Cottesloe Theatre (now Dorfman Theatre), National Theatre, London.
Charlotte, Strawberry Fields, National Theatre started 31^st March 1977, Cottesloe Theatre (now Dorfman Theatre), National Theatre, London.
Ophelia, Ophelia, National Theatre and Oxford Playhouse Co. ? – 19^th November 1977, Cottesloe Theatre (now Dorfman Theatre), National Theatre, London, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, U.K., and other locations.
Ann, Treats 5^th February – ? 1976, Royal Court Theatre, London and May Fair Theatre, London.
Sally, Old Flames, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 28^th October – 15^th November 1975, New Vic, Bristol.
Fifty started 1973, Oxford Playhouse, Oxford, U.K..
Celia, The Philanthropist 15^th March – 15^th May 1971, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York.
Celia, The Philanthropist, Michael Codron and Royal Court Theatre 3^rd August 1970 – October 1973, Royal Court Theatre, London and May Fair Theatre, London.
Alison Porter, Look Back in Anger, English Stage Company 29^th October 1968 – February 1969, Royal Court Theatre, London and Criterion Theatre, London.
Lorette, Summer started 10^th July 1968, Fortune Theatre, London.
Hamlet, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 1966 – 1967, Bristol Old Vic – Tour.
Julietta, Measure for Measure, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 1966 – 11^th April 1967, Bristol Old Vic – Tour, City Centre Theatre, New York City, and other locations.
Ophelia, Hamlet, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 1966 – 15^th April 1967, Bristol Old Vic – Tour and State Fair Music Hall, Dallas, Texas, USA.
Juliet, Romeo and Juliet, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 1966 – 13^th April 1967, Bristol Old Vic – Theatre Royal, City Centre Theatre, New York City, and other locations.
Perdita, The Winter’s Tale, Edinburgh Festival Society, Piccolo Theatre Company, and Pop Theatre 22^nd August – 29^th October 1966, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh, Cambridge Theatre, London, and other locations.
Cassandra, The Trojan Women, Edinburgh Festival Society and Pop Theatre started 29^th August 1966, Assembly Hall, Edinburgh.
Young Ellen Terry, Sixty Thousand Nights, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 18^th May 1965 – 2^nd June 1966, Bristol Old Vic – Theatre Royal.
Barbara Cahoun, The Happiest Days of Your Life, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company 27^th December 1965 – 29^th January 1966, Bristol Old Vic – Theatre Royal.
Cleo, Cleo, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company November 1965 – 1966, Little Theatre, Bristol.
Estella, Great Expectations, Bristol Old Vic Theatre Company November 1965 – 1966, Little Theatre, Bristol.
Eliza Doolittle, Pygmalion, Watford Civic Theatre Trust 6^th – 17^th July 1965, Watford Palace Theatre.
Abigail, The Jew of Malta, Marlowe Theatre Company February 1964, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.
Cinderella 22^nd December 1962 – 19^th January 1963, New Theatre, Bromley.

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Jane Asher

Current & Upcoming productions

Past productions

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