Alexandra Lendon Bastedo (9 March 1946 – 12 January 2014) was a British actress, best known for her role as secret agent Sharron Macready in the 1968 British espionage/science fiction adventure series '' The Champions''. Bastedo was a vegetarian and

animal welfare Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...

advocate, and wrote a number of books on both subjects.

Early life

Bastedo was born in Hove, England. Her mother (Liberiana Dorina Rescagliova 1917–2001) was of French, German and Italian descent, while her Canadian-born father (Gilbert Lendon Bastedo 1915–1985) was of Spanish, Dutch, Scottish and native American extraction. She attended

Brighton and Hove High School Brighton Girls, formerly Brighton and Hove High School, is an independent day school for girls aged 4 to 18 in the city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England. Brighton Girls GDST is ISI rated ‘Excellent’. The school was founded in 1876 ...

and Brighton School of Drama.

Professional career

Bastedo made her film debut as one of the title characters in William Castle's poorly received ''

13 Frightened Girls ''13 Frightened Girls'' (also known as ''The Candy Web'') is a 1963 Pathécolor Cold War spy film directed and produced by William Castle. Kathy Dunn stars as a teenage sleuth who finds herself embroiled in international espionage. Castle, who ...

'' (1963). She gained attention on the European continent, earning her the nickname, "La Bastedo". One of her first appearances in popular culture was in the 1966 film '' Doctor in Clover'' where she appears as a young nurse dancing with Sir Lancelot at a party (a non-speaking role). Although most familiar to viewers of 1960s TV as Sharron Macready in '' The Champions'', she was also known for her language skills, speaking Italian, Spanish, French and German. This ability brought her to the attention of

10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along wi ...

, where she was employed to assist with translations, and landed her the role of co-presenter of

Miss World Miss World is the oldest existing international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951. Since his death in 2000, Morley's widow, Julia Morley, has co-chaired the pageant. Along with Miss Universe, Miss Int ...

competitions with Peter Marshall in the 1980s. In 1979, she played in the series ''

The Aphrodite Inheritance ''The Aphrodite Inheritance'' is a BBC television series broadcast in 1979. The eight-part serial, written by Michael J. Bird, followed his previous successful Mediterranean-set series '' The Lotus Eaters'' and ''Who Pays the Ferryman?''. Where ...

''. In 1988, Bastedo was the cover star for '' Rank'', a live album by British band The Smiths that charted at number 2 on the UK Albums Chart. In 1992, she appeared in "Fat" – the second broadcast episode of '' Absolutely Fabulous'', playing a 1960s model associate of Edina and Patsy. She was seen in two episodes of '' The Saint'' series, alongside

Roger Moore Sir Roger George Moore (14 October 192723 May 2017) was an English actor. He was the third actor to portray fictional British secret agent James Bond in the Eon Productions film series, playing the character in seven feature films between 19 ...

. In 2006, Bastedo was reunited for the first time with her co-stars from '' The Champions'' to provide commentaries and an interview for a DVD release of the show. Still working as an actress, she appeared in '' Batman Begins'', and touring theatres in 2006 with a production of ''Beyond Reasonable Doubt'' alongside

Leslie Grantham Leslie Michael Grantham (30 April 1947 – 15 June 2018) was an English actor, best known for his role as "Dirty" Den Watts in the BBC soap opera ''EastEnders''. He was a convicted murderer, having served 10 years for the killing of a West Germ ...

and Simon Ward. In 2008, she joined the cast of ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the Ea ...

'', playing Cynthia. In January 2008, she appeared as co-presenter (with Ed Stewart) of "The Magic of Mantovani" at

Lighthouse A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of physical structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses and to serve as a beacon for navigational aid, for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways. Lighthouses mar ...

, Poole. The success of this concert led, the following year, to a second concert at the same venue, with the

Mantovani Orchestra Annunzio Paolo Mantovani (; 15 November 1905 – 29 March 1980) was an Anglo-Italian conductor, composer and light orchestra-styled entertainer with a cascading strings musical signature. The book ''British Hit Singles & Albums'' stat ...

, which she again co-presented.

Personal life

Bastedo dated

David Frost Sir David Paradine Frost (7 April 1939 – 31 August 2013) was a British television host, journalist, comedian and writer. He rose to prominence during the satire boom in the United Kingdom when he was chosen to host the satirical programme ' ...

and

Omar Sharif Omar Sharif ( ar, عمر الشريف ; born Michel Yusef Dimitri Chalhoub , 10 April 193210 July 2015) was an Egyptian actor, generally regarded as one of his country's greatest male film stars. He began his career in his native country in the ...

, but turned down the advances of

Steve McQueen Terrence Stephen McQueen (March 24, 1930November 7, 1980) was an American actor. His antihero persona, emphasized during the height of the counterculture of the 1960s, made him a top box-office draw for his films of the late 1950s, 1960s, and 1 ...

who, she recalled, propositioned her with the line, "My wife doesn't understand me". In the case of Sharif, the liaison lasted only a few weeks because of the actor's bridge-playing, his odd hours and the fact that he took telephone numbers from other women.

Mike Tomkies Mike Tomkies (25 May 1928 – 6 October 2016), known as ''The Wilderness Man'', was a British author covering subjects such as natural history, biography and fiction, a naturalist and filmmaker who has inspired thousands with his brutally hone ...

, the Fleet Street journalist who abandoned the life of a celebrity reporter to live alone in the wilderness, lived with her for a while in Canada, and they talked of marriage, but she was prohibited from marrying by a contract for ''The Champions'' (1968 to 69). He said that she was the "most stunningly beautiful creature" he had ever seen. In 1980, at Chichester Cathedral, Bastedo married Patrick Garland,"Patrick Garland, theatre producer and director, dies aged 78"
BBC News, 20 April 2013 a director, writer and actor; he became a long-serving director of the Chichester Festival Theatre. Bastedo wrote a memoir, ''Beware Dobermanns, Donkeys and Ducks'', as well as several books on caring for cats and dogs. Her husband died on 19 April 2013.

Animal welfare

Bastedo was a vegetarian and the founder of Alexandra Bastedo Champions (ABC) Animal Sanctuary. In an interview for the BBC television series ''Where Are They Now?'' Bastedo provided a glimpse into her private life. She used to be the president of her local RSPCA branch but gave up her position in 2008, to dedicate more time to her fast-growing animal sanctuary at her home in West Chiltington, West Sussex. A journalist who interviewed her husband in 2010 described their domestic surroundings: She was also a patron to a number of animal welfare organisations including

Compassion in World Farming Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) is a campaigning and lobbying animal welfare organisation. It campaigns against the live export of animals, certain methods of livestock slaughter, and all systems of factory farming. It has received celebr ...

, Wildlife Aid Foundation,

National Animal Welfare Trust The National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) is an animal welfare Charitable organisation, charity founded in 1971, which operates rescue and rehoming centres for companion animals. It has branches in Watford, Berkshire, Essex, Bedfordshire and Cornw ...

, Greyhounds in Need and Naturewatch.

Death

Bastedo died of breast cancer on 12 January 2014, aged 67, in a hospital in Worthing, England. She was buried next to her husband Patrick Garland at St Mary's Church,

Sullington Sullington is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Storrington and Sullington, in the Horsham district of West Sussex, England. The village lies on the A283 road west of the A24 road, 20 miles (32 km) south of Horsham. In ...

, West Sussex. The service was conducted by her local vicar and friend, Revd Derek Spencer, who had overseen the funeral of her husband Patrick less than one year earlier.

Bibliography

* Alexandra Bastedo, ''Beware Dobermanns, Donkeys and Ducks'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 1998) * Alexandra Bastedo and Jeannie Kemnitzer, ''Canine Care and Cuisine: The Healthy Dog Book'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 2000) * Alexandra Bastedo and Jeannie Kemnitzer, ''The Healthy Cat Book: Feline Care and Cuisine'' (Parkwest: Robson Books, 2000)

Filmography

* ''

'' (aka ''The Candy Web'') (1963) – Alex * '' The Liquidator'' (1965) – Radio Operator (uncredited) * '' Doctor in Clover'' (1966) – Nurse at Party (uncredited) * '' That Riviera Touch'' (1966) – Girl at Roulette Table * '' Casino Royale'' (1967) – Meg * '' Wedding Night'' (1970) – Gloria – Girl Friend * ''

My Lover, My Son ''My Lover, My Son'' is a 1970 American-British coproduction drama film directed by John Newland. It tells the story of a mother played by Romy Schneider clinging to her maturing son. The film is based on Edward Grierson Edward Grierson (9 Ma ...

'' (1970) – Cicely Clarkson * '' This, That and the Other'' (1970) – Angie * ''The Kashmiri Run'' (1970) - Henrietta Fleming * '' The Blood Spattered Bride'' (1972) – Mircalla Karstein * ''I Hate My Body'' (1974) – Leda Schmidt * '' The Ghoul'' (1975) – Angela * ''El Clan de los Nazarenos'' (1975) – Arima * ''Tu dios y mi infierno'' (1976) – Liselotte * '' Find the Lady'' (1976) – Victoria * ''The Man Inside'' (1976, TV movie) – Joan Lytton * ''La Gioconda está triste'' (1977) * ''El Mirón'' (1977) – Elena – wife * ''Cabo de vara'' (1978) - Lola * ''Stigma'' (1980) – Anna * ''

A Choice of Two ''A Choice of Two'' ( French: ''Il faut choisir'') is a 1981 Canadian film written by Robert A. Duncan and directed by John Howe. It stars Alexandra Bastedo, Mavor Moore, and Leslie Nielsen. Plot The film stars Moore as a corporate chairman who ...

'' (1981) * '' Draw!'' (1984, TV movie) – Bess, Harry's Girlfriend in Bell City / member of acting troupe * ''La veritat oculta'' (1987) – Agnes / Chiromancer * ''The Byzantine Cat'' (2002) - Barbara * '' Batman Begins'' (2005) – Gotham Society Dame

Television

* ''

The Count of Monte Cristo ''The Count of Monte Cristo'' (french: Le Comte de Monte-Cristo) is an adventure novel written by French author Alexandre Dumas (''père'') completed in 1844. It is one of the author's more popular works, along with ''The Three Musketeers''. Li ...

'' (TV series, 1964) – Renée de Saint-Méran * ''

The Scales of Justice ''The Scales of Justice'' was a series of thirteen British cinema featurettes produced between 1962 and 1967 for Anglo-Amalgamated at Merton Park Studios in London. The first nine episodes were made in black and white, the last four in colour. ...

'' (episode ''The Haunted Man'', 1966) – Laura * '' The Wednesday Play'' (1966) (TV) – The Girl * '' The Saint'' (episode " The Counterfeit Countess", 1967) – Mireille / Joan Vendel * '' The Champions'' (TV series, 1968–69) – Sharron Macready * '' Call My Bluff'' as herself, 4 episodes (1969-1975) * '' Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased)'' (episode " Whoever Heard of a Ghost Dying?", 1969) – Carol Latimer * ''Codename'' (1970) (TV series) – Diana Dalzell * '' From a Bird's Eye View'' (episode "Sicillian Affair", 1970) – Lisa Vespucci * '' The Starlost'' (TV series, 1973), episode 11 "The Astrometrics" * ''

'' (miniseries, 1979) – Helene * ''

Magnolia Blossom ''Magnolia'' is a large genus of about 210 to 340The number of species in the genus ''Magnolia'' depends on the taxonomic view that one takes up. Recent molecular and morphology (biology), morphological research shows that former genera ''Talaum ...

by Agatha Christie, 1982 - Clare Hamilton * ''Legend of the Champions'' (TV, 1983) – Sharron Macready * '' Absolutely Fabulous'' (episode "Fat", 1992) – Penny Caspar-Moore * ''

'' (2008–2009) – Cynthia (final television appearance)

Radio

* ''Halloween Party'' by Agatha Christie, BBC radio 1993 * ''Five Little Pigs'' by Agatha Christie, BBC radio 1994 * ''Elephants Can Remember'' by Agatha Christie, dramatised by Michael Bakewell, BBC radio 2006

References

External links

Official Alexandra Bastedo Champions Animal Sanctuary site
*
Selected performances in Bristol University Theatre Archive
in The Independent by Marcus Williamson {{DEFAULTSORT:Bastedo, Alexandra 1946 births 2014 deaths 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses Actresses from Sussex Animal welfare workers Keepers of animal sanctuaries Deaths from cancer in England English film actresses English people of Canadian descent English people of Dutch descent English people of French descent English people of German descent English people of Italian descent English people of Scottish descent English people of Spanish descent English soap opera actresses English television actresses People educated at Brighton and Hove High School People from Hove People from West Chiltington 20th-century British businesspeople