Barbara Ferris obituary | Stage
- Barbara Ferris, the British actress known for her versatility on stage and screen, has died at age 85.
- Ferris began her career after training at the Italia Conti stage school, initially working as a model and dancer.
- Her breakthrough came with roles in John Boorman’s "Catch Us if You can" (1965) and Kevin Billington’s "Interlude" (1968), where she starred opposite Oskar Werner.
Barbara Ferris, Acclaimed Stage and Screen Actress, Dies at 85
Updated June 2, 2025
Barbara Ferris, the British actress known for her versatility on stage and screen, has died at age 85. Ferris, a prominent figure in British entertainment, showcased her talent in various roles, from early television appearances to acclaimed performances in film and theatre.
Ferris began her career after training at the Italia Conti stage school, initially working as a model and dancer. Her early stage work included roles in Cole Porter’s “Can-Can” and “The Pajama Game.” She later transitioned to dramatic roles, appearing in plays by Edward Bond and david Hare at the Royal Court Theatre.
Her breakthrough came with roles in John Boorman’s “Catch Us if You can” (1965) and Kevin Billington’s “Interlude” (1968), where she starred opposite Oskar Werner. In 1966, she gained notable recognition for her role in Terence Frisby’s “There’s a Girl in My Soup,” though Goldie Hawn later played the part in the film adaptation.
In 1960, Ferris married film director and producer John Quested. By the early 1990s, Quested owned and chaired Goldcrest Films. Ferris chose to retire to raise their family and travel with her husband.
Born in London, Ferris’s early television work included “Cool for Cats” and a role as Nona Willis in “Coronation Street.” She also delivered powerful performances in plays like bond’s “Saved” and “A Chaste Maid in Cheapside.”
Ferris also appeared in David Hare’s “Slag,” John Osborne’s adaptation of “Hedda Gabler,” and Michael Frayn’s “Alphabetical Order.” Later in her career, she joined michael Rudman’s National Theatre company and starred in Stanley Price’s ”Moving” and Alan Ayckbourn’s “Season’s Greetings.”
Her later performances included roles in Richard Harris’s “Stepping Out” and neil Simon’s “Broadway Bound.” She also appeared alongside Richard Briers in the sitcom “all in Good Faith” and the film “A Chorus of Disapproval.”
Ferris’s final film role was in Peter Medak’s “the Krays” (1990). She also produced compilation shows at the King’s head in Islington, celebrating Ethel Merman and Dorothy Fields.
What’s next
ferris is survived by her husband, John Quested, and their children, Nicholas, Christopher, and Catherine. Her contributions to british theatre and film will be remembered.