Early life

Down was born on 17 March 1954 and brought up in Wandsworth, London, England.^[3] She began acting and modelling, and in her teenage years won several beauty pageants. She was voted Britain's most beautiful teenager at the age of 15.^[2][3] Down left school at 15 and came to America first time at 17.^[4] In 1969, she made her feature film debut in a supporting role in the British drama sexploitation film The Smashing Bird I Used to Know.^[4]

1970s

In 1971, Down guest-starred in the British television series Six Dates with Barker, Out of the Unknown, and Public Eye. Also that year, she starred in three movies: first was Countess Dracula, a horror film based on some of the legends surrounding the Countess Elizabeth Báthory playing the role of Elisabeth's daughter.^[5] She starred in the thriller film Assault playing the role of schoolgirl who was raped on her way home from school. She also had a supporting role in the 20th Century Fox's drama film All the Right Noises. In 1972, Down starred in the historical drama film Pope Joan opposite Liv Ullmann and Olivia de Havilland. In 1973, she appeared in the Western film Scalawag starring and directed by Kirk Douglas.

In 1973, Down was cast as Georgina Worsley in the Emmy Award-winning British period drama series, Upstairs, Downstairs. She made her debut in the episode "Goodwill to All Men" in December 1973. In 1974, she appeared in the anthology horror film From Beyond the Grave and the following year had supporting role in the action thriller Brannigan. Her television appearances includes Bedtime Stories, The Sweeney and When the Boat Comes In. Her fame led to a nude photoshoot for the magazine Mayfair in 1975.^[6] Upstairs, Downstairs was her career breakthrough; after the show ended in 1975, she moved to Hollywood and began her film career.

In 1976, Down starred in the comedy film The Pink Panther Strikes Again opposite Peter Sellers. The film was released by United Artists, received positive reviews from critics and grossed $75 million worldwide.^[7] The following year she starred in the musical comedy film A Little Night Music starring opposite Elizabeth Taylor in the adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's 1973 musical of the same name.^[8] The film received mostly negative reviews.^[9][10] In 1978, Down played the leading role of burlesque artist Phyllis Dixey in the BAFTA Award-nominated made-for-television drama film, The One and Only Phyllis Dixey.^[11] She appeared in the romantic drama film The Betsy and played the female lead opposite Sean Connery in the heist comedy film The First Great Train Robbery. The latter received positive reviews from critics and Downs' performance was noted by Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times.^[12][13] Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Sutherland, as the none-too-bright locksmith, and Miss Down, who must appear in several figuratively transparent disguises, have fun with what are, in effect, character roles. The three work together beautifully."^[14] In 1979, Down starred opposite Harrison Ford in the romantic war drama film Hanover Street, it received mixed-to-positive reviews and was considered a box-office failure.^[15][16][17]

1980s

In 1980, she starred opposite Burt Reynolds in the crime comedy film Rough Cut.^[18] Gary Arnold of The Washington Post wrote: "Lesley-Anne Down often looks as ravishing as Ava Gardner in her prime. The heady sensation crated when her generous lips expand into a brilliant smile is an incidental pleasure well worth overindulging, but it would be even better if she had a role that permitted her more relaxation and confidence (and a costumer and hairdresser who consistently enhanced her beauty). The heroine's dialogue seems to have been contrived under the influence of vague recollections of Grace Kelly in "To Catch a Thief." The role affects an hauteur that doesn't become Lesley-Anne Down somehow. It also appears to tax her acting technique, which isn't nearly as sleek as Kelly's. I suspect that the very idea of presenting her as a bitchy-elegant society girl inhibits Down rather more than it flatters her. There are moments when she seems to stiffen up as severely as Kim Novak at her least secure."^[19] In 1981, Down went to star in the adventure film Sphinx directed by Franklin J. Schaffner and based on the 1979 novel of the same name by Robin Cook. Down played Egyptologist researching a paper about the chief architect to Pharaoh Seti in the movie. The film received mostly negative reviews from critics. Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote: "The performers are terrible, none more so than Mr. Langella, who is supposed to be mysterious and romantic but behaves with all of the charm of a room clerk at the Nile Hilton. Miss Down spends a good deal of her time going, Eeeeeeek! and is frequently hysterical - Egyptian room service being especially maddening. At her best, she reminds one of Jacqueline Bisset, but unlike Miss Bisset, who has survived many movies like this with her identity intact, Miss Down seems to dissolve as the film lurches on. By the end, I was sure she was Jacqueline Bisset."^[20][21]

After Sphinx, Down returned to television playing British socialite Unity Mitford in an episode of anthology series BBC2 Playhouse.^[22] The following year she starred in Agatha Christie' Murder Is Easy and played the role of Esméralda in an American production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame opposite Anthony Hopkins. In 1984, Down again starred with Anthony Hopkins, this time in the romantic war drama Arch of Triumph based on the novel Arch of Triumph by Erich Maria Remarque.^[23] Later that year, she appeared in the ABC miniseries, The Last Days of Pompeii. She also appeared onstage in Hamlet and a musical version of Great Expectations.^[24]

In 1985, Down starred as Madeline Fabray LaMotte in the ABC miniseries, North and South based on the 1980s trilogy of novels North and South by John Jakes. The following year the sequel miniseries was released. The 1985 first installment, North and South, remains the seventh-highest rated miniseries in TV history.^[25][26][27] For her performance she received positive reviews and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television in 1986.^[28] During the filming of the miniseries, Down's divorce from film director William Friedkin received wide press coverage. Allegations of adultery, drug use and violence accompanied Down and Friedkin's acrimonious battle for full custody of their son in the divorce proceedings.^[29][30] In 1986, she returned to big screen starring alongside Pierce Brosnan in the horror film Nomads written and directed by John McTiernan.^[31] In 1988 she starred in the made-for-television remake of the 1958 romantic comedy Indiscreet. The Los Angeles Times said: "The vapidity of both [lead] performances is magnified by come-hither camera shots that linger too long on their empty faces... Down has a little more flounce to the ounce, but the best she can do as a woman deceived is to fly into a deep snit. Production values evoke the silky-bland noblesse oblige that has been canonized for TV by "Dynasty" and "Knots Landing"."^[32] Also that year, Down starred alongside Marilu Henner and Susan Blakely in the crime television film Ladykillers and later appeared in Night Walk (1989).

1990s

In 1990, Down was cast as a series regular for a limited run in the CBS primetime soap opera Dallas as Stephanie Rogers. She earned a quarter of a million dollars' salary for a 10-week shoot.^[3] She starred in the unsuccessful television comedy pilot 1775 (1992) set in colonial Philadelphia during the run-up to the American Revolution.^[33] She guest-starred on the CBS series The Nanny and Diagnosis: Murder. She returned to cinema starring in the thriller film Out of Control. Down later starred in the smaller-scale films Night Trap (1993), Munchie Strikes Back (1994) In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful (1994), and The Secret Agent Club (1996). In 1994 she returned to her role as Madeline Fabray LaMotte in the ABC miniseries, Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III.^[34] The final part received mostly mixed-to-negative reception, but her appearance was noted by Variety.^[35] Also in 1994, Down starred opposite Charles Bronson in the action thriller film Death Wish V: The Face of Death, the fifth and final installment in the Death Wish film series. Death Wish V was universally panned and holds a rare 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on reviews from 5 critics.^[36] The following year she appeared in his made-for-television movie Family of Cops.^[37] In 1996, she appeared in the sword and sorcery television film Beastmaster III: The Eye of Braxus, a sequel to the 1982 film The Beastmaster.^[38]

In 1996, Aaron Spelling cast her as Olivia Richards on his new daytime soap opera, Sunset Beach. Her character was the mix of Sue Ellen Ewing and Alexis Colby of the 1980s prime time soaps.^[39] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Chief among the large cast is Lesley-Anne Down, irresistible as a hooked-on-vodka matron who may or may not have murdered her lover."^[40] In 1997, for her portrayal of Olivia, Down won the award for "Best Actress" at the Soap Opera Update Awards.^[41] The series aired on NBC from January 1997 to December 1999. During the series, Down also appeared in the Rodney Dangerfield's comedy film Meet Wally Sparks (1997), and starred in the Young Hearts Unlimited (1998), a made-for-television family comedy film directed by third husband, Don E. FauntLeRoy.^[42]

2000s—present

After the cancellation of Sunset Beach, Down appeared in films The King's Guard (2000), The Meeksville Ghost (2001) and 13th Child (2002). She starred in two Lifetime movies: The Perfect Wife (2001) and You Belong to Me (2002) based on Mary Higgins Clark's novel.^[43] In 2001, she guest-starred as Lady Sheraton in the NBC soap opera Days of Our Lives appearing in five episodes.^[44] She had cameo appearances in Don E. FauntLeRoy-directed action films Today You Die (2005) and Mercenary for Justice (2006), both starred Steven Seagal. Down wrote screenplay and starred in the 2006 comedy-drama film Seven Days of Grace. Filming began on March 17, 1996, 10 years before the eventual 2006 release of the film.^[45][46] The film was finally released to theaters on April 1, 2006. In 2003, Down was cast in another soap playing the role of Jackie Marone on The Bold and the Beautiful on CBS. She first appeared on April 1, 2003. In January 2012, Down confirmed that she would be departing the programme.^[47] Her final appearance was on February 29, 2012.

In 2011, Down appeared in the thriller film Rosewood Lane directed by Victor Salva with Rose McGowan, Ray Wise, and Lauren Vélez.^[48] She later starred in the horror film Dark House (2014), also directed by Victor Salva. She starred alongside Kirsten Vangsness in the period black-and-white comedy film Kill Me, Deadly playing dotty millionairess Lady Clairmont.^[49] The film was released in 2015.^[50] Also in 2015, Down appeared in the another Steven Seagal's action thriller, Absolution. The following year she appeared in the Lifetime movie I Am Watching You and played Jamie-Lynn Sigler' character mother in the Western film Justice.^[51] She co-starred in the Hallmark Holiday film A Cinderella Christmas in 2016.^[52] She appeared in the romantic comedy film Alex & the List in 2018 and the horror film Gates of Darkness in 2019; she co-wrote the script for the latter.^[53]

In 2020, Down moved to Atlanta, bought a ranch-styled house and announced that she had retired from acting.^[54] Despite this, Down returned to work playing British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in the upcoming biographical film Reagan starring Dennis Quaid.^[55]

Film

Television