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Who is Pam Ferris?
British actress Pamela ‘Pam’ Ferris was born in Hanover, Lower Saxony, Allied-occupied Germany, on 11 May 1948, making Taurus her zodiac sign. She has 78 acting credits, but is perhaps still known best for portraying Trunchbull in the 1996 family fantasy comedy movie “Matilda”, which starred Danny DeVito, who also directed the film. It follows an intellectual girl who possesses psychic powers, and the movie won three of its 10 award nominations.
Pam’s still today active in the film industry and is currently working on several upcoming projects.
Education and early life
Pam was raised alongside her sister Barbara Ferris, who’s an actress and former model, in Hanover, as their father Fred Ferris was in the Royal Air Force and was stationed there; the family eventually moved to Aberkenfig, Wales where their father worked as a policeman, and their mother Ann Perkins at her family’s bakery.
Pam studied at a local high school in Aberkenfig and was mostly into acting during her time there, appearing in many plays performed at the school and a local theatre; one time, Pam travelled to Auckland, New Zealand to perform at the Mercury Theatre.
She matriculated in 1966 and then enrolled at college, from which she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in drama in 1970.
Roles in TV series
Pam’s debut TV series role was playing Puck & Fairie in the 1971 episode “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” of the drama “BBC Play of the Month”, but her following role only came in 1985, when cast to portray Nesta in all 13 episodes of the drama “Connie”, which starred Stephanie Beacham and Richard Morant, and follows Connie who was once the owner of a fashion brand.
The remainder of the ‘80s saw Pam appear in an episode or two of various series, including the drama “Ladies in Charge”, the comedy “Hardwicke House”, and the drama mini-series “Lizzie’s Pictures”.
She starred as Mrs White in six episodes of the 1992 crime game-show “Cluedo”, which also starred Richard Madeley and Chuck Foster, and features a group of celebrities competing to decide which character committed a murder after watching a short movie with clues. From 1991 through 1993, she played Ma Larkin in 20 episodes of the comedy “The Darling Buds of May”, and from 1997 through 2000, Pam portrayed Peggy Snow in 36 episodes of the drama “Where the Heart Is”, which starred Christian Cooke and Lesley Dunlop, and was created by Ashley Pharoah and Vicky Featherstone. It follows the people living in Skelthwate, and the series was nominated for seven awards.
From 2003 through 2006, Pam starred as Laura Thyme in 22 episodes of the crime mystery “Rosemary & Thyme”, which also starred Felicity Kendal and Ryan Philpott, and follows two professional gardeners Laura Thyme and Rosemary Boxer who’ve now begun solving crimes. Some of Pam’s roles in the remainder of the 2000s were in the romantic mini-series “Jane Eyre”, the drama mini-series “Lilies” and the romantic mystery “Little Dorrit”.
From 2012 through 2016, Pam starred as Sister Evangelina in 36 episodes of the historical drama “Call the Midwife”, which also starred Laura Main and Vanessa Redgrave, and was created by Heidi Thomas. Set in London in the ‘50s and the ‘60s, the series follows the lives of several midwives, and won 19 of its 37 award nominations.
Most recently, in 2020, Pam played Madame Gaudin in the episode “Les Dawson’s Parisienne Adventure” of the biographical adventure comedy “Urban Myths”.
Roles in movies
Pam’s debut film role was playing Deirdre in the 1972 drama “To Love a Maori”, and her following role only came in 1983, when cast to play Mavis in the comedy “Meantime”, which starred Marion Bailey and Tim Roth, and was written and directed by Mike Leigh. It follows a boy who’s been employed by his wealthy aunt, while his brother’s now become jealous of him; the film won one of its two award nominations. The remainder of the decade saw Pam appear in only one movie: the 1985 comedy “Star Quality”.
In 1996, she portrayed Woman in the drama “Death of a Salesman”, which starred Warren Mitchell and Rosemary Harris, and was directed by David Thacker; it follows a businessman as he’s growing old. Pam was then cast to appear in the 1997 comedy “Cows”, the 1998 family drama “Bill’s New Frock” and the 1999 horror thriller “The Turn of the Screw”.
The year 2003 saw her play Mrs Snow in the family drama “Pollyanna”, which starred Kenneth Cranham and Amanda Burton, and was directed by Sarah Harding. It follows the life of wealthy and impossible to please Lady Polly. The remainder of the decade saw Pam appear in the 2004 adventure family fantasy “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, the 2006 action science fiction “Children of Men” and the 2009 biographical drama “Within the Whirlwind”.
In 2016, Pam voiced Mrs Bennet in the popular animated historical drama “Ethel & Ernest”, which starred Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent, and was directed by Roger Mainwood. It follows the lives of parents of the British graphic novelist Raymond Briggs, and the movie won three of its 11 award nominations.
Some of Pam’s most recent film roles have been in the 2018 mystery crime comedy “Holmes & Watson”, the 2019 biographical romantic drama “Tolkien” and the 2021 comedy “Beauty and the Beast: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas”.
Other credits
Pam received special thanks for the 1996 comedy movie “Magic Within”.
She sang the song “Jerusalem” in the 2010 animated science fiction comedy movie “Jackboots on Whitehall”.
Some of Pam’s most recent talk-show appearances have been in “David Jason: My Life on Screen”, “Harry Hill’s Alien Fun Capsule” and “Between the Covers”.
Awards and nominations
Pam’s won one of her five award nominations: a 2009 Clarence Derwent Award for Best Supporting Female.
She was also nominated for a 1997 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Award for Best Supporting Actress, for “Matilda”, and three National Television Awards for Most Popular Actress in 1997, ‘98 and 2000, all for her performance in “Where the Heart Is”
Love life and husband
Pam’s spoken about her love life on only a couple of occasions, because she respects her own privacy.
She married popular British actor Roger Frost in August 1986, they’ve been together ever since and don’t have children. Roger has 68 acting credits and is perhaps known best for portraying Reverend Fisk in the 2010 fantasy horror movie “The Wolfman”.
Pam’s revealed that she was focused on her career in her youth, and that this was why she only married at the age of 38, as well as why she doesn’t have children today; she’s also stated that she isn’t sad for not having children, but that she would’ve been a good mother.
There are no other men whom Pam’s perhaps been with, that we know about.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Out of all the characters that she’s portrayed, Pam’s favorite is Miss Trunchbull in “Matilda”.
The large gap in her career from 1972 through 1983 was because her mother was ill, and Pam took time off to nurse her; her mother passed away in 1983, and Pam’s since been active with charities that aim to improve the quality of life of disabled people.
Pam and her husband decided to quit smoking together in 1985; they lived in Golders Green, London, England until 2009, when they moved to Elham, Kent, England.
Pam’s Instagram fan page is today followed by close to 3,500 people, and over 160 pictures have been posted onto it.
One of her favorite actresses is Kate Winslet, and some of her favorite movies include “Wonder Wheel”, “Little Children” and “Steve Jobs”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Pam’s age is 75. She has blue eyes and grey hair, is 5ft 7ins (1.7m) tall and weighs around 160lbs (72kgs).
Pam’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of August 2023.
