Our Patron: Jean Boht
Perhaps best known for her role as Nellie Boswell in the hugely successful BBC Television series BREAD (a peak of 26 million viewers a week) that won her the award for Top TV Comedy Actress and the programme The Variety Artistes Best Comedy. She has also appeared in numerous other television series, including: CASUALTY, HOLBY CITY, BRIGHTON BELLES, SCULLY, MISS MARPLE, FUNNY MAN, LAST OF THE SUMMER WINE, DOCTORS, ESKIMOS DO IT, SPYSHIP, SONS AND LOVERS, THE BILL and BOYS FROM THE BLACKSTUFF, which was nominated as the Top Drama in the Best 100 TV Programmes Ever. Also many guest appearances in chat shows; including her favourite which was with Gloria Hunniford who often let her cook on the show!
	Jean began her career as a £1 a week student at the Liverpool Playhouse and then went on to join the Bristol Old Vic and Manchester Companies and within two years returned to Liverpool as leading lady along with Anthony Hopkins, Lynda La Plante and Patrick Stewart – with Director David Scase in charge – it was a magical time, she says. She then went to the Royal Court for a year working with Bill Gaskill, Jane Howell and Peter Gill; Michael Blakemore at the National Theatre and the great Joan Littlewood at Theatre Workshop, and seasons at Chichester Festival with Patrick Garland. At the Edinburgh Festival she played Florence Foster Jenkins in Viva La Diva, directed by Chrys Salt. Her London and West End appearances go back to 1964 with ST. JOAN OF THE STOCKYARDS at the Queens with the English Stage company which led to a long association with the Royal court – most recently, EMBERS at the Duke of York’s with Jeremy Irons; JOY’S PRAYER at The Soho Theatre; THE COUNTESS at The criterion, STEEL MAGNOLIAS at The Lyric (when she then became the subject of THIS IS YOUR LIFE); DANGEROUS CORNER at The Whitehall. KINDERTRANSPORT at The Vaudeville, BREAD (the play) at The Dominion and pantomime with Cilla Black at The Piccadilly. Fringe theatres include KENNEDY’S CHILDREN at The King’s Head; THE WILD DUCK at Hammersmith Lyric directed by Michael Blakemore; LOST (The Bush); BIRDS OF PASSAGE (Hampstead) and OAPz – A HIP HOP COMEDY
National tours have included: THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES, TALKING HEADS, DANGEROUS CORNER, JUST BETWEEN OURSELVES, WHY ME? PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, CHIEF INSPECTOR HOUND, BLACK COMEDY, ALL MY SONS and DAISY MILLER. Jean’s next tour is to be CALENDAR GIRLS which begins in July 2010. Films include: MEDDLE NOT WITH CHANGE, THE GIRL ON A SWING, WHERE ADAM STOOD, ASYLUM, TO DIE FOR, THE BIG GAME, ARTHUR’S HALLOWED GROUND, DISTANT VOICE STILL LIVES, A DAY AT LORDS, FREIS; THE TUG and BAD NIGHT FOR THE BLUES. Jean is married to the composer Carl Davis and they were both made Hon. Fellows of Liverpool University JMU for their work in entertainment and the arts. They have two daughters, Hannah and Jessie, and three grandchildren. Hannah is now in Los Angeles and has completed two feature films MOTHERS & DAUGHTERS and THE UNDERSTUDY with an award winning score by Carl – both now on DVD.
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