Summary
Janina Faye Smigielski (born 16 April 1948) is an English actress and director.
Janina Faye | |
|---|---|
| Born | Janina Faye Smigielski 16 April 1948 Hammersmith, London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director |
| Years active | 1956-2000; 2007-2016[1] |
| Spouse(s) |
William Dexter (m. 1967–1974)(his death) |
Biography edit
Early life edit
Faye was born in Hammersmith, London, England, a daughter of Florence Louisa Jonathan and Jan Smigielski. Her father was a Polish pilot from No. 303 Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain.[2]
Career edit
Faye began her career as an child actress in 1956, and it includes theatre and television work in addition to many film appearances. She appeared in several major fantasy and horror films when she was young, such as Hammer Films' original version of Dracula (1958), as well as the same company’s Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) and The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960). In 1961 she appeared on stage as Helen Keller in the William Gibson play The Miracle Worker,[3] and in 1962 she appeared in the film thrillers Don't Talk to Strange Men and The Day of the Triffids.
In 1998, she teamed up with director Paul Cotgrove and Hammer co-star Ingrid Pitt to make the short British horror film Green Fingers, a story about a spinster whose garden has strange properties with an ability to grow anything, even things that are no longer living.
She often appears at signings.[4]
Filmography (selected) edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Circus Friends | Minor role | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Sea Wife | Child on Ship | Uncredited |
| 1957 | No Time for Tears | ||
| 1957 | The Story of Esther Costello | Esther Costello, as a child | |
| 1957 | Seven Thunders | French child | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Dracula | Tania | |
| 1958 | The Adventures of Hal 5 | Moira | |
| 1958 | The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw | Young girl | Uncredited |
| 1958 | Floods of Fear | Young Girl | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Room at the Top | Young girl | Uncredited |
| 1959 | The Headless Ghost | Veronica | Uncredited |
| 1959 | Bobbikins | Bobbikins | Voice, Uncredited |
| 1960 | Never Take Sweets from a Stranger | Jean Carter | |
| 1960 | The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll | Jane, deafmute child | Uncredited |
| 1960 | The Hands of Orlac | Child | Uncredited |
| 1962 | Don't Talk to Strange Men | Ann | |
| 1962 | The Day of the Triffids | Susan | |
| 1964 | The Beauty Jungle | Elaine Freeman | |
| 1967 | Bindle (One of Them Days) | Millie | |
| 1969 | The Smashing Bird I Used to Know | Susan | |
| 1969 | The Dance of Death | Judith | |
| 1973 | John Keats: His Life and Death | Fanny Brawne | |
| 1975-1983 | Angels | 2 guest roles | |
| 1983-1996 | The Bill | 2 guest roles | |
| 2008 | Legends of Hammer Vampires (video) | as Herself | |
| 2016 | The One Show | as Herself |
References edit
- ^ "Janina Faye | Actress". IMDb. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Polish Fighter Pilots". Archived from the original on 9 August 2018.
- ^ "A Final Justification of Faith." Times [London, England] 10 Mar. 1961: 19
- ^ "Janina Faye Interview in the Cushing Confidential". janinafaye.com (Personal website). Retrieved 2 June 2011.
External links edit
- Official Website
- Janina Faye at IMDb