Fenella Fielding Actress: Foundation & Archive in London
NEW:
FENELLA FIELDING: ONSTAGE, OFFSTAGE
Exhibition 31 Oct to 14 Dec 2025 (Gallery 286, Earls Court)
Fenella at Home (1971)
A new exhibition of Fenella Fielding's archive and her personal items including furniture, makeup, wigs, eyelashes, furniture, wallpaper (above!), posters, photos, programmes, costumes, costume sketches and various (often unexpected) objects.
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The exhibition runs: 31 October to 13 December.
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Opening hours: Wed 12-6pm and Thu to Sun 12-4pm.
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Address: is 286 Earls Court Road, London SW5 9AS.
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Admission £5: cash/card or Book Tickets in Advance
NEW:
DEAR FENELLA... 90 YEARS, 90 LETTERS
New Fenella Fielding biography by Simon McKay
A4 Hardback, 216 pages and in excess of 200 photos
Buy the book with Fenella's signature included
The story of Fenella Fielding’s 90 year life and career unfolds through a narrative based on 90 letters and a feast of unseen Fenella photos; all sourced from the Fenella Fielding Archive - the actress’ personal items. The book includes lots of Fenella speaking, as told to the author and quotes from past publications and her own diaries and journal notes.
There’s nothing as exciting as getting a start, but that was very hard for Fenella, who was constantly up against her father. He didn’t want her to be anything she might want to be, particularly not an actress. Having escaped his clutches by moving to a room in central London, she still has to actually make it as an actress. And then, it seems, make it over and over again.
In 1966, Fenella is living in a Marble Arch penthouse, playing in the West End nightly in a quality smash hit play, she appears in a big budget film with Tony Curtis, spends three weeks filming Carry On Screaming, has her own TV show and is the highest paid actress in advertising. By 1981, she’s claiming unemployment benefit in Hammersmith. But it’s not over yet!
Lots of famous contributors, including; Kenneth Williams ‘many of the scripts weren’t loved by me’, Harold Pinter, Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, John Cleese wanting his old scripts back to reuse in Monty Python, Cecil Beaton ‘a distant admirer’, Gyles Brandreth ‘you do weave spells’, a 14-year old fan called Matthew Bourne, Quentin Crisp, Leigh Bowery, Jane Birkin, Kate O’Mara and Peter Wyngarde remarks ‘adored your flirtatious granny!’.
Fenella was a rare talent, a remarkable wit, but was also deeply empathetic and caring about people. Did she piss a few people off too? You bet!
Fenella exhibition 31 Oct - 14 Dec Book Tickets
New biography Buy with Fenella's Signature
Welcome to the official website of the late actress Fenella Fielding OBE. Drawing on her, it details her career - stage, radio, TV and film appearances. The Fenella Fielding Foundation is proud to announce the publication of a new Fenella biography in October and exhibition to coincide. The book and other merchandise is available in the shop.
This website was originally established in 2011 as a way for Fenella to let audiences know what she would be doing over the coming months.
TRIBUTE:
FENELLA FIELDING OBE: 17/11/27 - 11/09/18 RIP
Miss Fielding was an incredible talent. (That voice!) She had sixty seven years on stage including a remarkable renaissance in the last few years of her career. These years were especially happy for her. She got to do lots of hugely enjoyable work including what she described as 'very speakable' translations of Greek classics and reading from her own memoirs. She was so grateful that audiences didn't ever forget her and for the amazing support she received from her fans. Constantly, she told me how happy she was to be working and 'can we just keep going please'. We did! Her last job - recording voice for Eddie Mair. It was one last perfect day we had together; work, curry, shopping for chunky plastic jewellery in Cecil Court and then what, sadly, turned out to be our final coffee together. The next day, she had a massive stroke and died seventeen days later. Her GP said, "I have known her for 30 years and she would wish to take a graceful bow and leave the stage like the lady she is." She did exactly that. I held her hand. She was at peace. Divine. She died with her eyelashes on.
FENELLA FIELDING FOUNDATION
In July 2020, I established the Fenella Fielding Foundation to celebrate the great lady's life and career. I will use the Fenella Fielding Archive as source material for CDs, DVDs, books and exhibitions (projects we had planned to do together). It's a not-for-profit company to raise money for charitable causes e.g. bursaries for actors from lower-income backgrounds as they begin their careers. (In keeping with the RADA scholarship Fenella benefitted from when she was starting out.) The first project is announced below. Please join the mailing list for updates about what is coming next.
Simon McKay (2025)
Fenella on Social Media:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/fenellafielding @fenellafielding
PREVIOUSLY:
Halloween 2023: Carry On Screaming
Halloween Fenella by Cathy Lomax (2023)
In association with QMUL, the Fenella Fielding Foundation presented a Halloween screening of Carry On Screaming in the Hitchcock Theatre. It was introduced by Fenella's friend and biographer, Simon McKay. Afterwards, we displayed some of Fenella's personal effects.
Fenella Fielding: Actress (Exhibition 2022)
Exhibition Merchandise: catalogues, tea- towels, tote bags & posters shop
In 2022, the Fenella Fielding Foundation presented an exhibition at Gallery 286 of new Fenella portraits curated by Fionn Wilson. She coordinated the creation of 15 new portraits by 5 artists. The artists did not get to meet Fenella, but with the support of the Foundation had access to many unseen images of the great lady.
The exhibition also included a number of 3D pieces including a fabulous bust by Andrew Logan from 2002, some lenticular (moving) images and Martin Firrell's metaFenella. There were some of Fenella's evening wear and wigs too.!
Fenella Evening Wear and Bust by Andrew Logan (2002)
Fenella Fielding: Actress (Exhibition documented by Andrew Keating)
Fenella Fielding Awarded OBE
Fenella Fielding in 'High Spirits'
Fenella was absolutely delighted when, in June 2018, she was awarded an OBE for Services to Drama and Charity in the Queen's Birthday Honours. Fenella said, "I’m terribly moved. It’s lovely to have my work acknowledged in a serious way… It would never have occurred to me that this might happen. But I’m very happy, as you can imagine." Read more about the announcement of Fenella's honour as reported by her local news website.
Simon McKay collects the late Miss Fielding's OBE
Sadly, Fenella died before she was due to go to The Palace to collect her award. It was collected from The Palace by Simon and is now part of her archive. Report from the Palace by Fenella's local news website.
Speakable Translations of Greek Classics
Stephen Greif with Fenella at her 90th Birthday Party
Fenella with Simon Russell Beale
Reading for Actors of Dionysus (2012)
From 2012-18 Fenella performed readings of Greek classics translated by David Stuttard. The first was an appearance with Simon Russell Beale. After that, she starred in the cast of 'Savage Beauty' before settling into a two-hander with Stephen Greif called 'Just A Little Murder'. The highlight of every show was her heartbreaking rendition of Hekebe talking about the death of her grandson. Some of Fenella's Greek work is featured on a CD of Sappho Poems.
Fenella Memoir Readings
From 2016-2018 Fenella performed 33 shows reading from her memoirs, often on a Saturday afternoon at The Phoenix Artist Club. They were astonishing events. She was so animated; so engaging. She especially enjoyed sharing stories from the beginning of her career when she was working in nightclubs and rubbing shoulders with various tarts and gangsters. The format of each show was very simple; Fenella would read two chapters; short break; read one more chapter and then Simon hosted a short Q&A with Fenella bringing in plenty of audience participation. The scripts from these shows were recorded first as an audio book then adapted for the print version of 'Do You Mind If I Smoke?'.
Memoirs: Do You Mind If I Smoke?
Fenella & Simon Radio Shows
Fenella Fielding and Simon McKay (2014)
From 2011-2015 Fenella recorded a number of radio shows with Simon. They were based around themes including gospel, Motown, love songs, film and show soundtracks. Some included interviews with Fenella's friends: Cult TV Themes (Kate O'Mara) and Jazz on a Summer's Day (Cleo Laine & Annie Ross). More details and links to listen online to shows that are still available click here.
Television Appearances
Fenella in Skins (2012)
Fenella's last character part on television was playing Alex's grandmother in 'Skins' (Channel 4). It was a gem! Other recent work was voice for 'Kookyville' (Channel 5) and lots of documentaries - often about Carry On Films, Morecambe & Wise and sometimes about fancy hotels.
Fenella Press & Radio 2017-2018
The Guardian: Fenella's letter about Muriel Spark Read
The Guardian: DHSS employee interviewing
Fenella when she claimed Housing Benefit! Read
ChiswickW4 about Fenella's OBE Read
ChiswickW4 about Fenella's book & 90th birthday Read
Camden New Journal book review Read
Daily Express interview by Jane Warren Read
The Guardian interview by Simon Hattenstone Read
The Telegraph interview by Jasper Rees Read (pay wall)
Jewish Chronicle interview by Anthea Gerrie Read
BBC Radio 2 Steve Wright Listen (Starts at 2:39)
BBC Radio London with Jo Good Listen
BBC Radio 4 Front Row with Stig Abell Listen
Selected Obituaries:
The Sun Read
The Guardian Read
The BBC Read
The Herald (Scotland) Read
ChiswickW4.com (Where Fenella lived) Read
