Rosalind Knight (born 3 December 1933) is an English
actress. She has a good theatrical pedigree, being the daughter of
Esmond Knight and
Frances Clare and the stepdaughter of
Nora Swinburne.
She has a career which spans over 50 years on both stage, screen and television and continues to act as of February 2009. From a theatrical family, she was introduced to theatre at an early age. She was inspired by a visit to the bombed-out
Old Vic theatre in 1949 with her father to see performances of
The Snow Queen and
As you like it. After studying there for 2 years under Glen Byam Shaw and George Devine, she was offered a position as Assistant Stage Manager, at The Midland Theatre Company in Coventry. From Coventry, she moved to Ipswich Repertory Company where Joe Orton was a fellow Assistant Stage Manager.
Two years later she joined a touring group, West of England Theatre, for an eight month stint. She was then spotted by a producer to which she was cast as Annabel, sixth former schoolgirl in
Blue Murder at St. Trinian's of 1957. Also in 1957, she starred with her father
Esmond Knight playing father and daughter, in the BBC production of
Nicholas Nickleby (playing Miss Fanny Squeers). She is remembered for her roles in two
Carry On films,
Carry On Nurse as Nurse Nightingale, and
Carry On Teacher where she played one of the school inspectors, Felicity Wheeler (the other school inspector was played by
Leslie Phillips). After this, she embarked on a number of stage roles, including
Platanov,
A Cuckoo In The Nest, and back to the screen again in 1963 as Mrs Fitzpatrick in
Tom Jones.