Louisa Rix

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The Honourable
Louisa Rix
Born
Louisa MacGregor Rix

(1955-02-02) 2 February 1955 (age 69)
Kensington, London, England
Occupation(s)Actress, interior designer
Years active1970s–2012 (acting)
Spouses
​
(m. 1980⁠–⁠1990)​
​
(m. 1994)​
Children2, including Jolyon

Louisa MacGregor Rix (born 2 February 1955) is a British former actress of theatre, film and television, and interior designer. She is perhaps best known for her role as "Mum" in the BBC sketch series, Harry Enfield & Chums, and its spin-off film, Kevin and Perry Go Large.

Early life[edit]

Rix was born in Kensington, London to actors Brian Rix[1] and Elspet Gray.[2] She has one sister and two brothers, one of which is children's author, Jamie Rix.[3] She studied drama at LAMDA and acted for many years on TV and in the theatre.

Career[edit]

Rix gained early theatre experience at the Nottingham Playhouse while Richard Eyre was the artistic director, and in Peter Cheeseman's company at Stoke-on-Trent. Her subsequent West End appearances included roles in How the Other Half Loves and Man of the Moment by Alan Ayckbourn; The Pocket Dream by Sandi Toksvig & Elly Brewer; and Whose Life is it Anyway? by Brian Clark, as well as several productions at the National Theatre.

Rix is known for playing Kevin the teenager's mum (Mrs Patterson)[4] in the TV series Harry Enfield and Chums, and in the movie Kevin & Perry Go Large. For Granada Television she co-starred with Tim Bentinck in Made In Heaven. She played Mel Smith's girlfriend in two series of Colin's Sandwich[5] and starred in two series of Side By Side, both for the BBC. In Brookside she performed with Anna Friel as the solicitor representing the Jordache family in the 'body under the patio' storyline. She played the vocally-challenged night club singer Melody Lane in a feature-length Coronation Street special with the QEII as the location. One of her final acting roles was as the Home Secretary in The Execution of Gary Glitter.

Having originally studied art before she went to drama school, Rix retired from acting to pursue her passion for design. Since 2012, she has run the interior design company Forbes Rix Designs with her business partner Natalie Forbes.

Personal life[edit]

In 1980, Rix married actor Jonathan Coy, with whom she has two children, Charlotte and Jolyon Coy. Charlotte Elizabeth (born 1983) is married to Tom Mison. Jolyon is married to Blanche Schofield, daughter of David Schofield and Lally Percy. Rix and Coy divorced in 1990. She married writer Richard Ommanney in 1994.

Louisa's elder sister Shelley was born with Down's Syndrome. From the date of her birth onward, her father, actor Brian Rix, promoted awareness and understanding of learning difficulties. Shelley died in 2005. Their brother Jamie Rix is a television producer and an author of children's books, while their other brother, Jonty Rix, is a Professor of Participation and Learning Support at the Open University and author of the rites-of-passage novel Some Hope.[6] Their paternal aunt, Sheila Mercier, played Annie Sugden in Emmerdale Farm for over 20 years.

Rix is a member of the House Committee at Denville Hall and a Trustee.[7]

Filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1977 A Roof Over My Head Maureen Series 1, Episodes 1, 3 & 9 (recurring)
1978 Breakaway Girls Sally Wharton Series 1, Episode 4 (guest)
1978 Coronation Street Carole Gordon Episodes 1853, 1854, 1855 & 1856 (guest)
1979 Danger UXB Angie Series 1, Episodes 2 & 3 (guest)
1979 Kids Jenny Bramley Series 1, Episode 9 (guest)
1980 The Professionals Judy Shaw Series 4, Episode 13 (guest)
1981 Goodbye Darling Beth Series 1, Episode 5 (guest)
1981 A Fine Romance Ann Series 1, Episode 6 (guest)
1983 Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime Mary Chilcott Series 1, Episode 3 (guest)
1987 Alas Smith & Jones Series 4, Episodes 2 & 3 (guest)
1988 French and Saunders Woman in Shower Series 2, Episode 2 (guest)
1988 Paris by Midnight Nurse Feature film
1988–89 Colin's Sandwich Jenny Anderson Series 1 & 2 (regular, 12 episodes)
1989 The Return of Shelley Donna Series 2, Episode 2 (guest)
1990 Made in Heaven Helen Nicholson Miniseries (regular, 4 episodes)
1991 Second Thoughts Hilary Series 1, Episode 4 (guest)
1991 Boon Diana Fawley Series 6, Episode 3 (guest)
1992–93 Side by Side Gilly Bell Series 1 & 2 (regular, 13 episodes)
1993 Harry Margaret Clarke Series 1, Episodes 11 & 12 (guest)
1994 The Detectives Mrs. Sharpe Series 2, Episode 6 (guest)
1994 Brookside Alison Dicks Episodes 1597 & 1600 (guest)
1994–97 Harry Enfield and Chums Mum Series 1 & 2 (supporting, 13 episodes)
1995 Coronation Street: The Feature Length Special Melody Lane Video
1997 Paul Merton in Galton and Simpson's... Wife Series 2, Episode 4 (guest)
1999 Harry Enfield Presents Kevin's Guide to Being a Teenager Mum Video
2000 Kevin & Perry Go Large Mum Feature film
2000 Always and Everyone Belinda Series 2, Episode 9 (guest)
2009 Doctors Cynthia Robertson Series 11, Episode 70 (guest)
2009 The Execution of Gary Glitter Valerie Clarke TV movie
2010 Miranda Jennifer Series 2, Episode 6 (guest)
2010 Come Fly with Me Posh Lady Series 1, Episode 2 (guest)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Barker, Dennis; Brindle, David (21 August 2016). "Lord Rix obituary". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  2. ^ Barker, Dennis (19 February 2013). "Elspet Gray obituary". The Guardian. Guardian News & Media Limited. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  3. ^ "Who is this man?". jamierix.com. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Kevin & Perry go large". Cine Image. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Colin's Sandwich". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  6. ^ "The Open University".
  7. ^ "Denvillehall". Archived from the original on 10 January 2019. Retrieved 10 January 2019.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Louisa_Rix&oldid=1213258363"