Born:
November 07, 1950
in
Edinburgh
Best Known For:
Her many acclaimed stage roles.
Early-life:
Born November 7, 1950, in Edinburgh, but spent part of her childhood in Leeds and Birmingham. Neither of her parents had a showbusiness background, and her mother originally wanted her to become a doctor. However, they supported her decision to tread the boards after the acting bug bit while appearing in school productions. She regrets the fact her father - who died in a car accident when she was a teenager - didn't live to see her success.
Career:
After spells at Bristol University and the Central School of Speech and Drama, she landed professional roles in a variety of theatrical productions. Her first TV appearance came in 1975's Further Up Pompeii! Parts at the Royal Exchange in the likes of The Rivals and What the Butler Saw gained her huge acclaim. Arguably her biggest stage successes have both come opposite Alan Rickman, in productions of Les Liaisons Dangereuses and Private Lives. Duncan has popped up in TV and film projects such as Reilly: The Ace of Spies, Kit Curran, Prick Up Your Ears, Traffik, GBH, Jake's Progress, Oliver Twist, An Ideal Husband, Doctor Who, Poirot, Alice in Wonderland and Rome.
Quote:
"All good rehearsals involve quite a lot of laughing, that's the way to get through it."
Trivia:
She took a role in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace to please their son, Cal, who is a huge fan of the franchise.