Spotlight on: Felicity Kendal
Published on 12 December 2025
Felicity Kendal has been a defining presence in British theatre and television for more than five decades. Born in the West Midlands, she grew up touring with her family’s repertory company in India before returning to the UK in her teens. Instead of formal drama school, Kendal’s training was shaped by the stage itself; she learned her craft through constant performance, observation, and the discipline of repertory theatre.
Her long-standing professional relationship with playwright Tom Stoppard became a defining thread in her career. The two worked together repeatedly from the early 1980s onwards, and Kendal originated roles in several of Stoppard’s major plays, establishing one of modern theatre’s most significant actor-writer collaborations. Along the way, she earned multiple honours, including a BAFTA nomination, the Clarence Derwent Award, and the Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress. In 1995 she received a CBE for her services to Drama.
Where have you seen her before?
Kendal’s stage career flourished through the 1980s and 1990s, particularly through her close association with Tom Stoppard. She starred in the first productions of On the Razzle, The Real Thing, Hapgood, and Arcadia, roles that showcased her precision, timing, and intellectual lightness.
She also became one of director Peter Hall’s most frequent collaborators, appearing in ten of his productions. Her roles ranged from Constanze Mozart in Amadeus to Esme in Amy’s View, demonstrating her ability to effortlessly, and successfully, move between period drama, contemporary writing. Outside the theatre, millions know her as Rosemary Boxer in the cosy crime drama Rosemary & Thyme.
Wasn’t she in The Good Life?
Yes! Kendal played Barbara Good, one of the central figures in the iconic BBC sitcom The Good Life. The show remains a touchstone of British comedy, earning six BAFTA nominations and one win. In 2004, it was voted ninth in Britain’s Best Sitcom. Kendal’s performance as the upbeat, resourceful Barbara helped cement her public profile and remains one of her most recognisable roles.
What else has she been in?
Kendal’s screen work spans drama, comedy, and entertainment. She competed in the eighth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with professional dancer Vincent Simome, and has made guest appearances across several British comedy staples, including; The Morecambe & Wise Show, Inside No. 9, The Kumars at No. 42, and French and Saunders.
Kendal also appeared in Doctor Who, starring opposite David Tennant in a popular guest-role that introduced her to an entirely new generation of viewers (for those brave enough to watch it from behind the sofa).
What’s next for Felicity Kendal?
Kendal returns to the stage in a major new production of High Society at the Barbican, starring opposite Helen George from 19 May - 11 July 2026.
