Gurney, Rachel (1920–2001)

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Gurney, Rachel (1920–2001)

English actress. Born Rachel Gurney Lubbock, Mar 5, 1920, in Eton, Buckinghamshire, England; died Nov 24, 2001, in Holt, Norfolk, England; dau. of a school housemaster and a concert pianist; attended Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art; m. Denys Rhodes, 1946 (div. 1950); children: 1 daughter.

Best known as Lady Marjorie Bellamy in tv series "Upstairs, Downstairs," worked steadily in the theater in modern and classical roles, including Portia in Merchant of Venice (1955) and Hermione in A Winter's Tale (1965); made US debut in You Never Can Tell (1977) and appeared on Broadway in The Dresser (1981) and Breaking the Code (1987).