Alexandra Bastedo
A 1960s television spy who traded glamour for a life as a fierce advocate for animal rescue and vegetarianism.
1946–2014 (age 68)·British actress·Birthday: March 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Alexandra Bastedo stepped into the spotlight as Sharron Macready in 'The Champions,' a sleek, supernatural spy series that cemented her as a symbol of 1960s cool. With her striking looks and poised demeanor, she seemed destined for a long career as a glamorous actress. But Bastedo’s passions lay elsewhere. Disturbed by animal suffering, she became a committed vegetarian and then a relentless campaigner. She gradually shifted her energy away from film sets, using her public profile to champion animal welfare. She founded an animal sanctuary at her home in Sussex, turning it into a refuge for hundreds of neglected creatures. In her later years, she authored practical guides on pet care and vegetarian cooking, her voice becoming one of compassionate authority. Her legacy is a dual one: a face from a classic TV era, and a heart dedicated to a cause far from the Hollywood glare.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Alexandra was born in 1946, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alexandra Was Born
The biggest hits of 1946
#1 Movie
The Best Years of Our Lives
Best Picture
The Best Years of Our Lives
Alexandra's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1946Born
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1951Started school
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1959Became a teenager
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1962Could drive
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1964Could vote
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1967Turned 21
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1976Turned 30
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 40
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 50
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 60
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2014Died at 68
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
Key Achievements
- Starred as secret agent Sharron Macready in the cult classic TV series 'The Champions,' gaining international recognition.
- Founded and operated the Alexandra Bastedo Animal Sanctuary, rescuing and rehabilitating hundreds of animals.
- Authored several books promoting animal welfare and vegetarianism, including 'The Perfect Vegetarian'.
- Was a dedicated ambassador for various animal charities, including the Cats Protection League.
Did You Know?
She was a trained ballet dancer before turning to acting.
Bastedo was considered for the role of a Bond girl in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
She shared her home with a wide variety of rescue animals, including dogs, cats, horses, and even an owl.
She was a strict vegetarian for over 40 years and credited the diet with her health and vitality.
“I prefer the company of animals; they are more straightforward than people.”
