Frances de la Tour
A towering presence of British stage and screen, whose sharp wit and commanding voice have defined characters from seedy landlords to formidable witches.
Born 1944 (age 82)·English actress·Birthday: July 30·The Silent Generation
Biography
With a voice that can convey withering disdain or profound warmth in a single syllable, Frances de la Tour is a consummate character actress whose career spans the heights of theatrical acclaim and global pop culture. She first captured the British public's affection as the put-upon Miss Jones in the classic sitcom 'Rising Damp,' a role that showcased her impeccable comic timing. On stage, she is a powerhouse, collecting three Olivier Awards and a Tony for her work in Pinter and Shakespeare. To international audiences, she is perhaps best known as the formidable Madame Maxime in the 'Harry Potter' films and the enigmatic Miss Ruth in 'The History Boys,' both on stage and screen. Her performances are masterclasses in subtlety and intelligence, making every character, no matter the size, distinctly and unforgettably her own.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Frances was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frances Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
Frances's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
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
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 70
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
2024Turned 80
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 82 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play for her role in 'The History Boys' on Broadway in 2006.
- Received three Olivier Awards for her stage work in London, a rare and distinguished honor.
- Played the iconic role of Miss Ruth Jones in the television sitcom 'Rising Damp' from 1974 to 1978.
- Portrayed Madame Olympe Maxime in the 'Harry Potter' film series, introducing her to a massive worldwide audience.
Did You Know?
She trained at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London.
De la Tour is the older sister of actor and director Andy de la Tour.
She played the same role, Mrs. Lintott, in both the stage and film versions of Alan Bennett's 'The History Boys.'
Early in her career, she was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company.
“I don't think you choose to be an actor; it chooses you. It's a compulsion.”
