Actress
The career of one of the most beguiling leading ladies has been an adventurous one that has taken her from being in the centre of Swinging London in the mid sixties, to cult status as a model and actress in the seventies. Finally finding solace as a humanitarian dedicated to helping the under-privileged and elderly.
Born 14 October 1949 on the Island of Mauritius. She was educated in Paris and London. Her first taste of showbiz came when she was dancing on Top of the Pops in the 60s. Her first film was ‘Loving Feeling’ (1968), a film by Bashoo Sen. In 1970, she was one of the co-stars in ‘There’s a Girl in My Soup’ (1970) playing Paola with Peter Sellers.
Whilst she was having lunch with her then partner Richard Johnson at the White Elephant in Mayfair. Kirk Douglas spotted her and offered her the lead role in ‘Skallawag’ but she turned it down to do a Jean Rollin film ‘The Iron Rose’ (1973).
Françoise broke into television in October 1971 in ‘Coronation Street’ playing Ray Langdon’s friend, prior to Joanna Lumley. Then came numerous guest star roles with Rex Harrison in ‘Don Quixote’, Lee Remick in Tennessee Williams’ ‘Summer & Smoke’, ‘Terry & June’ with June Whitfield and Terry Scott, ‘Giants & Ogres’ for Granada, etc
She met Vince Powell at Thames Television whilst performing in an episode of one of his TV series, but little did she know that he was writing the part of Danielle Favre for her in ‘Mind Your Language’ (1977). Her first starring role on the British stage was in ‘Happy Birthday’ in 1980, with Frazer Hines and Judy Carne, with whom she had made a brief appearance in ‘Rowan & Martins Laugh In’ in 1969, after being prompted by Jeremy Lloyd to appear in the show. Then continued to star in ‘Bell Book & Candle’ and the Pantomime ‘Alladin’ in Camberley. She then went on to star in the Hit TV Series ‘Mind Your Language’ from 1977 until 1980. Eventually becoming a cult figure of the seventies.
Françoise left for the USA in 1980. In Hollywood she had a two year contract for the hit TV show ‘The Young & The Restless’. Then co-starred with the late Robert Urich in the TV series ‘Gavillan’. She went on to star in theatre in Hollywood playing Rosalind in ‘As you Like It’ and Octavia in ‘Anthony and Cleopatra’. Françoise received rave reviews for playing Olivia in ‘Twelfth Night’ (which won her the LA Critics Award in 1985). Then co-starred with Mickey Rooney and Susan George in ‘Lightning the White Stallion’ (1986).
Françoise returned to London in 1987….
Whilst her fame had seen her with little happiness it fulfilled her childhood ambition of being an actress. She thinks of herself as a true survivor of the showbiz syndrome. Today she is still acting and runs a Celebrity Liaison/PR Consultancy that she started in 2010. Since Françoise lost her partner Simon in September 2009, she moved to London where she feels closer to her work.
Françoise’s autobiography “As I Am” was published in January 2012 and it will be on sale @ Misty Moon during An Evening With Françoise Pascal, on Saturday the 18th May 2013.
Contact
- Website: www.francoisepascal.co.uk
Misty Moon Event
- An Evening With Francoise Pascal – May 2013