Age: 74
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Victoria Tennant (born September 30, 1950) is an English film and television actress. She is known for her roles in the TV mini-series The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, in which she appeared as actor Robert Mitchum's on-screen love interest, Pamela Tudsbury.
Tennant was born in London. Her mother, Irina Baronova, was a Russian prima ballerina who appeared with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo; her father, Cecil Tennant, was a producer and talent agent for MCA.
Her maternal grandfather, Mikhail Baronov, was a senior officer in the Russian Navy; his wife, the former Lydia Vishniakova, was a general's daughter. Tennant has a sister, Irina, and a brother, Robert, both of whom were seriously injured in a car accident in 1967, in which their father was killed. Tennant's godfather was the actor Laurence Olivier.
Like her mother, Tennant trained in ballet, first at the Elmhurst Ballet School and then (for two years) at the Central School of Speech and Drama.
Tennant, modelling under the pseudonym Angela Hyer, was Penthouse magazine's May 1978 Pet of the Month centerfold.
After a number of roles in British and other European films, including The Ragman's Daughter and Inseminoid, she emigrated to the United States. She then appeared in the TV mini-series The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, and films such as The Handmaid's Tale and Best Seller. She starred in two films with Steve Martin, her future husband: All of Me, and L.A. Story.
In 2014, she published a memoir about her mother entitled, Irina Baronova and The Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo, published by the University of Chicago Press. The book was presented at the Bel Air Country Club in Bel Air, Los Angeles.
Tennant's first marriage was to Peppo Vanini, a nightclub owner who owned the famous Xenon nightclub, in 1969 (divorced, 1976). She dated Matthew Chapman, a writer and director from in 1978 until 1982, but ended their relationship upon meeting Steve Martin. She was later married to the actor-comedian Steve Martin from 1986 to their divorce in 1994. Since 1996, Tennant has been married to Kirk Justin Stambler, a lawyer for Warner Bros., with whom she has a daughter, Katya Irina, and a son, Nikolai.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1972 | Ragman's Daughter, TheThe Ragman's Daughter | Doris Randall | |
1980 | Dogs of War, TheThe Dogs of War | Dinner Party Guest | |
1981 | Inseminoid | Barbra | |
1981 | Sphinx | Lady Carnarvon | |
1982 | Ich bin dein Killer | Annette Dorberg | |
1983 | Strangers Kiss | Carol Redding / Betty | |
1984 | All of Me | Terry Hoskins | |
1985 | Holcroft Covenant, TheThe Holcroft Covenant | Helden von Tiebolt / Helden Tennyson | |
1987 | Best Seller | Roberta Gillian | |
1987 | Flowers in the Attic | Corinne Dollanganger | |
1989 | Fool's Mate | Alice Gordon | |
1990 | Handmaid's Tale, TheThe Handmaid's Tale | Aunt Lydia | |
1990 | Whispers | Hilary | |
1991 | L.A. Story | Sara McDowel | |
1992 | The Plague | Alicia Rieux | |
1996 | Edie & Pen | Blonde with Dog | |
1998 | Bram Stoker's Legend of the Mummy | Mary | |
2008 | Awakening of Spring, TheThe Awakening of Spring | Mrs. Woodman | |
2009 | Irene in Time | Eleanor Jensen | |
2010 | Dante's Inferno: An Animated Epic | Beatrice (voice) | Video |
2013 | Pasadena | Elizabeth Utley | |
2013 | Louder Than Words | Lydia Thorsby | Post-production |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1979 | Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson | Helen Stoner | Episode: "The Case of the Speckled Band" |
1981 | La Guerre des insectes | Helen Curtiss | TV film |
1982 | Tales of the Unexpected | Bernice | Episode: "Who's Got the Lady?" |
1983 | Winds of War, TheThe Winds of War | Pamela Tudsbury | TV miniseries |
1983 | Dempsey | Estelle Taylor | TV film |
1983 | Chiefs | Trish Lee | TV miniseries |
1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Episode: "The Funniest Guy in the World" | |
1986 | Under Siege | Gloria Garry | TV film |
1986 | Twilight Zone, TheThe Twilight Zone | Valentina | Episode: "Red Snow" |
1986 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Bride | Episode: "Deadly Honeymoon" |
1988-1989 | War and Remembrance | Pamela Tudsbury | 12 episodes |
1989 | Voice of the Heart | Francesca Cunningham | TV film |
1989 | Act of Will | Audra | TV series |
1994 | Man from Snowy River, TheThe Man from Snowy River | Anita Hargraves | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
1997 | Diagnosis: Murder | Victoria Larkin | Episode: "Deadly Games" |
1999 | Providence | Dr. Toynton | Episode: "Blind Faith" |
2001 | Chris Isaak Show, TheThe Chris Isaak Show | Irene | Episode: "Dancin'" |
2001 | Sister Mary Explains It All | Bitter Divorcee | TV film |
2004 | JAG | Marta Sperling | Episode: "The Man on the Bridge" |
2007 | Scrubs | Maggie Kent | Episode: "My Scrubs" |
2008 | Monk | Ms. Benson | Episode: "Mr. Monk Paints His Masterpiece" |
2009 | Beast, TheThe Beast | Susan Redman | Episode: "Infected" |
2011 | William & Kate | Celia | TV film |