A History Of Liverpool Thespians - Paula Jacobs

 

Paula Elsa Jacobs was born on the 6th of March 1932 in Liverpool into a Jewish family. Her father was J.P. Jacobs, whose company supplied all the elastic to Marks & Spencer. In 1953, in her native Liverpool, she married David Swift who worked for her father's company before becoming an actor himself like his brother Clive.  

Paula made her first television appearance in 'Z-Cars' in 1962, going on to play roles in 'Softly,Softly': Taskforce' (1972-5), 'Theatre 625' (1964), 'Shoestring' (1979), 'Hammer House of Horror' (1980), Florrie in 'Scully' (1984), 'Mapp & Lucia' (1985) and played Peggy Sagar in the short lived soap, 'Albion Market' (1985-86). She also played Mrs Biggs in 'Porterhouse Blue' (1987) as her television and film career continued and it would span four decades. Other roles included, 'May to December' (1989), 'The New Statesman' (1989), 'Bergerac' (1990) and she also played Maud Wilberforce in 'Jeeves and Wooster' (1990), 'Brookside' (1992) and 'French and Saunders' (1993).

as Peggy in 'Albion Market'

She also appeared on 'Coronation Street' as Mrs Murdoch, the co-proprietor of the Murdoch Guest House where the Websters' and Rita Sullivan stayed when they had a short holiday in Blackpool (1994) and also in Casualty (1989-1995). Paula was in the crime drama, 'Mr Wakerfield's Crusade' (1992), where she played the part of a Brothel Madame and the appeared with her husband David in 'Drop the Dead Donkey' (1994-1998), Dalziel and Pascoe (2000), Midsomer Murders (2002), Agatha Christie's Poirot (2004) and Doctors (2008).

as Mrs Kessler in 'American Werewolf in London'

Her film appearances include 'Birth of the Beatles' (1979), 'An American Werewolf in London' (1981), 'She'll Be Wearing Pink Pyjamas' (1984), 'We Think the World of You' (1988), 'Duel of Hearts' (1992), 'The Remains of the Day' (1993) and 'Tea with Mussolini' (1999).

With her husband David, they served as the J P Jacobs Charitable Trust's trustees, which was established in memory of her late father and supports individuals and organisations across a number of sectors, with a particular focus on the arts. Paula died on the 26th of June 2021. She was the mother of actress Julia Swift and the mother-in-law of actor David Bamber. 

see also :- http://www.thefootballvoice.com/2023/10/a-history-of-liverpool-thespians-david_27.html