Margery Eileen Mason, known professionally as Margery Mason, was a revered British actress and director whose career spanned over seven decades in theatre, film, and television.
She gained widespread recognition for her role as Alice North in the ITV drama series Peak Practice (1993–2002), where her portrayal of the cantankerous pensioner endeared her to audiences.
Mason also served as the artistic director of the Repertory Theatre in Bangor, County Down, in the 1960s and appeared in iconic films such as The Princess Bride (1987) and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), showcasing her versatility and enduring presence in the entertainment industry.
Quick Facts
- Full Name: Margery Eileen Mason
- Stage Name: Margery Mason
- Born: 27, September 1913
- Date of Death: January 26, 2014 (Aged: 100 years old)
- Birthplace: Hackney, London, England
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Actress, Director, Playwright
- Height: 1.65m
- Parents: Harry Mason, Nina Mason
- Siblings: Unknown
- Spouse: Peter Daminoff (m. 1951–1956)
- Children: None
- Relationship: Divorced
- Net Worth: $5 million
Early Life and Education
Margery Eileen Mason was born on September 27, 1913, in Hackney, London, to Harry Mason, a cinema manager, and Nina Mason, who ran a semi-professional theatre company. Details about her siblings are not publicly documented.
Growing up in a theatrical family, Mason was immersed in performance from a young age.
Margery Eileen’s formal education was limited, as she left school at 15 to pursue acting, making her an autodidact who later became a voracious reader of novels and poetry. Her ethnicity was British, and she identified as an atheist, a belief that aligned with her outspoken political views and lifelong activism.
Career
Margery Mason began her career at 14, performing with her parents’ semi-professional theatre company in East End working men’s clubs, often playing principal roles in pantomimes. During World War II, she joined the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA), entertaining troops in the Middle East, Far East, and India as a commissioned lieutenant.
Post-war, she honed her craft in repertory theatres in Macclesfield, Oldham, and Worthing, and wrote her first play, And Use of Kitchen, inspired by life in a London bedsit. In the 1960s, she served as artistic director of the Repertory Theatre in Bangor, County Down, though the venture struggled to attract audiences.
Mason’s career gained momentum with her television role as Sarah Stevens in John Hopkins’Talking to a Stranger (1966), earning critical acclaim for her performance as the mother in the family drama’s final episode, The Innocent Must Suffer. She became a founding member of the Actors’ Company in 1972 alongside Ian McKellen and Felicity Kendal, and later joined the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), taking on roles such as Rebecca Nurse in The Crucible (1984–1986) and Mme de Rosemonde in Les Liaisons Dangereuses (1985–1986).
Her film career included memorable roles in Charlie Bubbles (1968), The Princess Bride (1987) as the Ancient Booer, 101 Dalmatians (1996), Love Actually (2003), and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), where she played the Hogwarts Express Trolley Lady at age 92.
Mason’s most enduring role was as Alice North in Peak Practice (1993–2002), a role she secured at nearly 80 and maintained for the series’ decade-long run, outlasting many cast and crew members. Her film and television credits also included The Bill, Midsomer Murders, and Les Misérables (1998), reflecting her ability to adapt across genres.
As a playwright, she penned six plays, including It’s So Hard on the Family for the RSC, and published her autobiography, Peaks and Troughs or Never Quite Made It but What the Hell?, in 2005. Her vibrant energy, seen in her scuba diving certification at 81 and swimming into her 90s, underscored her lasting impact as a dynamic and principled artist.
Social Media
Margery Mason is not on social media network.
Personal Life
Margery Mason married Bulgarian-Canadian violinist Peter Daminoff in 1951, but the marriage ended in divorce in 1956 after Daminoff joined a Young Communists’ tour to Russia and did not return. They had no children.
A committed feminist and member of the Communist Party of Great Britain until 1968, Mason was an active supporter of left-wing causes, participating in CND marches and Labour Party initiatives. Known for her sharp wit and love of debate, she lived in Swiss Cottage, London, until her death on January 26, 2014, at age 100.
Filmography
- Charlie Bubbles (1968)
- Clegg (1970)
- The Raging Moon (1971)
- Made (1972)
- Hennessy (1975)
- Pink Floyd – The Wall (1982)
- The Princess Bride (1987)
- Victoria Wood Presents (1989)
- 101 Dalmatians (1996)
- Les Misérables (1998)
- Peak Practice (1993–2002)
- Love Actually (2003)
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005)
Net Worth
Margery Mason had an estimated net worth of $5 million at the time of her death in 2014. Her wealth was primarily accumulated through her extensive acting career in theatre, television, and film, notably her decade-long role in Peak Practice and appearances in high-profile films like Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.