Jeanette Charles obit

Queen Elizabeth lookalike and actress Jeanette Charles dies aged 96

 

She was not on the list.

An actress well-known for her resemblance to Queen Elizabeth II has died at 96 - the same age as the late monarch.

Jeanette Charles died at a care home in Great Beddow in Essex on Sunday, surrounded by her family.

She was well known for appearing as the Queen in films like Austin Powers and the Naked Gun.

Her daughter Carol Christophi paid tribute, saying: "Mum was a real character and a force of nature. She had an amazing life."

She added of her mother: "She was always respectful of the Queen and adored the Royal Family. We will miss her dearly."

Jeanette explained in 2022 how she began her career as a lookalike for the monarch by responding to an advert for a portrait model.

The artist Jane Thornhill submitted the portrait to the Royal Academy's summer exhibitionm but it was rejected because organisers assumed that it was of the Queen, and the monarch hadn't sat for it herself - which is against the rules.

Jeanette told the Guardian: "When she arrived at the gallery to collect her work, she was pounced on by journalists.

"After that, my phone didn’t stop ringing – I was interviewed for newspapers, magazines and radio, and an agent said my resemblance to the Queen could be a money-spinner."

She then began working in films and television, in adverts, music videos and public appearances over the next four decades.

"I handed out gifts with Liberace and presented a silver disc to the band Queen," she said.

Jeanette added: "I’m proud to have featured on Blue Peter. I sat in when the Spitting Image team were modelling their puppet of the Queen, and contributed to candid camera-type shows and skits for the Goodies, the Rutles and Spike Milligan, though I gave short shrift to Ali G when he asked me to drop my knickers as I got into a limousine."

Jeanette eventually retired in 2014 to her home in Essex.

 

Actress

Cristiano Ronaldo in Write the Future (2010)

Write the Future

7.9

TV Short

Queen

2010

 

Davina McCall, Dermot O'Leary, and Imogen Thomas in Big Brother's Little Brother (2001)

Big Brother's Little Brother

3.5

TV Series

The Queen

2009

1 episode

 

Ted Robbins in The Slammer (2006)

The Slammer

6.5

TV Series

The Queen

2006

1 episode

 

Mike Myers, Michael Caine, Beyoncé, and Verne Troyer in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002)

Austin Powers in Goldmember

6.2

Queen

2002

 

World of Pub (2001)

World of Pub

7.4

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth

2001

1 episode

 

Motörhead: God Save the Queen (2000)

Motörhead: God Save the Queen

6.5

Music Video

The Queen

2000

 

Tusenårsfesten (1999)

Tusenårsfesten

6.2

Video

Queen Elizabeth II

1999

 

Dennis Quaid, Natasha Richardson, and Lindsay Lohan in The Parent Trap (1998)

The Parent Trap

6.6

Queen Elizabeth II (uncredited)

1998

 

Shining Time Station: Queen for a Day (1995)

Shining Time Station: Queen for a Day

7.5

TV Movie

The Queen

1995

 

Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez (1972)

Un, dos, tres... responda otra vez

7.1

TV Series

Reina de Inglaterra

Reina Isabel II (as Jeanette Charles)

1992–1994

2 episodes

 

Tatort (1970)

Tatort

7.0

TV Series

Queen

1992

1 episode

 

Windsor Davies and Donald Sinden in Never the Twain (1981)

Never the Twain

6.6

TV Series

H.M. The Queen

1990

1 episode

 

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Linda Kelsey, and Doug Sheehan in Day by Day (1988)

Day by Day

6.9

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth (as Jeanette D. Charles)

1989

1 episode

 

Carrott Confidential (1987)

Carrott Confidential

7.7

TV Series

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

1988–1989

3 episodes

 

Leslie Nielsen, George Kennedy, Ricardo Montalban, Priscilla Presley, O.J. Simpson, Jeannette Charles, Reggie Jackson, and Nancy Marchand in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988)

The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!

7.6

Queen Elizabeth II

1988

 

The Sooty Show (1968)

The Sooty Show

7.1

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth II

1988

1 episode

 

Nipagesh Bachof (1987)

Nipagesh Bachof

5.5

Queen of England

1987

 

The Big Gag (1987)

The Big Gag

3.8

Queen Elizabeth II (as Jeanette Charles)

1987

 

Dolly Parton in Dolly (1987)

Dolly

7.4

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth (uncredited)

1987

1 episode

 

If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium (1987)

If It's Tuesday, It Still Must Be Belgium

4.9

TV Movie

Queen of England

1987

 

Ratman

6.9

TV Series

The Queen

1987

1 episode

 

Tickets for the Titanic (1987)

Tickets for the Titanic

5.1

TV Series

The Queen

1987

1 episode

 

Jeremy Child, James Faulkner, David Robb, and Tom Wilkinson in First Among Equals (1986)

First Among Equals

8.4

TV Mini Series

HM The Queen (uncredited)

1986

1 episode

 

Tom Berenger, Liam Neeson, David Keith, and Madolyn Smith Osborne in If Tomorrow Comes (1986)

If Tomorrow Comes

7.7

TV Mini Series

Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)

1986

 

Roland Rat: The Series (1985)

Roland Rat: The Series

6.8

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo, Dana Hill, and Jason Lively in National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)

National Lampoon's European Vacation

6.2

Queen Elizabeth

1985

 

Lift Off! (1984)

Lift Off!

8.6

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Leonard Rossiter in Tripper's Day (1984)

Tripper's Day

6.1

TV Series

Customer (uncredited)

1984

1 episode

 

There's a Lot of It About (1982)

There's a Lot of It About

7.8

TV Series

Various Characters

1982

1 episode

 

The Queen Special (1980)

The Queen Special

8.4

TV Movie

Queen Elizabeth (as Jeanette Charles)

1980

 

Rowan Atkinson, Griff Rhys Jones, Mel Smith, and Pamela Stephenson in Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979)

Not the Nine O'Clock News

7.9

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth II (as Jeanette Charles)

1980

1 episode

 

Spike Milligan in Q5 (1969)

Q5

8.0

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth II

Various Characters

1975–1980

8 episodes

 

Barry Evans in Mind Your Language (1977)

Mind Your Language

8.7

TV Series

Mrs. Baxter

1978

1 episode

 

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash (1978)

The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash

7.3

TV Movie

A Queen of England (as Jeanette Charles)

1978

 

Saturday Night Live (1975)

Saturday Night Live

8.0

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth

1977

1 episode

 

Queen Kong (1976)

Queen Kong

3.3

HM The Queen (uncredited)

1976

 

Naughty Girls on the Loose (1976)

Naughty Girls on the Loose

4.3

The Lady

1976

 

Born Erect

5.3

The Queen

1976

 

Rutland Weekend Television (1975)

Rutland Weekend Television

7.5

TV Series

Queen Elizabeth II

1975

1 episode

 

Loriots Telecabinet (1974)

Loriots Telecabinet

8.6

TV Movie

Queen Elizabeth II. (as Jeanette Charles)

1974