Julie Stevens obit

Julie Stevens: Tributes to Avengers and Carry On Cleo actress who also appeared on Play School and Play Away

 

She was not on the list.

Tributes have been paid to an actress who appeared in everything from Carry On films and The Avengers to children’s television.

Julie Stevens died on Thursday aged 87 from Parkinson’s Disease, having been diagnosed with the illness in 2021.

Born in 1936 in Manchester, she trained as a nurse before trying to break into a showbusiness as a comedian. She would appear regularly on Play School and Play Away, and also was the narrator of schools television show Look and Read.

For older viewers, she was known for playing Venus Smith, an occasional partner of John Steed in the TV series The Avengers, taking turns with Honor Blackman's Cathy Gale in the early 1960s. Venus was a nightclub singer, and always sang in each of her six episodes.

Stevens also appeared in the comedy film Carry On Cleo playing the slave girl Gloria, as well as in comedy series Girls About Town, and children's historical series Cabbages and Kings, with Johnny Ball - father of Zoe - and Derek Griffiths in 1972.

Julie Stevens was born in Prestwich and attended Philips High School. She trained as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary, after starting her television career as a comedienne in TV show Bid for Fame. She was a regular on Play School and Play Away, and provided vocals for the schools television series Look and Read.

During the 1962–1963 season she played Venus Smith, an occasional partner of John Steed in the TV series, The Avengers, alternating with Honor Blackman's Cathy Gale. Venus was a nightclub singer, and each of her appearances included at least one musical number. She appeared in only six episodes, and Stevens is not usually included in the list of "Avengers girls".

In 1964, Stevens appeared in the British comedy film Carry On Cleo playing the slave girl Gloria. She also co-starred with Denise Coffey in the 1969–1971 ITV comedy series Girls About Town, and appeared in the children's historical comedy series Cabbages and Kings (1972) alongside Johnny Ball and Derek Griffiths.

Discography

Songs from Play School, with Rick Jones and Jonathan Cohen (1969)

 

 

Actress

Guy Henry in Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Pat Fitzjohn

2001

1 episode

 

Look and Read (1967)

Look and Read

8.2

TV Series

Singer

1981

10 episodes

 

Cabbages and Kings

TV Series

Various Roles

1972–1974

8 episodes

 

Girls About Town (1969)

Girls About Town

TV Series

Rosemary Pilgrim

1970–1971

10 episodes

 

Watch with Mother

TV Series

Storyteller

1967

13 episodes

 

Play School (1964)

Play School

7.0

TV Series

Maid

1965

1 episode

 

Carry on Cleo (1964)

Carry on Cleo

6.7

Gloria

1964

 

Friday Night

TV Series

June

1963

1 episode

 

James Ellis, John Slater, and Gary Watson in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Mrs. Knowles

1963

1 episode

 

The Human Jungle (1963)

The Human Jungle

7.9

TV Series

Second Nurse

1963

1 episode

 

The Avengers (1961)

The Avengers

8.3

TV Series

Venus Smith

1962–1963

6 episodes

 

Charles Hawtrey, Hattie Jacques, Norman Rossington, and Joan Sims in Our House (1960)

Our House

6.4

TV Series

1962

1 episode

 

All Aboard

7.6

TV Series

Shirley Henshawe

1959

2 episodes

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.5

TV Series

Secretary (voice)

1958

1 episode

 

Music Department

Look and Read (1967)

Look and Read

8.2

TV Series

singer

voice

1978–1992

39 episodes

 

Through the Dragon's Eye (1989)

Through the Dragon's Eye

8.4

TV Series

singer

1989

5 episodes

 

Writer

Play School (1964)

Play School

7.0

TV Series

scriptwriter

1969

5 episodes