VITAL STATISTICS
Birthday: March 17
Marriages:
Don Fauntleroy (1986-present)
William Friedkin (1982-1985)
Henri Gabriel (1980-1981)
Children:
Jack (in his early 20s)
George (born 3/11/98)
Stepdaughters Season and Juliana, from Don's previous marriage.
BIOGRAPHY
Lesley-Anne Down was born and raised in Putney, which is located on the Thames-side part of London. She responded to a newspaper ad looking for child models when she was 10 and appeared in ads for Clairol, Clarks shoes and Caress soap. Landed her first role as a troubled teen in The Smashing Bird I Used to Know when she was 12. Left school at age 15. Became involved with writer Bruce Robinson (The Killing Fields) when she was 15 and he was 23; credits him for teaching her about the world. Went through a messy two-year custody trial with her ex-husband, director William Friedkin (The Exorcist) for their son, Jack. Although both were married to others at the time, she met and fell in love with her current husband, director/cinematographer Don Fauntleroy, on the set of NORTH AND SOUTH in 1985. Writes under the pseudonym W.F. Steinberg; some of her writing projects include The Devil's Breath and Saving Grace. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for TV category in 1986, for NORTH AND SOUTH. She has won German Bravo Awards and the Evening Standard British Film Award for Most Promising Newcomer-Actress in 1978. She has also appeared on the cover of numerous publications, including Life magazine.
TRIVIA
—Voted Britain's Most Beautiful Teenager in 1970.
—Loves to host dinners with her neighbors.
—She has an extensive collection of Victorian children's books, which she has collected since age 15.
—Stands 5 feet, 5 inches tall.
—Moved to the United States permanently in 1981.
—Enjoys reading biographies, gardening and walking along the beaches and trails of Malibu, where she lives.
—Loves chocolate and sour worms.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Other Soap Roles
DAYS OF OUR LIVES (Lady Sheraton, 2001)
SUNSET BEACH (Olivia Richards, 1997-'99)
DALLAS (Stephanie Rogers, 1990)
TV Roles
BEASTMASTER III (TV-movie, Morgana, 1996)
DIAGNOSIS MURDER (guest star, Catherine Windsor, 1996);
NORTH AND SOUTH (miniseries, Madeline LaMotte Main, 1985)
THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII (miniseries, Chloe, 1984)
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME (TV-movie, Esmeralda, 1982)
Film Roles
13th Child: Legend of the Jersey Devil (District Attorney Murphy, 2002)
Saving Grace (Lillian, 1996)
Rough Cut (Gillian Bromley, 1980)
Hanover Street (Margaret Sellinger, 1979)
The First Great Train Robbery (Miriam/Madame Lucienne/Miss Brigid Lawson, 1979)
The Betsy (Lady Bobby Ayres, 1978)
A Little Night Music (Anne Egerman, 1977)
MEMORABLE QUOTES
"That's what you need, a bit of variety. Wouldn't it be nice if real life was like that? Switch husbands and lovers accordingly. 'I feel like a jokey one today. I want you.' 'No, I can't bear the jokes anymore. Can I please have somebody who's serious?'"—Soap Opera Weekly, 9/2/03
"Raising a child now isn't as carefree as it was 15 years ago. I know the pitfalls, because I have the knowledge, and realize how children can be influenced and what dangers face them. In that respect, the paranoia of raising a child has been raised for me." —Weekly, 10/19/99
"I really do think, though, that [Olivia] needs to relax -- redecorate the house, meditate or even take a trip to the karaoke bar. Can you imagine? Olivia karaoking?" —Weekly, 10/19/99
"It's only in America that when a relationship is over, it's over. We British are much more civilized about that sort of thing." —Weekly, 10/21/97
