Claire Benedict
| Claire Benedict | |
|---|---|
| Born |
6 September 1951 Antigua |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1978 – Present |
Claire Benedict is a British actress renown for her work in classical productions on the British stage, but known most widely for portraying the principal character Mma Ramotswe in the continuing radio adaptations of The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. She won a Time Out Award for Best Performance for her portrayal of Sophia Adams in Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, directed by Maya Angelou. She lives in Todmorden in the Pennines.
Benedict was born in Antigua, started acting at Norwood Secondary School for Girls then Kingsway Further Education College on the Grays Inn Road, London. After two years at Kingways College, she got into the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA). After leaving the Academy Benedict worked with Theatre in Education (TIE) in London then trained with the Black Theatre Workshop of Montréal.
In her first ten years after training, Benedict worked on the British stage in leading roles for smaller theatre companies and supporting roles for larger theatre companies until in 1988 she won a Time Out award for Best Performance for her portrayal of Sophia Adams in Errol John's Moon on a Rainbow Shawl, directed by Maya Angelou.
In 1992, Benedict got her first job at the Royal Shakespeare Company to do three plays, Odyssey, Cleopatra and Tamburlaine. On Cleopatra, Benedict was taken on as an understudy for Clare Higgins when not many people of colour were playing Cleopatra. In November 1992, Benedict was needed to step in at short notice and had not had time to fully rehearse the role. Carol Chillington-Rutter's book "Enter the Body" explores this subject with reference to Benedict's performance, where she explores why women of colour have traditionally played Charmain and white women Cleopatra.
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