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Wanda Ventham
ACTOR

Wanda Ventham

Known for Sherlock · Doctor Who · Midsomer Murders

Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English television actress. She appeared in the third and fourth series of BBC's Sherlock in 2014 and 2017, where she played the title character's mum, with her son, actor Benedict Cumberbatch starring in the title role of Holmes. In April 2014, People magazine featured her in its "Most Beautiful People in the World" edition.

Snapshot 2026-10-13

Born
Aug 5, 1935
Birthplace
Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK
Known For
Acting

Biography

Wanda Ventham (born 5 August 1935) is an English television actress. She appeared in the third and fourth series of BBC's Sherlock in 2014 and 2017, where she played the title character's mum, with her son, actor Benedict Cumberbatch starring in the title role of Holmes.

In April 2014, People magazine featured her in its "Most Beautiful People in the World" edition.

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Known For

TVSherlock
SherlockMrs. Holmes · 2010
★ 8.5
TVDoctor Who
Doctor WhoJean Rock · 1963
★ 7.9
TVMidsomer Murders
Midsomer MurdersRomany Rose · 1997
★ 7.5
TVThe Avengers
The Avengers1 eps · 1961
★ 7.8

Filmography

Movies

My Teenage DaughterGina
1956
The Navy LarkMabel
1959
On the BeatOutraged Hairdressers Customer (uncredited)
1962
Solo for SparrowWaitress
1962
A Stitch in TimeNurse (uncredited)
1963
The CracksmanSandra
1963
We Joined the NavyDartmouth Girl
1963
Carry On CleoPretty Bidder (uncredited)
1964
Joey BoyItalian Girl
1965
The Big JobDot Franklin
1965
The Intelligence MenBlonde at Reception Dinner Table (uncredited)
1965
The Knack... and How to Get ItGym Mistress (uncredited)
1965
Death Is a WomanPriscilla Blunstone-Smythe
1966
The EyeJosephine
1966
The Spy with a Cold NoseMrs. Winters
1966
Doctor Who: The Faceless OnesJean Rock
1967
Mister Ten Per CentKathy
1967
Carry On Up the KhyberKhasi's First Wife
1968
The Blood Beast TerrorClare Mallinger
1968
UFO: Red alert... Attack on Earth!Colonel Virginia Lake
1971
Walt, King of the DumperJasmine
1971
UFO: Take Them AliveColonnello Virginia Lake
1972
Captain Kronos: Vampire HunterLady Durward
1973
Doctor Who: Image of the FendahlThea Ransome
1977
That's Carry On!Pretty Bidder (archive footage) (uncredited)
1977
You're Not Watching Me, MummySusan
1979
Invasion: UFOCol. Virginia Lake
1980
Doctor Who: Time and the RaniFaroon
1987
Out of the ShadowsLiz Bennett
1988
Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage WarVictoria
2002
AsylumBridie Straffen
2005
Run For Your WifeWoman on Bus
2012
Absolutely Fabulous: The MovieViolet
2016
UFO From Earth to the MoonSelf
2016

Television

Armchair TheatreMilly Craddock · 1 eps
1956
Armchair TheatreJulie · 1 eps
1956
No Hiding Place2 eps
1959
Danger ManPenny · 1 eps
1960
The Avengers1 eps
1961
The Rag Trade58 eps
1961
The SaintPenny · 1 eps
1962
The SaintLaura Stride · 1 eps
1962
Z-Cars1 eps
1962
Doctor WhoJean Rock · 4 eps
1963
Doctor WhoThea Ransome · 4 eps
1963
Doctor WhoFaroon · 3 eps
1963
The Human JungleNurse · 1 eps
1963
SP
Story ParadeMary · 1 eps
1964
The Likely LadsAngela · 1 eps
1964
B
BlackmailSusan Bannerton · 1 eps
1965
Out of the UnknownJosephine · 1 eps
1965
The TroubleshootersMoira Hart · 2 eps
1965
Thirty-Minute TheatreJasmine · 1 eps
1965
Softly, Softly1 eps
1966
WT
Watch the BirdiesIrene Grant · 5 eps
1966
The PrisonerComputer Attendant · 1 eps
1967
TW
The World of WodehouseJane · 1 eps
1967
The CaesarsEnnia · 1 eps
1968
The ExpertPeggy Kirby · 1 eps
1968
Department SLeila Rankin · 1 eps
1969
Softly Softly: Task ForceJulie Brent · 1 eps
1969
UFOVirginia Lake · 9 eps
1970
The Lotus EatersAnn Shepherd · 15 eps
1972
DM
Dial M for MurderMargot Lamasse · 1 eps
1974
The SweeneyBrenda · 1 eps
1975
LA
Life and Death of Penelope1 eps
1976
TU
The Upchat LineGwen · 1 eps
1977
All Creatures Great and SmallMrs. Ridge · 1 eps
1978
FH
Fallen HeroDorothy Hopkins · 12 eps
1978
SP
Scottish PlaybillNel Cree · 1 eps
1978
MinderBeryl · 1 eps
1979
Only When I LaughFiona · 1 eps
1979
Only Fools and HorsesPamela Parry · 1 eps
1981
UC
Union Castle7 eps
1982
LA
Love and MarriageMargaret · 1 eps
1984
Executive Stress19 eps
1986
FL
Flying LadyLady Manley · 1 eps
1987
CL
Capstick's LawMadge Capstick · 6 eps
1989
HeartbeatFiona Weston · 4 eps
1992
Men Behaving Badly1 eps
1992
The World of HammerSelf (archive footage) · 1 eps
1994
Next of Kin22 eps
1995
Hetty Wainthropp InvestigatesMargaret Balshaw · 2 eps
1996
Midsomer MurdersRomany Rose · 1 eps
1997
The Vanishing ManMrs Braithwaite · 1 eps
1997
V
VerdictJudge Beverley Conran · 1 eps
1998
CouplingEdna · 1 eps
2000
R&
Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)1 eps
2000
LewisEleanor Mallory · 1 eps
2007
SherlockMrs. Holmes · 3 eps
2010
Father BrownEllen Jennings · 1 eps
2013
DepartureWendy · 5 eps
2019

Photos

Wanda Ventham photo
Wanda Ventham photo
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