Yvonne Furneaux was an actress who starred in classic films such as “La Dolce Vita” by Federico Fellini, “The Mummy,” co-starring Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee, and Roman Polanski’s “Repulsion.”
- Died: July 5, 2024 (Who else died on July 5?)
- Details of death: Died in of complications from a stroke in North Hampton, New Hampshire at the age of 98.
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Yvonne Furneaux’s legacy
Born Elisabeth Yvonne Scatcherd in France, Yvonne Furneaux first began to dabble in acting while study at St Hilda’s College, Oxford. Drawn to the craft, she went on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and by 24 was performing in stage productions of Shakespeare’s work. Her film debut came in 1952, though it was only a small part, but in 1955, she starred in the Silver Lion Award-winning “Le Amiche,” which helped launch a successful career in Italian cinema.
By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Furneaux had established herself as a strong serious actress. She starred alongside Peter Cushing (1913–1994) and Christopher Lee (1922–2015) in 1959’s Hammer Horror classic, “The Mummy,” and the following year starred in Federico Fellini’s (1920–1993) landmark film, “La Dolce Vita.” In 1965, she was featured in Roman Polanski’s psychological horror classic, “Repulsion,” completing a trifecta of films now widely considered landmarks of cinema.
Furneaux largely gave up acting after “Repulsion,” appearing in just four more films over the next 20 years, following her marriage to cinematographer Jacques Natteau (1920–2007). Her last on-screen performance was in 1984’s “Frankenstein’s Great Aunt Tillie,” in which she played the titular role.
Tributes to Yvonne Furneaux
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
