
Connie Booth
Constance "Connie" Booth (born 2 December 1940) is an American writer and actress, known for appearances on British television and particularly for her portrayal of Polly Sherman in the popular 1970s television show Fawlty Towers, which she co-wrote with her then husband John Cleese. In 1995, she quit acting and worked as a psychotherapist until her retirement. Booth was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on December 2, 1940. Her father was a Wall Street stockbroker and her mother was an actress. The family later moved to New York State. Booth entered acting and worked as a Broadway understudy and waitress. She met John Cleese while he was working in New York City; they married on February 20, 1968. Booth secured parts in episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969โ74) and in the Python films And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975, as a woman accused of being a witch). She also appeared in How to Irritate People (1968), a pre-Monty Python film starring Cleese and other future Monty Python members; a short film titled Romance with a Double Bass (1974) which Cleese adapted from a short story by Anton Chekhov; and The Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know It (1977), Cleese's Sherlock Holmes spoof, as Mrs. Hudson Booth and Cleese co-wrote and co-starred in Fawlty Towers (1975 and 1979), in which she played waitress and chambermaid Polly. For thirty years Booth declined to talk about the show until she agreed to participate in a documentary about the series for the digital channel Gold in 2009. Booth played various roles on British television, including Sophie in Dickens of London (1976), Mrs. Errol in a BBC adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) and Miss March in a dramatisation of Edith Wharton's The Buccaneers (1995). She also starred in the lead role of a drama called The Story of Ruth (1981), in which she played the role of the schizophrenic daughter of an abusive father. In 1994, she played a supporting role in "The Culex Experiment", an episode of the children's science fiction TV series The Tomorrow People. Booth also had a stage career, primarily in the London theatre, appearing in 10 productions from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s, notably starring with John Mills in the 1983โ1984 West End production of Little Lies at Wyndham's Theatre
Known For
Credits
- 2023 ยทFawlty Towers: 50 Years of Laughsas Self
- 2018 ยทMichael Palin: A Life on Screenas
- 2017 ยทA Good Day to Die, Hoka Heyas Polly Sherman (archive footage)
- 2014 ยทA Life on Screenas Herself
- 2009 ยทFawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Polly Sherman
- 2005 ยทFawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself
- 2004 ยทRemember the Secret Policeman's Ball?as Self
- 2004 ยทThe Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 3as Self (archive footage)
- 2004 ยทThe Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 2as Self (archive footage)
- 2004 ยทThe Best of Monty Python's Flying Circus Volume 1as Self (archive footage)
- 1999 ยทThe Monty Python Storyas Self
- 1999 ยทMonty Python: From Spam to Spermas Self
- 1995 ยทThe Buccaneersas Jackie March
- 1994 ยทFaithas Pat Harbinson
- 1993 ยทLeon the Pig Farmeras Yvonne Chadwick
- 1991 ยทSmack and Thistleas Ms Kane
- 1991 ยทAmerican Friendsas Caroline Hartley
- 1990 ยทThe World of Eddie Wearyas Madge
- 1988 ยทHigh Spiritsas Marge
- 1988 ยทHawksas Nurse Javis
- 1987 ยท84 Charing Cross Roadas The Lady from Delaware
- 1987 ยทThe Return of Sherlock Holmesas Violet Morstan
- 1986 ยทPast Caringas Linda
- 1986 ยทRocket to the Moonas Belle Stark
- 1984 ยทNairobi Affairas Mrs. Gardner
- 1983 ยทThe Hound of the Baskervillesas Laura Lyons
- 1982 ยทThe Deadly Gameas Helen Trapp
- 1982 ยทThe Story of Ruthas Ruth Baker
- 1982 ยทAmerican Playhouseas Belle Stark
- 1981 ยทBergeracas Monica McLeod
- 1980 ยทLittle Lord Fauntleroyas Mrs. Errol
- 1980 ยทWhy Didn't They Ask Evans?as Sylva Bassington-ffrench
- 1979 ยทWorzel Gummidgeas Aunt Sally II
- 1977 ยทThe Strange Case of the End of Civilization as We Know Itas Mrs. Hudson / Francine Moriarty
- 1977 ยทThe Mermaid Frolicsas Various
- 1977 ยทSpaghetti Two-Stepas Sheila
- 1976 ยทThe Secret Policeman's Ballas Self
- 1975 ยท84 Charing Cross Roadas Ginny
- 1975 ยทFawlty Towersas Polly Sherman
- 1975 ยทMonty Python and the Holy Grailas The Witch
- 1975 ยทThe After Dinner Gameas Lee-Ann Good
- 1974 ยทRomance with a Double Bassas Princess Costanza
- 1973 ยทIs This a Record?as Various
- 1971 ยทAnd Now for Something Completely Differentas Best Girl
- 1970 ยทPlay for Todayas Lee-Ann Good
- 1970 ยทPlay for Todayas Ginny
- 1969 ยทMonty Python's Flying Circusas Various
- 1969 ยทMonty Python's Flying Circusas Second Juror
- 1969 ยทHow to Irritate Peopleas Various