Cherie Lunghi

Cherie Lunghi – Life, Career, and Notable Highlights

Explore the life and work of Cherie Lunghi — English stage, film, and television actress known for Excalibur, The Manageress, and decades of performance across screen and theatre.

Introduction

Cherie Mary Lunghi (born April 4, 1952) is an English actress and voice-over artist whose career spans theatre, film, and television. She first gained wide attention in the 1981 epic Excalibur, portraying Guenevere, and has thereafter built a rich and varied portfolio in British drama, stage work, and television.

Early Life & Background

Cherie Lunghi was born on 4 April 1952 in Nottingham, England. Cherie Mary Lunghi.

Her father was Alessandro Lunghi, of Italian heritage, and her mother was English. She was raised primarily by her mother, aunt, and grandmother, with limited contact with her father.

For her training, she attended the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Career & Achievements

Theatre & Early Stage Work

Lunghi’s early career included theatre performances, including work with the Royal Shakespeare Company in roles such as Perdita, Celia, and Viola. Her strong stage background helped ground her acting fundamentals and versatility.

Breakthrough: Excalibur & Film Work

Her international breakthrough role came in 1981, playing Guinevere in John Boorman’s Excalibur.

Through the 1980s and 1990s she appeared in many films, including:

• King David (1985), as Michal

• The Mission (1986)

• Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994)

• Jack & Sarah (1995)

She often balanced film work with television and stage commitments.

Television & Notable Roles

Lunghi has had a substantial TV career, including:

• The Manageress (1989–1990), in which she starred as Gabriella Benson, the football club manageress in a drama about a woman leading in a male-dominated sphere.

• She also appeared in classic British dramas, adaptations, and multi-episode roles across the decades.

• Her television work also included a long-running series of adverts for Kenco coffee.

• In 2008, she participated in Strictly Come Dancing, showcasing her versatility and public appeal beyond acting roles.

Her career remains active, with credits continuing into recent years.

Personal Life

Lunghi was briefly married to Ralph Lawson in 1975–1976. The marriage was reportedly one of convenience to allow Lawson to remain in the UK; the couple never lived together as husband and wife.

She has one daughter, Nathalie Lunghi (born 1986), with film director Roland Joffé.

Artistic Style & Reputation

• Lunghi is praised for her grace, range, and emotional depth, able to move between epic historical pieces and intimate drama.

• Her theatre training and classical foundation gave her strength in portraying complex characters, especially in dramatic or period contexts.

• Her sustained presence across decades attests to her adaptability and professionalism in the industry.