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Mona Lee Washbourne (27 November 1903 – 15 November 1988) was an English actress of stage, film, and television. Her most critically acclaimed role was in the film Stevie (1978), late in her career, for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award.
Mona Washbourne was born in Solihull, Warwickshire and began her entertaining career training as a concert pianist.
In 1948, after several years acting professionally on stage, and numerous stage musical performances, she began appearing in films. Her film credits include the horror movie The Brides of Dracula (1960), Billy Liar (1963), and The Collector (1965). She is probably best known to American audiences for her role as housekeeper Mrs. Pearce in My Fair Lady (1964). She also appeared as the stern and caustic Mrs. Bramson in the remake of Night Must Fall (also 1964), and the matron in the film If.... (1968).
She appeared at both the Royal Court Theatre in London and on Broadway in 1970 in David Storey's Home. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play. In 1975 she appeared on the West End stage with James Stewart in a revival of Mary Chase's play Harvey, in the role originally taken by Josephine Hull. Washbourne won the 1981 New York Film Critics' Circle Awards for Best Supporting Actress in Stevie (1978).
In 1981 Washbourne appeared in Granada Television's TV miniseries adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel Brideshead Revisited as Nanny Hawkins. One of her last television appearances was in Where's the Key? (1983), a BBC play about Alzheimer's disease.
Mona Washbourne was married to actor Basil Dignam (1905-1979), whom she wed in 1940.
She died in 1988, aged 84, in London.
1984
as Mary Grey
1982
as Queen Mother
1981
as Mrs. Pearce
1981
as Nanny Hawkins
1980
as Madame Raquin
1979
as Aunt Lydia
1978
as Aunt
1977
1976
as Grandmother
1975
as Mrs. Jarley
1974
as Mrs. Helen Fiedke
1973
as Neighbour / Usher / Sister Hallett
1972
as Mrs. Hudson
1972
as Gran Alice Tallent
1972
as Kathleen
1970
1970
as Sister
1970
as Mrs. Gray
1970
as Mrs. Hayes
1969
as Mother
1968
as Matron
1968
as Julia Pryton
1968
as Mrs. Brown
1967
1967
as Tea Lady (uncredited)
1965
as Catherine Parsons
1965
as Aunt Annie
1965
as Aunt Lil
1965
as Aunt Mildred
1964
as Mrs. Pearce
1964
as Mrs. Bramson
1963
as Alice Fisher
1960
as Helga Lang
1959
as Nanny
1958
as Mrs. Daniels
1958
1957
as Agnes Smith
1957
as Mrs. Joe
1956
as Miss Merrow, a School Mistress
1956
as Miss Linstead
1956
as Nurse (uncredited)
1956
as Mrs. Thomas, landlady
1956
as Librarian
1955
1955
as Monica Bare
1954
as Midwife Appleby
1954
as Landlady
1954
as Waitress (uncredited)
1954
as Mrs. McBain
1954
as Midwifery Sister
1954
as Mum with Pram
1953
as Mrs MacGregor
1952
as Miss Minter
1950
as Mrs. Mead
1950
1950
as Fussy Mother
1949
as Mrs. Salop, Lady Gambler (uncredited)
1949
as Lady Levenson
1949
as Vicar's Wife
1948
as Miss Barnes