Biography of Francoise Pascal (a.k.a.: Françoise Pascal)

Françoise Pascal (born October 14, 1949) is French-Israeli glamour model and actress who was born to French Mauritian parents, Mauritius was then a colony of the United Kingdom. She is best known for her comedy role in the British sitcom Mind Your Language (1977–79). She was the centerfold nude in the May, 1970, issue of Penthouse magazine. She also appeared in the August number and, contemporary with her magazine layouts, enjoyed a brief vogue as an actress in French cinema.

She had her start in show business in London as a dancer for Top of the Pops. She had two minor film roles in 1968, but her breakthrough role was playing Paola in There's a Girl in My Soup (1970) with Peter Sellers. She also appeared in Penthouse magazine in 1970. She went on to do the 1971 black comedy Burke & Hare, playing Marie. In 1974, she appeared in another Sellers' film, Soft Beds, Hard Battles. After that appearance, she moved to France where she starred in such films as Si tu n'en veux pas ("French Undressing", 1974). In 1972 the producer of the Jean Rollin's horror film La Rose de Fer offered her the lead in the film, although she was not Rollin's choice. Her performance won rave reviews but the film was not a success. She later appeared in Rollin's Les Raisins de la Mort (1978). Meanwhile, by 1976 she had returned to England to star in Keep It Up Downstairs alongside Diana Dors, Jack Wild and William Russell.

Her first television work came in October 1971 with a role in Coronation Street, playing Ray Langton's friend. Then came two roles in BBC's Play of the Month anthology strand Tennessee Williams' Summer & Smoke (1972) with Lee Remick and The Adventures of Don Quixote (1973) with Rex Harrison. She did numerous guest starring appearances in many television comedy series including My Honourable Mrs (1975) with Derek Nimmo, Happy Ever After (1976) with Terry Scott, and the game show Blankety Blank, hosted by Terry Wogan, all for the BBC. She co-starred in an episode of the thriller You're On Your Own starring Denis Quilley, also for the BBC.

In the mid 1970s, she met comedy writer Vince Powell at Thames Television while co-starring on one of his TV comedy shows, Rule Britannia!. Later, she learned that he was writing the part of Danielle Favre for her in his sitcom Mind Your Language. She did three seasons of the show. She then commenced on a stage career with Happy Birthday (reuniting with Frazer Hines), and starred in a pantomime of Aladdin. Pascal left for the United States in 1982, where she had a two year contract in The Young and The Restless. Other shows she appeared in while in Hollywood included Gavillan, My Man Adam, and Lightning, the White Stallion. Her stage presence in Twelfth Night as Olivia won her rave reviews.

Full name: Francoise Pascal

Born: October 14, 1949

Birthplace: Moka, Moka, Mauritius