Quayle, whose father was the actor Douglas Quayle, studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). She debuted in East Lynne at age three and played other children's roles thereafter. She also worked as a model in her youth. During one modelling assignment she fell off a ladder, breaking her nose in three places. At her father's encouragement, she did not have it straightened.[3]
In 1976, she married Donald Baker, but the marriage ended in divorce. She was the sister of actor John Quayle.[4]
Quayle appeared on Broadway in 1963 in the original production of Stop the World – I Want to Get Off opposite Anthony Newley, for which she won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Musical Actress.[5] She also appeared in productions of that musical in London and South Africa.[6]
Her other television work includes the comedy drama series Mapp and Lucia, the children's science fiction series The Georgian House, and Grange Hill where she played the role of Mrs Monroe between 1990 and 1994. She also appeared as a regular panellist on the popular BBC2 panel game show What's My Line? in 1973.[4]
Death
In 2012, Quayle was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia; she died on 16 August 2019 at the age of 86.[1]
