Carmen Silvera was a renowned British comic actress of Spanish descent, best known for her television roles. Her most iconic role was playing Edith Artois, the feisty and patriotic wife of the main character Rene Artois, in the hit sitcom "'Allo 'Allo!" (1982-1992). The series, set in German-occupied France during World War II, followed the lives of the French Resistance and their collaborations with corrupt German officers.
Edith was a complex character, often at odds with her husband's opportunistic nature and his numerous affairs with their waitresses. Her own romantic relationships with undertaker Monsieur Alfonse and Italian Captain Alberto Bertorelli added to the show's comedic chaos. Despite her character's flaws, Edith was a proud and idealistic patriot, often clashing with her husband's more pragmatic approach to life.
Born in 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, to British expatriate parents, Silvera grew up in Warwickshire, England. Her father, Roland Silvera, was a well-known bowls player and president of the Warwickshire County Bowls Association. During World War II, Silvera was evacuated to Montreal, Canada, where she began taking ballet lessons. However, she soon turned to acting, training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.
Silvera's early career included roles in repertory theatre and television, including a brief marriage to actor John Cunliffe. In the late 1950s, she began appearing in television roles, including the soap opera "Compact" (1962-1965) and the science fiction series "Doctor Who" (1963-1989).
In the 1970s, Silvera made her film debut in the erotic film "Clinic Exclusive" (1971) and appeared in several British productions. Her most notable role during this period was in the sitcom "Dad's Army" (1968-1977),where she played Fiona Gray, a middle-aged woman who joins the war effort.
Silvera's breakthrough role came in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when she was cast in the sitcom "'Allo 'Allo!" (1982-1992). The show's success propelled her to fame, and she continued to work in television and theatre throughout the 1990s. Her final film role was in the drama "La Passione" (1996).
Sadly, Silvera passed away in 2002 at the age of 80 due to lung cancer. Despite her passing, her legacy lives on through her iconic role as Edith Artois in "'Allo 'Allo!", which remains a beloved classic among British audiences.
