Jan Francis

Jan Francis

77 · Born: Aug 5, 1947

Personal Details

BornAug 5, 1947 Westminster, London, England, UK

Biography

Jan's formative years were spent in the vibrant neighborhood of Streatham, situated in the heart of South London, where she initially pursued her passion for dance by leaving school at the tender age of 16 to become a professional ballet dancer.

Subsequently, she underwent rigorous training at the prestigious Royal Ballet School, where she honed her craft and eventually joined the esteemed ranks of the Royal Ballet, until a knee injury forced her to bid farewell to her beloved dance career.

However, fate had other plans for Jan, as she soon received a life-changing opportunity when she was cast in the popular television comedy series, Just Good Friends, playing the endearing role of Penny.

In her personal life, Jan has found happiness with screenwriter Thomas Ellice, whom she had the pleasure of proposing to on a memorable leap year, and together they have been blessed with the joy of parenthood, proudly raising two children.

Career

{"id":10622,"title":"Unforgotten","year":2025,"character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/unforgotten","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/liqd79hce8g0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/shows\/poster\/liqd79hce8g0.jpg"},"released":1}
2025
{"id":103831798,"title":"Next of Kin","year":2018,"character":"Elspeth","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/next-of-kin","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831798.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831798.jpg"},"released":1}
2018
Next of Kin
Next of Kin as Elspeth
{"id":147684,"title":"Reunited","year":"2010","character":"Anita","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/reunited-2010","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_147684.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_147684.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
Reunited
Reunited as Anita
{"id":147258,"title":"U Be Dead","year":"2009","character":"Irene Pemberton","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/u-be-dead","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_147258.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_147258.jpg"},"released":1}
2009
U Be Dead
U Be Dead as Irene Pemberton
{"id":2077,"title":"Mistresses","year":2009,"character":"Julia","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/mistresses-2008","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_2077.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_2077.jpg"},"released":1}
Mistresses
Mistresses as Julia
{"id":103835872,"title":"Stay Lucky","year":1991,"character":"Sally Hardcastle","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/stay-lucky","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103835872.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103835872.jpg"},"released":1}
1991
Stay Lucky
Stay Lucky as Sally Hardcastle
{"id":103831220,"title":"Just Good Friends","year":1986,"character":"Penny Warrender","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/just-good-friends","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831220.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831220.jpg"},"released":1}
1986
Just Good Friends
Just Good Friends as Penny Warrender
{"id":9059,"title":"Champions","year":"1984","character":"Jo Beswick","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/champions","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_9059.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_9059.jpg"},"released":1}
1984
Champions
Champions as Jo Beswick
{"id":103834533,"title":"The Good Companions","year":1980,"character":"Susie Dean","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/the-good-companions","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103834533.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103834533.jpg"},"released":1}
1980
{"id":11755,"title":"Dracula","year":"1979","character":"Mina Van Helsing","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/dracula-1979","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1t7f9ml7u5v8.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1t7f9ml7u5v8.jpg"},"released":1}
1979
Dracula
Dracula as Mina Van Helsing
{"id":163439,"title":"ITV Playhouse","year":"1979","character":"Prudence Dunning","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/itv-playhouse","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_163439.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_163439.jpg"},"released":1}
ITV Playhouse
ITV Playhouse as Prudence Dunning
{"id":1406,"title":"Ripping Yarns","year":1979,"character":"Miranda","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/ripping-yarns","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_1406.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_1406.jpg"},"released":1}
Ripping Yarns
Ripping Yarns as Miranda
{"id":8577,"title":"Secret Army","year":1977,"character":"Lisa 'Yvette' Colbert","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/secret-army","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_8577.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_8577.jpg"},"released":1}
1977
Secret Army
Secret Army as Lisa 'Yvette' Colbert
{"id":103831565,"title":"BBC Play of the Month","year":1976,"character":"Grace Harkaway","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/bbc-play-of-the-month","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_103831565.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_103831565.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
BBC Play of the Month
BBC Play of the Month as Grace Harkaway
{"id":186137,"title":"Play for Today","year":"1974","character":"Lizzie","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/play-for-today-1974-11","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186137.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186137.jpg"},"released":1}
1974