Frances de la Tour

Frances de la Tour
De la Tour speaking at the British Library in 2019
Born	Frances J. de Lautour (1944-07-30) 30 July 1944 (age 80) Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1965–present
Spouses	David Godman ​ ​ (m. 1968, divorced)​ Tom Kempinski ​ ​ (m. 1972; div. 1982)​
Children	2
Relatives	Andy de la Tour (brother)

Frances J. de Lautour^[1] (born 30 July 1944), better known as Frances de la Tour, is an English actress. She is known for her role as Miss Ruth Jones in the television sitcom Rising Damp from 1974 until 1978. She is a Tony Award winner and three-time Olivier Award winner.

She performed as Mrs. Lintott in the play The History Boys in London and on Broadway, winning the 2006 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play. She reprised the role in the 2006 film. Her other film roles include Madame Olympe Maxime in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005). Television roles include Emma Porlock in the Dennis Potter serial Cold Lazarus (1996), headmistress Margaret Baron in BBC sitcom Big School and Violet Crosby in the sitcom Vicious.