Queen Elizabeth II lookalike actress who starred in Austin Powers and The Naked Gun dies aged 96

Virgin Radio

5 Jun 2024, 14:52

Actress Jeannette Charles, who worked in movies as a Queen Elizabeth II lookalike, has died aged 96. 

Jeannette rose to fame for her incredible resemblance to the late monarch, and appeared in movies including Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Naked Gun and National Lampoon’s European Vacation. 

The actress passed away in her care home at Great Baddow, Essex on Sunday (2nd June) while surrounded by loved ones. Her daughter Carol Christophi confirmed the news in a statement, and described her mum as “a real character and a force of nature.”

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She added: “She had an amazing life. She was always respectful of the Queen and adored the Royal Family. We will miss her dearly.”

Jeannette originally struggled to find work due to the likeness to the Queen, and went into secretary work before being spotted in 1971. She then trained up her voice to sound like the Queen, and started to make in-character appearances before landing in movies including All You Need is Cash and Queen Kong. 

As well as movies, the star had a semi-regular role in Spike Milligan’s Q series on the BBC, and made a hilarious cameo on Big Brother in 2009. 

Jeannette opened up about life as a Queen lookalike to The Guardian back in 2022, and shared her most memorable moments while appearing as the monarch. 

She revealed at the time: "I handed out gifts with Liberace and presented a silver disc to the band Queen. The only time [husband] Ken was impressed was when he got to meet Muhammad Ali, who had requested a photograph with me.

"I’m proud to have featured on Blue Peter. I sat in when the Spitting Image team were modelling their puppet of the Queen, and contributed to candid camera-type shows and skits for the Goodies, the Rutles and Spike Milligan, though I gave short shrift to Ali G when he asked me to drop my knickers as I got into a limousine."

Jeannette carried on her illustrious lookalike career across film and TV all the way through until 2014 when she officially retired. 

The thoughts of everyone at Virgin Radio go out to Jeannette's friends and family.