Connie Booth

Biography

Constance "Connie" Booth, born on December 2, 1940, in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a notable American writer and actress, best recognized for her role as Polly Sherman in the iconic British television series Fawlty Towers, which she co-wrote with her then-husband, John Cleese. After an accomplished acting career, Booth transitioned to psychotherapy in 1995, a profession she pursued until her retirement.

Booth grew up in a family with artistic influences—her father was a stockbroker on Wall Street, and her mother was an actress. The family later settled in New York State, where Booth began her acting career as a Broadway understudy while juggling work as a waitress. It was in New York that she met Cleese, and the couple married on February 20, 1968.

Her television career flourished with guest roles in Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969-1974) and appearances in Monty Python films such as And Now for Something Completely Different (1971) and Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975). She also appeared in a range of other productions, including a BBC adaptation of Little Lord Fauntleroy and the drama The Story of Ruth (1981).

Despite her success, Booth remained tight-lipped about Fawlty Towers for three decades, only revisiting the show in a documentary for Gold in 2009. Throughout her career, she also made significant contributions to London theatre, starring in various productions from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, including the West End's Little Lies alongside John Mills.