Father (The Avengers)
Encyclopedia
"Father" is the codename given to a blind
female British government official who appears as a supporting character in the 1998
film
The Avengers, based on a very brief appearance in the British TV series
of the same name.
for "Mother
," a wheelchair-using male British government official who gives orders to the main characters in the last season of the series and in the film. The humorous use of "Mother" for a male character is the source of the use of "Father" for a female character. In the original series, "Father" is portrayed by Iris Russell; in the film, she is portrayed by Fiona Shaw
.
, who portrayed "Mother
," was not available due to scheduling conflicts. Although her appearance in the TV series is exceedingly brief, it does make clear that she compensates for her blindness by the exceptional acuteness of her hearing
(an ability that is also apparent, though never explained, in the film).
(portrayed by Ralph Fiennes
) and Emma Peel
(portrayed by Uma Thurman
), the main characters. However, her importance to the plot becomes obvious near the end of the movie, when it is revealed that she is a traitor, in league with the villain
, Sir August de Wynter (portrayed by Sean Connery
). Both she and Sir August are foiled in the end by the efforts of the Avengers.
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
female British government official who appears as a supporting character in the 1998
1998 in film
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film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
The Avengers, based on a very brief appearance in the British TV series
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
of the same name.
Role
She can be regarded as a foilFoil (literature)
In fiction, a foil is a character who contrasts with another character in order to highlight particular qualities of another character....
for "Mother
Mother (The Avengers)
"Mother" is a fictional character in British TV series The Avengers. "Mother" is a codename. In the series the incumbent in the role is a wheelchair using male British government official. He made his debut in The Forget-Me-Knot, which was Emma Peel's final episode and Tara King's first. In...
," a wheelchair-using male British government official who gives orders to the main characters in the last season of the series and in the film. The humorous use of "Mother" for a male character is the source of the use of "Father" for a female character. In the original series, "Father" is portrayed by Iris Russell; in the film, she is portrayed by Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw
Fiona Shaw, CBE is an Irish actress and theatre director. Although to international audiences she is probably most familiar for her minor role as Petunia Dursley in the Harry Potter films, she is an accomplished classical actress...
.
Television appearance
"Father" only appears in a single episode (Stay Tuned) in the final season of the original series, where she is a very minor character, introduced mainly because actor Patrick NewellPatrick Newell
Patrick David Newell was a British actor known for his large size. It is reputed he gained weight as a deliberate attempt to boost his career, marking him out for some niche roles...
, who portrayed "Mother
Mother (The Avengers)
"Mother" is a fictional character in British TV series The Avengers. "Mother" is a codename. In the series the incumbent in the role is a wheelchair using male British government official. He made his debut in The Forget-Me-Knot, which was Emma Peel's final episode and Tara King's first. In...
," was not available due to scheduling conflicts. Although her appearance in the TV series is exceedingly brief, it does make clear that she compensates for her blindness by the exceptional acuteness of her hearing
Hearing (sense)
Hearing is the ability to perceive sound by detecting vibrations through an organ such as the ear. It is one of the traditional five senses...
(an ability that is also apparent, though never explained, in the film).
Movie characterisation
In the film, the character of "Father" gets considerably more screen time. Early on, she does not seem very important; she is simply a higher official, whereas "Mother" is the direct authority over John SteedJohn Steed
John Steed is a fictional character and the central protagonist on the popular British series The Avengers and The New Avengers, played by Patrick Macnee and Ralph Fiennes in the movie....
(portrayed by Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Nathaniel Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes is an English actor and film director. He has appeared in such films as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days, The Duchess and Schindler's List....
) and Emma Peel
Emma Peel
Emma Peel was a fictional spy played by Diana Rigg in the British 1960s adventure television series The Avengers. She was born Emma Knight, the daughter of an industrialist, Sir John Knight.-Casting:...
(portrayed by Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman
Uma Karuna Thurman is an American actress and model. She has performed in leading roles in a variety of films, ranging from romantic comedies and dramas to science fiction and action movies. Among her best-known roles are those in the Quentin Tarantino films Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill...
), the main characters. However, her importance to the plot becomes obvious near the end of the movie, when it is revealed that she is a traitor, in league with the villain
Villain
A villain is an "evil" character in a story, whether a historical narrative or, especially, a work of fiction. The villain usually is the antagonist, the character who tends to have a negative effect on other characters...
, Sir August de Wynter (portrayed by Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
). Both she and Sir August are foiled in the end by the efforts of the Avengers.