Janine Drzewicki was born in Nottingham to an English mother and a Polish father and moved to London to train as an actress at the E 15 theatre school. Shortly after leaving she was given a couple of small roles in television dramas but had no agent, and placed an advert in the 'Spotlight' agency catalogue with a photograph. As a result she was approached by the BBC to test for a play about incest, entitled BBC2 Playhouse: Diane (1975). Although she was in her early 20s the part was that of a 13-year-old girl but her audition was sufficiently convincing to win her the role. The door thus opened to her for more TV and stage roles and, whilst she was appearing in 'Don Juan' at Hampstead Theatre, London, she was spotted by Mike Leigh who offered her the part of Angie in the stage production of Play for Today: Abigail's Party (1977), which she repeated in the television version. A familiar face in television comedy series, she has nonetheless been given very little of note in the cinema, playing typically small roles as mad women in Dracula (1979) and The Madness of King George (1994). Married to the actor Paul Bentall, she has two sons and two daughters, one being the actress Ruby Bentall and lives in London.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Murder, They Hope (2017)
Guest starring as Betty the Beast
- Episode 1x01: The Bunny Trap (May 8, 2021)
Hospital People (2017)
Starring as Mrs Leydon
(6 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: The Charity Single (Jun 16, 2017)
- Episode 1x05: The New Ward (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 1x04: The Health Guru (May 19, 2017)
- Episode 1x03: The Local Millionaire (May 5, 2017)
- Episode 1x02: The Security Threat (Apr 28, 2017)
- Episode 1x01: The Hospital Awards (Apr 21, 2017)
Houdini & Doyle (2016)
Guest starring as Martha Stiles
- Episode 1x06: The Monsters of Nethermoor (Apr 14, 2016)
Boy Meets Girl (2015)
Starring as Peggy Arkley
(12 episodes)
- Episode 2x06: Episode 6 (Aug 4, 2016)
- Episode 2x05: Episode 5 (Aug 3, 2016)
- Episode 2x04: Episode 4 (Jul 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x03: Episode 3 (Jul 20, 2016)
- Episode 2x02: Episode 2 (Jul 13, 2016)
- Episode 2x01: Episode 1 (Jul 6, 2016)
- Episode 1x06: Episode 6 (Oct 8, 2015)
- Episode 1x05: Episode 5 (Oct 1, 2015)
- Episode 1x04: Episode 4 (Sep 24, 2015)
- Episode 1x03: Episode 3 (Sep 17, 2015)
- Episode 1x02: Episode 2 (Sep 10, 2015)
- Episode 1x01: Episode 1 (Sep 3, 2015)
Agatha Raisin (2014)
Guest starring as Doris Crampton
- Episode 4x01: Kissing Christmas Goodbye (Dec 20, 2021)
Keep It in the Family (2014)
Guest starring as Janine Duvitski
- Episode 1x05: Benidorm (Nov 23, 2014)
Still Open All Hours (2013)
Guest starring as Elsie Bridges
- Episode 3x01: Festive Disguise (2016 Christmas Special) (Dec 26, 2016)
Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (2013)
Guest starring as Janine Duvitski
- Episode 5x04: Tony Maudsley, Janine Duvitski, Jake Canuso (Jul 28, 2019)
A Young Doctor's Notebook (2012)
Guest starring as Belladonna Zbinka
- Episode 1x02: Episode 2 (Dec 13, 2012)
All Star Mr & Mrs (2008)
Guest starring as Janine Duvitski
- Episode 4x04: Jo Joyner / Shaun Ryder / Janine Duvitski (Sep 26, 2012)
All Star Family Fortunes (2006)
Guest starring as Janine Duvitski
(2 episodes)
- Episode 11x06: Scott Mills vs Janine Duvitski (Feb 2, 2014)
- Episode 6x11: Benidorm vs The Only Way Is Essex (Dec 25, 2011)
The Mrs Bradley Mysteries (2000)
Guest starring as Mrs Cockerton
- Episode 1x02: The Rising of the Moon (Jan 23, 2000)
Midsomer Murders (1998)
Guest starring as Deirdre Tibbs
- Episode 1x02: Death of a Hollow Man (Mar 29, 1998)
Guest starring as Hattie Bainbridge
- Episode 22x06: The Witches of Angel's Rise (Oct 18, 2021)
Trial & Retribution (1997)
Guest starring as Sandra Dutton
- Episode 8x01: Blue Eiderdown (1) (Oct 11, 2004)
A Bit of Fry and Laurie (1987)
Guest starring as Janine Duvitski
- Episode 4x07: Episode 7 (Apr 2, 1995)
Man About the House (1973)
Guest starring as Sheila
- Episode 1x04: And Then There Were Two (Sep 5, 1973)