# Francesca Gonshaw
**Francesca Gonshaw** (born 1959) is an English actress best known for playing Maria Recamier, the waitress and René Artois's mistress, in the first three series of the BBC sitcom *'Allo 'Allo!*, and for the role of Marie in the film *Biggles: Adventures in Time* (1986).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) • [2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1959, Marylebone, London, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) |
| Signature role | Maria Recamier in *'Allo 'Allo!*, from the 1982 pilot through Series 3, 21 episodes (1982–1987)[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/) |
| Film role | Marie in *Biggles: Adventures in Time* (1986)[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090729/fullcredits/) |
| Other television | Amanda Parker in *Howards' Way* (1987, 12 episodes); Arsinoe in *The Cleopatras* (1983)[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/52340/francesca-gonshaw) |
| Training | Studied dramatic art at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts (A.L.R.A.)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) |
| Later appearance | The woman in Peter Gabriel's "Digging in the Dirt" music video (1992)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) |
## 'Allo 'Allo!
Gonshaw appeared in *'Allo 'Allo!* from its 1982 pilot, "The British Are Coming", through the first three series, playing Maria Recamier in 21 episodes broadcast between 1982 and 1987.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/) • [5](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0500356/fullcredits/) The sitcom, written by [Jeremy Lloyd](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeremy-lloyd) and David Croft, is set in occupied France during the Second World War, and Maria is one of the two waitresses at Café René.[6](https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbc_two/2015-05-07) Her episodes include Series 1's "The Fallen Madonna" and "Pigeon Post" and Series 3's "The Nicked Knockwurst" and "The Great Un-Escape".[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/) She left the role after Series 3, and the character was later played by Sue Hodge as Mimi Labonq joined the cast.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/)
## Other screen work
Her film and television credits in the 1980s include Arsinoe in the BBC miniseries *The Cleopatras* (1983), a role in the television film *The Hound of the Baskervilles* (1983), Lisa Walters in *Crossroads* (1984), and Amanda in an episode of *Cold Warrior* (1984).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) In 1986 she played Marie in *Biggles: Adventures in Time*, an adventure film combining First World War aviation with time travel, directed by John Hough and starring Neil Dickson as Biggles.[3](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090729/fullcredits/) The same year she appeared as Lolita in *Farrington of the F.O.*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/)
In 1987 she joined the cast of the BBC drama series *[Howards' Way](https://www.edgepedia.org/howards-way)* as Amanda Parker, appearing in 12 episodes of the third series.[4](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/52340/francesca-gonshaw) Her later credits include Judith in an episode of *She-Wolf of London* (1990) and Senorita Rodriguez in the television film *A Ghost in Monte Carlo* (1990), an adaptation of a [Barbara Cartland](https://www.edgepedia.org/barbara-cartland) novel.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/) • [7](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/francesca-gonshaw/credits/3000016277/) In 1992 she appeared as the woman in [Peter Gabriel](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-gabriel)'s music video "Digging in the Dirt".[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/)
She also appeared as a guest on the game show *Blankety Blank* in 1987.[2](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/)
## Training and stage work
Gonshaw studied dramatic art at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/)
## References
1. [Francesca Gonshaw, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327386/)
2. [Francesca Gonshaw, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/francesca_gonshaw/)
3. [Biggles: Adventures in Time (1986) full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090729/fullcredits/)
4. [Francesca Gonshaw, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/52340/francesca-gonshaw)
5. ["The British Are Coming" ('Allo 'Allo! pilot) full cast and crew, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0500356/fullcredits/)
6. ['Allo 'Allo! Series 3 Episode 2, BBC Programme Index](https://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/bbc_two/2015-05-07)
7. [Francesca Gonshaw list of movies and TV shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/francesca-gonshaw/credits/3000016277/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames E to G*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license