Biography
International filmgoers first became aware of golden-haired British child actress Patsy Kensit when she appeared as Patsy Buchannan, the daughter of Daisy and Tom Buchanan (
Mia Farrow and
Bruce Dern), in the 1974 version of
The Great Gatsby. Two years later she was sharing the spotlight with such veterans as
Elizabeth Taylor and
Ava Gardner in the U.S./Russian co-production
The Blue Bird (1976). Having learned her craft in TV commercials, the 17-year-old Kensit was up to the task of stepping into the difficult leading role of "Crepe Suzette" in
Absolute Beginners (1986). As a bonus,
Absolute Beginners allowed Kensit to perform a song that she composed herself, "Having It All," which briefly hit the charts in England. Always a favorite of critics, Kensit tried to become a major box office attraction by appearing as
Mel Gibson's leading lady in
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989), but the role simply wasn't up to her talents. She fared far better with her riveting performance (considered her best by many observers) in the little-seen
Twenty-One (1991). Patsy Kensit's output in the 1990s has included
Blame it on the Bellboy (1991),
The Turn of the Screw (1993) and
Bitter Harvest (1995), as well as a 1991 TV adaptation of
Adam Bede. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide