Thomsett was born in Plumpton in 1950 to Maurice and Dorothy Thomsett and had three older brothers. She grew up in nearby Brighton and attended the Elm Grove Infants and Juniors School. One of her brothers offered her five shillings to successfully audition for The Max Bygraves Summer Show. After that, she appeared in several pantomimes until she left secondary school to attend Phildene Stage School in London.
Career
Out of drama school, Thomsett made several films for the Children’s Film Foundation and appeared in many popular television series, including Theatre 625, Dixon of Dock Green, Nearest and Dearest and Z-Cars. She also starred as Jennifer Villiers in the comedy series The Very Merry Widow from 1967 to 1968 and also its spin-offThe Very Merry Widow and How in 1969.
''The Railway Children''
In 1970, Thomsett was cast as the 11-year-old Phyllis despite being 20 years old at the time, three years older than Jenny Agutter, who played her elder sister, Bobbie. Her contract forbade her from revealing her true age during the making of the film, and she was not allowed to be seen smoking, drinking, driving her car or in the company of her boyfriend during the shoot. However, she did have experience playing girls, and the Edwardian smocks disguised her bust. Even the film crew were unaware of her age, and they gave her sweets while treating Agutter as nearly an adult. During an appearance on a BBC children's television programme shortly after, Thomsett was told, "I wouldn't dream of asking a lady her age, but you're obviously quite a bit older than the part you played in the film." She received a nomination for the BAFTA Film Award for Newcomer to Leading Film Roles.
Later career
Thomsett went on to appear in The Fenn Street Gang and before starring in the psychological thriller filmStraw Dogs opposite Dustin Hoffman and Susan George, as well as Baxter! with Britt Ekland. After appearing in a television commercial advertisingBovril in 1972, Thomsett was spotted by directors Brian Cooke and Johnnie Mortimer, who cast her in the immensely popular ITV sitcom Man About the House as Jo, a role that she played for the show's entirety from 1973 to 1976, including a 1974 spin-off film of the same name. The series revolved around two young attractive women, Jo and Chrissy, who share a flat with good-looking womaniser Robin while under the watchful eye of the landlord George and his sexually frustrated wife Mildred. After the show ended in 1976, Thomsett continued to act, appearing in Wodehouse Playhouse in 1978. After appearing in a Crunchie chocolate bars advert in 1979, Thomsett gave up acting for a while in order to travel the world. She returned in the mid-1980s and appeared on stage in a 1987 production of The Cat and the Canary before making regular pantomime appearances. She also appeared in the music video for Doctor in Distress, a charity single made to save Doctor Who from cancellation. Thomsett's career slowed down after the birth of her daughter, although she did appear on stage in 1998 and 1999 in a touring production of The Holly and the Ivy. Although she now rarely acts, Thomsett appeared in Peter Pan as Mrs. Darling at Doncaster Racecourse during the 2014-2015 Christmas season. She also occasionally appears at fan conventions.
Personal life
In 1971, Thomsett married her boyfriend of five years, Nigel Newman, although the marriage lasted just six months. She was also in a relationship with her Man About the House co-star Richard O'Sullivan. While travelling the world, she met Danish entrepreneur Claus Hede Nielsen in Los Angeles. They wed in 1980 and separated in 1984. Thomsett had a daughter at the age of 46 with her partner Paul Agnew, and she currently resides in London.
