Sammi Davis, born in 1964, is a British actress celebrated for her compelling performances in cult cinema. She appears in Mona Lisa (1986), where her nuanced portrayal adds depth to the film's exploration of urban life. In The Rainbow (1989), directed by Ken Russell, she delivers a striking performance that captures the complexities of her character's journey. Davis's work in these films highlights her ability to navigate the intricate landscapes of both drama and exploitation, making her a notable figure in the realm of cult and independent cinema.
The Rainbow
A headstrong young woman in turn-of-the-century England searches for intellectual, emotional, and sexual freedom while resisting the narrow future prescribed by family, romance, and convention. Ken Russell's rather loose adaptation of the last part of D.H. Lawrence's "The Rainbow" sees impulsive young Ursula coming of age in pastoral England around the time of the Boer War. At school, she is introduced to lovemaking by a bisexual physical education instructress. While experiencing disillusionment in her first career attempt (teaching), she has an affair with a young Army officer, who wants to marry her. Unable to accept a future of domesticity, she breaks with him, and eventually leaves home in search of her destiny. Born to a rich landowner in the waning days of the Victorian era, Ursula Brangwen grows into a beautiful young woman full of imagination and ambition. The free-spirited Ursula begins to feel trapped by her prim surroundings, but her life changes when she has an erotic experience with Winifred, a bisexual teacher. From then on, Ursula puts all of her passion and creativity into the pursuit of sexual fulfillment. But her insatiable quest becomes a source of anguish.
