A staunch advocate for animal rights, she set up the ABC Animal Sanctuary near Pulborough in West Sussex.
Appeared on the cover of the album "Rank" (1988) by the British alternative
band The Smiths. The image originally appeared in the book "Birds of
Britain".
Her childhood ambition was to become a vet. At age 16, she entered a "teenage diplomat" competition organized by a newspaper, beating 4,000 finalists to win a role in a comedy thriller, 13 Frightened Girls (1963).
Gained 9 GCE O-levels and 4 A-levels at school
Later in life, she became president of her local branch of the RSPCA, and founded the Alexandra Bastedo Champions (ABC) Animal Sanctuary in West Sussex.