Petite, attractive, dark-haired performer who first gained attention on the London stage and in the British TV miniseries, "Edge of Darkness" (1985). Whalley earned her first international recognition as the beatific Nurse Mills in Dennis Potter's award-winning "The Singing Detective" (1987) and brought a winning candor to her starring role as Christine Keeler in "Scandal" (1989). Popular success in mainstream Hollywood releases, though, has been elusive; her American films, including "Navy Seals" (1990) and "Trial by Jury" (1994), received a very modest reception from the public.