Film, culture, social and video, selected from today and the archive.
A resident of a Chelsea houseboat named ‘Undine’ from 1953, Dame Dorothy Tutin was “one of UK’s most versatile actresses” and someone whom “bridged the gap between the classical grandes dames of the 1940s and the more modern performers of the 1960s.” Lauded by Sir John Mills “as one of the best we ever […]
Wacky Leeds born actor Geoffrey Bayldon was best known for playing Catweazle in the 1970s series of the same name as the Crowman in Worzel Gummidge. Bayldon also played ‘Q’ in Casino Royale in 1967, was gay, turned down the role of Dr Who twice thinking the series “too long” and enjoyed collecting watercolour paintings, […]
In April 2017, esteemed actress Miriam Margolyes described Theresa May as “that awful woman” and hinted that she had little-to-any enthusiasm for Jeremy Corbyn’s “hell of a mess” also. In the same interview, in her “distinctive voice”, she added: “It is the job of the arts to engage in life… That’s what I care about”. […]
Penzance born actress Jan Harvey is married to her Howards’ Way co-star Stephen Yardley. She played Jan Howard in the popular series that depicted Thatcherite, nouveau riche excess from 1985 to 1990, has also appeared in Inspector Morse and Lovejoy and was pushed off a balcony to her death in Eastenders in 2016. In 2013, […]
This Liverpudlian actress “preferred cats to men”. Best known for playing Hilda Ogden in Coronation Street from 1964 to 1987, Jean Alexander also appeared in Last of the Summer Wine, Heartbeat and Where the Heart Is. Whilst she didn’t believe in sex before marriage, never felt maternal and thought she’d had a “lucky escape” in […]
Comedian Victoria Wood’s final tweet was: “Life’s not fair, is it? Some of us drink champagne in the fast lane, and some of us eat our sandwiches by the loose chippings on the A597”.
Born in Tranmere, Merseyside, veteran actress Patricia Routledge is best known as Alan Bennett’s Irene Ruddock in Talking Heads: Lady of Letters and as Hyacinth Bucket in Keeping Up Appearances.
Berkshire born singer, actor and sports massage therapist Tom Read Wilson described himself as “a cultural throwback” when he appeared on the BBC show The Voice in February 2016.
Award-winning film director, producer and writer Ellen Perry made her name with her brilliantly insightful documentary film The Fall of Fujimori in 2005.
Eton and University of Edinburgh educated actor and director Sam Hoare has appeared in everything from Eastenders and Blandings to Captain America.
San Francisco born film producer and lover of lunches at Chateau Marmont Todd Traina is a graduate of Connecticut College.
Winchester and Oxford educated actor Alex Wyndham came to public attention after playing Antoine ‘Wani’ Ouradi in the BBC’s adaptation of The Line of Beauty in 2006
Born in Santa Monica, California and the daughter of the writer and investigate journalist Dominick Dunne and his ranching heiress wife Ellen Griffin Dunne, Dominique Dunne would likely have become an acting great.
A former sidekick of Lady Gaga, New York based bartender turned DJ and author Brendan Jay Sullivan wrote a memoir of his time with her in 2013
Despite having a non-alcoholic cocktail named in her honour, the actress and politician Shirley Temple actually hated the drink and its ingredients.
Oxford educated actor, writer and co-creator of the comedy series Doll & Em Emily Mortimer is the daughter of the Rumpole of the Bailey creator Sir John Mortimer
Once described as “having a mouth like a truck driver and the looks of a goddess”, thrice married American actress Ava Gardner spent her final years in Knightsbridge’s Ennismore Gardens.
Deemed a “global Godmother of Cool” by Town & Country, actress, director, producer and screenwriter Sofia Coppola triumphed with Lost in Translation
Violinist Charlie Siem was educated at Eton and Cambridge and has been described by Town & Country as “sleekly posh”.
One sharp story. One old scandal. One thing to watch.
