Carry On Girls
Not the film, this is my list of Carry On Girls, Women who appeared in the Carry On Films and associated Films made from the same production team, I am putting this list in chronological order of when first appeared, so that no one is favoured by good looks or acting ability, it is not my intention to favour one over another by either ability, but in each entry I may comment on both of these features.
I am not including bit parts, unless they have done a more substantial role in another Carry On, or several, and I am only including actors who have had at least one speaking part unless its very brief. There are a few films which have quite a lot of brief roles, like the bevy of beauties such as the Vestal Virgins in 'Carry On Cleo', of groups like these I will only enter the actors that have either done more than one film or had at least a small talking role. I am also including roles in some of the spin-off films which started in 1959 with 'Please Turn Over' which the same team made, were also situation comedies, made in the same style as the Carry-On's of the same period and included some of the actors from the main series of films, there were 9 all together, ending in 'Bless This House' which was the film of the popular TV series starring Sid James, the Carry On team did not make the series but it did make the film, and as well as Sid they used some of the then current Carry-On actors and it was made in a similar style to the Carry-On films around that time.
I am not including bit parts, unless they have done a more substantial role in another Carry On, or several, and I am only including actors who have had at least one speaking part unless its very brief. There are a few films which have quite a lot of brief roles, like the bevy of beauties such as the Vestal Virgins in 'Carry On Cleo', of groups like these I will only enter the actors that have either done more than one film or had at least a small talking role. I am also including roles in some of the spin-off films which started in 1959 with 'Please Turn Over' which the same team made, were also situation comedies, made in the same style as the Carry-On's of the same period and included some of the actors from the main series of films, there were 9 all together, ending in 'Bless This House' which was the film of the popular TV series starring Sid James, the Carry On team did not make the series but it did make the film, and as well as Sid they used some of the then current Carry-On actors and it was made in a similar style to the Carry-On films around that time.
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Long before Bea Arthur, Estelle Getty and company showed up in 1980s TV households, Hollywood had, in effect, its own original "Golden Girl"...literally...in the form of stunning British actress Shirley Eaton. Although she found definitive cult stardom in 1964 with her final golden moment in a certain "007" film, Shirley was hardly considered an "overnight success". For nearly a decade, she had been out and about uplifting a number of 1950s and early 1960s British dramatic films and slapstick farce. Shirley became quite a sought-after actress internationally but, by the end of the decade, the dark-browed blonde beauty intentionally bade Hollywood and her acting career a fond and permanent farewell. She has never looked back.
Born in Edgware, Middlesex, England on January 12, 1937 (some references incorrectly list her birth year as 1936), Shirley Jean Eaton began on stage as a youth, making her debut at age 12 in "Set to Partners" (1949) and following it up the following year with Benjamin Britten's "Let's Make an Opera". Her first on-camera work was on TV in 1951, but it didn't take long before the pretty teen began to provide fleeting, decorative interest on film. Under contract to Alexander Korda in her early career, she found an encouraging break with minor parts in such comedies as Doctor in the House (1954) and The Love Match (1955). She quickly rose to co-star status in the droll features, Panic in the Parlor (1956), Three Men in a Boat (1956), Your Past Is Showing (1957) and Doctor at Large (1957), while appearing opposite such top stars as Peter Sellers and Dirk Bogarde, among others.
Upon Korda's death in 1956, Shirley briefly joined the Rank Organization. Every once in awhile, she relished playing a fetching villainess in a drama, such as in The Girl Hunters (1963) when not playing it straight as the beautiful foil caught up in some of Britain's finest madcap farces, which included the highly popular "Carry On" movies. Trained also in ballet and voice, Shirley was afforded a great chance to sing and dance with the film, Life Is a Circus (1960), and managed to grace the BBC as well in a few of their musical formats of the 1950s.
Shirley's career hit international status, of course, when she played "Jill Masterson", one of a bevy of beauties linked to titular archvillain Gert Fröbe in the film, Goldfinger (1964). And like many of the Bondian girls before and since, her character dearly paid for her furtive romantic clinches with Sean Connery's magnetic "James Bond". Shirley's memorable 24-karat gold death scene (She was found by Bond, painted head to toe in gold paint, and had "died of skin suffocation".), became the eye-catching draw for the movie. The image was splattered everywhere -- on movie posters, in press junkets and in publicity campaigns. Despite the formidable attention the movie received in the form of Honor Blackman's high-kicking "Pussy Galore" character and Shirley Bassey's famous rendition of the title song playing the airwaves, it was Eaton's gilded visuals that became THE iconic image of not only the movie but the whole "007" phenomena.
In its wake, Hollywood beckoned and Shirley immediately won a number of female leads in melodrama, crime yarns, war stories and rugged adventures. Adding to the mesmerizing Ivan Tors scenery in such movies as Rhino! (1964) and the underwater epic, Around the World Under the Sea (1966), she appeared opposite some of Hollywood best-looking and talented leading men, including Harry Guardino and Robert Culp of the afore-mentioned Rhino! (1964), and Hugh O'Brian in the classic whodunnit, Ten Little Indians (1965). During this highly productive time, her co-stars ranged from comedy legend Bob Hope in Eight on the Lam (1967) to horror icon Christopher Lee in The Blood of Fu Manchu (1968). Shirley's film career ended with her participation as "Sumuru", the ambitious leader of an all-woman's society called "Femina", in both The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967) and Mothers of America (1969). Many of her movies remain interesting to the public today as they are a product reflective of their times, and a number of them, like she, have achieved cult status.
After Shirley's self-imposed retirement, she, first and foremost, dedicated herself to her family. The widow of building contractor Colin Rowe (they were married in 1957; he died in 1994), she has two sons, Grant and Jason, and is the proud grandmother of five. She also developed a special knack for writing and, in 1999, published her autobiography entitled "Golden Girl". In 2006, she marketed an "intimate diary" of poems. These days, the spectacular Shirley can be glimpsed from time to time at film festivals that very much appreciate her cult celebrity. She also enjoys painting and has made a return to the stage in recent years.Played the newly wed to Bob Monkhouse in the very first film, 'Carry on Sergeant', she was also in 'Carry On Nurse' and 'Carry On Constable', she went on to be a star, but only had a middling career, she retired from acting in 2001, but still lives, now aged 84, and still very pretty, she was one of the most beautiful of the Carry On Girls and a good actor.
She is also in my True Bond Girls list, since she had a sparkling role in Goldfinger (1964).- Actress
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Dora Bryan was born on 7 February 1923 in Parbold, Lancashire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for A Taste of Honey (1961), The Fallen Idol (1948) and Last of the Summer Wine (1973). She was married to Bill Lawton. She died on 23 July 2014 in Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK.A wonderful British character actor, Dora played the dinner lady in 'Carry On Sergeant' and became the love interest of Kenneth Connor, she only did this one Carry On but had a sparkling career in British Film & TV, she retired in 2006 and sadly passed away in 2014 aged 91.- Actress
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Best known for playing Matron--as in "Ooh, Matron!"--in four films: Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Doctor (1967), Carry on Again Doctor (1969) and, of course Carry on Matron (1972). Key roles included: Grace Short in Carry on Teacher (1959), Sophie Bliss in Carry on Loving (1970) and Peggy Hawkins in Carry on Cabby (1963). She was married to John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army (1968)), but left him for another man. They divorced but remained friends. An unexpectedly attractive woman in her time, she played parts which depended upon and mocked her weight. Only in Carry on Cabby (1963) was she allowed to escape her dragon persona and play the romantic lead opposite Sidney James. She died prematurely at the age of 58 from a heart attack.Star of many Carry On's, she was the first regular Carry On woman appearing in the first 'Carry On Sergeant' as an Army Doctor, she went on to feature in 14 more Carry On films, one spin off film (Watch Your Stern), 2 Christmas TV films and in the 'Carry on Laughing' TV series, which was her last (her last film was 'Carry on Dick'). Hattie was a wonderful character who just played herself in the films, which was lovable, she also has an extensive career around the Carry On roles, from 1947 until 1980, she lived until after the regular series of films finished, but did not appear in the last few, her last full role was in the TV series 'Sykes' in which she made the role of Eric's wife her own. Tragically she had a heart attack and passed away in 1980 aged only 58, A great loss.- Joan Hickson was born in 1906 at Kingsthorpe, Northampton. Her stage career began with provincial theater in 1927, going on to a long series of West End comedies, usually playing the part of a confused or eccentric middle-age woman. She performed at the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, at the time London was subject to World War II bombing. Her work gradually included screen roles: The Outsider (1948), The Promoter (1952), The 39 Steps (1959) - over 80 movies in all - but her stage career continued, with parts in three Peter Nichols plays, Noël Coward's "Blithe Spirit" (1976) and and a Tony award supporting actress performance in Alan Ayckbourn's "Bedroom Farce" (1977). Her first Agatha Christie role was "Miss Pryce" in the play, "Appointment With Death" (1946), which prompted Christie, herself, to write "I hope you will play my dear Miss Marple". She began playing this, her best known part, in her late 70s, in a BBC television series which ran from 1984 to 1992. A Miss Marple fan, Queen Elizabeth II, awarded her the Order of the British Empire in 1987. After the series closed, Joan recorded audio books of the Christie mysteries. She died, aged 92, in a hospital at Colchester, Essex, survived by a son and daughter (her physician husband Eric Butler died in 1967).Joan played the Sister in 'Carry On Nurse' she did 4 more Carry-on's and 4 spin-off films, the last being 'Carry On Girls' in 1973, being a top actor she had an extensive career starting in 1934, she was also in 'Carry on Admiral' not made by this team, but where the inspiration and titles came from, in the last 10 years she was the detective Miss Marple, eventually she retired in 1993 after 60 years an actor, sadly she passed away in 1998 at the grand age of 92.
- This pert and perky blonde Londoner was born on July 16, 1931. Susan Rennie Stephen took an interest in acting while still a youth and began performing on stage as an adolescent. She also received early training at a dramatic school.
Susan pursued TV roles as early as her late teens and earned major notice portraying Amy March in the British series Little Women (1950). Following this, she moved into films making her debut with a eye-catching role as the daughter of governor Eric Portman in the Ealing comedy His Excellency (1952). From there she continued with prime parts in such films as the crime drama Stolen Face (1952) and the comedies Treasure Hunt (1952) and Father's Doing Fine (1952).
Susan's demure, slightly elfin loveliness seemed to coincide with the duteous daughters and/or faithful wives she seemed designed to play. The actress was given top billing as a college co-ed in the romantic comedy Fanciulle di lusso (1952) which featured then-husband Lawrence Ward in a lesser role. She followed this with a cluster of dramatic parts, including the femme lead opposite Alan Ladd in Paratrooper (1953); and with second femme leads alongside Alex Nicol in Heat Wave (1954) and Jack Watling in Dangerous Cargo (1954).
Mainly confined to "B" level films, Susan's more noticeable co-star roles occurred in romantic comedies opposite the likes of Dirk Bogarde in Cocktails in the Kitchen (1954) (aka For Better, For Worse) and John Gregson in Value for Money (1955). Later in the decade she appeared in As Long as They're Happy (1955), It's Never Too Late (1956), and the Jennifer Jones version of The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1957).
Susan's career began to take a back seat in 1957 when she married her second husband, director Nicolas Roeg. After filming major roles in the rollicking comedy Carry on Nurse (1959), the crime thriller Return of a Stranger (1961) and the low-budgeted courtroom drama The Court Martial of Major Keller (1961), along with TV guest parts on such series as "The Adventures of Robin Hood," and "Stryker of the Yard," Susan gently phased her career out and away from the limelight. Her last on-camera appearance was a lead in the low-budgeted Danzinger film comedy Three Spare Wives (1962).
She and Roeg had four children before divorcing in 1977. He subsequently married Hollywood actress Theresa Russell. Focusing henceforth on her children, very little was heard of Susan until her death was announced at age 68 on April 24, 2000, in Sussex, England.Susan played on of the 2 day nurses on the ward in 'Carry On Nurse', she was bit odd looking but still very attractive, Susan had a middling career, she started in 1950 doing only British Film and TV until she packed it in in 1962, she only did this one Carry On, a pity because she was very nice, she has also passed away, in 2000 aged 68. - Actress
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Joan Sims, the "First Lady of Carry On", was born Irene Joan Marion Sims on 9 May 1930. The daughter of an Essex railway station master, Joan was interested in pursuing show-business, and soon became a familiar face in a growing number of amateur productions. In 1946, Joan first applied to RADA, her audition was unsuccessful. She did succeed in being admitted to the academy's preparatory school, and finally, on her fourth attempt, trained at RADA. She graduated in 1950 at the age of nineteen.
A cameo appearance in Doctor in the House (1954) as the sexually repressed Nurse Rigor Mortis led to Joan being first spotted by Peter Rogers; Rogers' wife Betty E. Box was the producer of the Doctor series, in which Joan herself became a regular.
A few years later, in 1958, Joan received another script from Peter Rogers, it was Carry on Nurse (1959). The film had been a huge success at the box office and in the autumn of that year Rogers and Gerald Thomas began planning a follow up. She went on to appear in 24 of the films, making her the longest serving female member of the team.
She first starred in the following three Carry On films: Carry on Teacher (1959), Carry on Constable (1960) and Carry on Regardless (1961), before taking a break from the next four films to concentrate on stage work. She rejoined the team with Carry on Cleo (1964) and remained all the way through to Carry on Emmannuelle (1978) in 1978.
Ironically, she was never proclaimed Queen of Carry On. This title went to saucy Barbara Windsor, even though she had only appeared in nine Carry On films.
One could argue that her final performances in the Carry On films were rather sentimental, as though she knew that the series was coming to an end and two scenes come to mind. The scene in which she plays cards with Peter Butterworth in Carry on Behind (1975) in his caravan late at night, and also in the launderette where she dances with an early Carry Oner Victor Maddern in Carry on Emmannuelle (1978). Both of these are memorable sentimental film scene stealers.
With the end of the Carry On series in 1978, Joan went on to become a familiar face on TV screens, with ongoing roles in a number of highly successful sitcoms On the Up (1990) and As Time Goes By (1992) and the BBC's prestigious classic drama adaptations such as Martin Chuzzlewit (1994).
Joan's autobiography, High Spirits, was released in 2000. She complains in the last few pages of her book at the lack of information on her on the IMDB trivia page, something that was only significantly expanded after her death.
In her later years she became a cult figure and something of a British National Institution as the only surviving major Carry On star from early days. However, years of heavy drinking took their toll and she suffered in her later years with ill health. She was admitted to Hospital in Chelsea in London in mid 2001 and slipped into a coma. She died on 28 June 2001, with her lifelong friend and Carry On Norah Holland holding her hand.
Following her death, surviving Carry On stars celebrated her achievement in the Carry On films. Barbara Windsor, said at the time of her death, "To me she was the last of the great Carry Ons, she was there at the beginning. Her talent was wonderful, she could do any accent, dialect, she could dance, sing, play dowdy and glam. We laughed all the time and giggled a lot. I will sorely miss her." That quote is so true, throughout her whole Carry On career she alone stands apart as the most versatile actress in the whole series. She was never typecast in the films like the other actors and actresses.
Others also paid tribute, even ex-Government Cabinet Ministers. Her agent Richard Hatton said, "It's wonderful to be able to say that she really did have all the qualities that her many fans would have wished. A great sense of humour, a sympathetic and endearing personality, terrific talent and consideration for others.
"Over and above this, she discovered a new side of herself when she wrote her autobiography last year, which was untypical for the genre - honest, frank and intelligent. Everyone who knew her is going to remember her forever."Star and classy actor of many a Carry On, 'Carry On Nurse' was her first, she appeared just after Susan Stephen as a clumsy student nurse, her roles were from glamorous to battle-axes, with a wide range in between, a great actress, she went on to appear in 24, plus 6 spin-off films and 2 TV films (that's 32 all-together), so the most prolific actor in the series and a 'Carry on Laughing' TV series as well, her last Carry On was ...Emmanuelle' she was in the 2nd until the last proper. She had actually started her acting career several years before in 1951, so was already reasonably experienced, she appeared in 'Carry on Admiral', not a film made by the Carry On team, but where Peter Rogers got his inspiration and titles from, he also cherry picked Joan and Joan Hickson from that film. Joan was in many other films and TV around her Carry On roles, her last role was in 2000, appropriately it was 'The Last of The Blonde Bombshells' before she sadly passed away in 2001 aged 71, she is sorely missed, A Star Actress in every sense of the word.- Prolific character actress born in Secunderabad, British India. A RADA graduate of 1954, Ann Firbank (sometimes credited as 'Annie') made her acting debut at Her Majesty's Theatre in Carlisle that same year. She has performed in numerous classic plays on most of England's great stages, including the Royal Court Theatre, the National Theatre under the direction of Laurence Olivier, the London Old Vic, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon and the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester. As late as 2012, she was lauded for her ageless stage presence in a production of The Golden Dragon in Bangalore, India.
On the screen, Firbank is best known as Staff Nurse Helen Lloyd in the classic farce Carry on Nurse (1959) and for her starring role as Anne Elliot in Granada TV's 1971 adaptation of Jane Austen's novel Persuasion (1971). She has made a number of notable appearances in other period dramas, including as Amy Robsart, the wife of Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester, in Kenilworth (1957); as Mary Quartermaine, whose affections two lovers compete for in an archery contest, in The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955); Danish-born Princess/Queen Alexandra in Lillie (1978); the Comtess de Tournay, a refugee from Robespierre's reign of terror, in The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982); as the wife of the callous, intolerant Major Callendar in A Passage to India (1984) and as Lady Anne Boleyn, the maternal great-great grandmother of Elizabeth I (2005) (superbly played by Helen Mirren). More recently, she has portrayed a Tatooine elder in Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019) and the elven oracle Ithlinne in The Witcher (2019). She has acted in dozens of TV shows as a guest star, frequently in crime/mystery programs like Danger Man (1960), Maigret (1959), Poirot (1989), Midsomer Murders (1997) and New Tricks (2003). Firbank has also been acclaimed for her 2014 performance as Rebecca Nurse, a woman falsely accused and executed at the Salem Witch Trials of 1692, in Arthur Miller 's The Crucible (2014) at the Old Vic.Ann played the lead Night Nurse in 'Carry On Nurse' also extremely pretty and a very good actor, this was her only Carry On, but Ann had a more extensive career, starting in 1956, her last role was in a Star Wars Film in 2019 at the age of 86, and I am happy to say that Ann is still with us now aged 87, and still looks lovely. - Actress
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Jill Ireland was a British-American actress best known for her appearance as "Leila Kalomi," the only woman Mr. Spock ever loved (in the Star Trek (1966) episode, This Side of Paradise (1967)) and for her many supporting roles in the movies of Charles Bronson. She is also known for her battle with breast cancer, having written two books on her fight with the disease and serving as a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.
Jill Dorothy Ireland was born in London on April 24, 1936, to wine merchant Jack Ireland and his wife Dorothy, who were fated to outlive their daughter. Young Jill started her entertainment career at age 16 as a dancer, and made her screen debut in 1955, in Michael Powell's Oh... Rosalinda!! (1955). On May 11, 1957, she married actor David McCallum, whom she met on the set of the Stanley Baker action picture Hell Drivers (1957). In the mid-'60s, they moved to the United States so McCallum could star as agent "Ilya Kuryakin" in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). She got steady work on American television and would co-star with her husband in five episode of the series in 1964, 1965 and 1967.
Ireland separated from McCallum, with whom she had two biological sons and one adopted son, in June 1965. He filed for divorce in August 1966, and it was finalized in February 1967. On October 5, 1968, she married Charles Bronson, who was 15 years her senior and still several years away from coming into his own as a leading man. They had first met when McCallum introduced them on the set of The Great Escape (1963). With Bronson, she had two children, a daughter born to the couple in 1971, and an adopted daughter. They first co-starred together in the 1970 French movie Rider on the Rain (1970), which made Bronson a major star in Europe (she had first played an uncredited bit part in his movie London Affair (1970), released that same year). They starred in 13 more pictures over the next 17 years, a period during which Bronson and Ireland rivaled Clint Eastwood and Sondra Locke as the most prolific screen couple. During her marriage to Bronson, Ireland appeared in only one TV episode, one TV movie and one theatrical picture that didn't star her husband.
She was diagnosed with cancer in her right breast in 1984 and underwent a mastectomy. She wrote about her battle and became an advocate for the American Cancer Society, which led to the organization giving her its Courage Award. Ireland was presented with the award by President Ronald Reagan. Tragically, she lost her battle with the disease after it metastasized and died at her home in Malibu, California, on May 18, 1990, aged only 54. She was survived by her husband, children, stepchildren, parents, brother, and extended family.Jill started her career in British cinema in 1955, but this is the only Carry On she did, she played Kenneth Williams love interest in 'Carry On Nurse', she was also in 2 Carry On offshoots, 'Twice Round The Daffodils' and 'Raising The Wind', a bit later she became a star in Hollywood and married another star - Charles Bronson (she was earlier married to David McCallum a star on both sides of the Atlantic), but in the early 80's offers dried up, and then she got cancer, she passed away from it in 1990 aged only 54.- Actress
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She was one British character player who seemed to show up everywhere on post-war film, stage and TV, although, more times than not, could barely be glimpsed. A most efficient actress, Marianne Stone's career spanned four decades and was primarily enjoyed in bawdy, ribald comedy playing lowbrow or working-class ladies about town (waitresses, barmaids, clerks, shrews, landladies, secretaries, receptionists, etc.)
Born in King's Cross, London, on August 23, 1922, the dark-haired Marianne was raised by her grandparents who were furniture owners. Her grandmother also ran her own music school and Marianne benefited from that. Winning a music scholarship to the Camden School for Girls, she instead studied at the Royal College of Music, then earned an acting scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1940. Following her graduation she initially made ends meet by working as secretary types in offices, and also found work as an assistant manager for various stock companies. She made her on-stage West End debut in 1945 with a role in "The King Maker" at age 23. A high point for her, as for her stage work, was winning the Gertrude Lawrence Award for "Character Acting".
Marianne moved quickly into films following WWII with minuscule roles in such films as Brighton Rock (1948) and Escape Dangerous (1947). During the latter film's shoot, she met her future husband, actor/producer, Peter Noble, who went on to become a noted London show business columnist, theatre critic and film historian. They married in 1947 and had two daughters Katina Noble and Kara Noble . Of the hundreds of films she appeared in, some "A" but primarily "B" pictures, Marianne was given the chance to shine in only a few.
Producing/directing brothers Roy Boulting and/or John Boulting utilized her presence in several of their films, albeit minor, including Seven Days to Noon (1950), High Treason (1951), Brothers in Law (1957), I'm All Right Jack (1959), Man in a Cocked Hat (1959) and Heavens Above! (1963). Marianne also became a steadfast player (nine total) in the highly popular "Carry On..." slapstick movie series beginning with Carry on Nurse (1959) and finishing a decade and a half later with Carry on Behind (1975). Her most engaging cameo in the series came with her old hag role in Carry on Dick (1974). In what would have been her tenth film in the series, she was deleted from the final print of Carry on Matron (1972).
While Marianne enjoyed a more visible part in Passport to Treason (1956), her most sharply-defined roles on celluloid was arguably that of co-writer Vivian Darkbloom in Lolita (1962) starring James Mason, Shelley Winters, Peter Sellers and nubile Sue Lyon in the title role. Supposedly it was Winters (who wound up staying with Stone during the film's shooting) who helped Marianne get the part. Ironically, one of Stone's last film, Déjà Vu (1985) also happened to feature Winters. A few of the character lady's bawdier 70s film work included Au Pair Girls (1972), the similarly-styled "Carry On" film Bless This House (1972), The Love Ban (1973), Mistress Pamela (1973), The Cherry Picker (1974) and Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974).
On TV Marianne was seen in such colorful productions as Eccentricities of a Nightingale (1976), Little Lord Fauntleroy (1976) and the mini-series A Man Called Intrepid (1979). Marianne's husband Peter predeceased her (1997) and she herself died on December 21, 2009, at the age of 87. Survived by her children, one of her daughters, Kara Noble appeared with her mother in the film Funny Money (1983).Marianne was Cyril Chamberlain's wife in 'Carry On Nurse', it was only a bit part, and I would not have included her for that, however she was in 9 more Carry On's, and also the film of the TV series 'Bless This House' (made by the Carry On Team) and the 'Carry on Laughing' TV series, all small roles, so despite little screen time she was in more than some of the more famous actors, she had an extensive career, starting in 1943, mostly doing bit parts and many being uncredited, maybe she wanted to stay out of the limelight, she eventually retired in 1989, and sadly passed away in 2009 aged 87.- Actress
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Leigh Madison was born on 11 March 1934 in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Our House (1960), The Giant Behemoth (1959) and The Invisible Man (1958). She was married to Ernest Maxin. She died on 8 January 2009 in England, UK.Played Dr. Whinn in 'Carry on Nurse', it was only a small role, but she also had a bit role in 'Carry On Sergeant' and was in a spin off film 'Please Turn Over', when she went onto the ward all the male patients got hot under the collar, and I did not know why, until I read her profile, apparently she was a bit of a glam girl of her day, but she did not look too glamorous in this. She only had a middling career, between 1958-1962, although she did have 2 TV roles in the 70's, she also passed away in 2009 aged 74.- Actress
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June Whitfield had a long and successful career that has included musical theatre, films and numerous radio and television performances. Her mother was into amateur dramatics and June had elocution and dancing lessons from an early age. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and worked in theatre. One of her earliest experiences was working with Wilfred Pickles, whose great comic talent and gift for timing made quite an impression on her.
She became a household name on the radio comedy "Take It From Here" in 1953, a time when radio was far more popular than television. When television overtook radio in popularity, June made a successful transition. Over the next few years she worked with most of the biggest names in comedy, including Arthur Askey, Tony Hancock, Frankie Howerd, Benny Hill, Harry H. Corbett, Wilfrid Brambell, Ronnie Barker, Richard Briers, Eric Morecambe and Dick Emery.
She became a television double-act with Terry Scott on Happy Ever After (1974) and Terry and June (1979). She also appeared in three installments of the popular Carry On film series, Carry on Nurse (1959), Carry on Abroad (1972) and Carry on Girls (1973).
By the 1980s, June Whitfield was viewed by some members of the alternative comedy scene as representing the kind of traditional, safe comedy they were reacting against. However, she still had her talent of perfect comic timing and her range of voices, which enabled her to continue working. She moved back to more theatre and radio, including The News Huddlines, a satirical radio show fronted by Roy Hudd. In 1992 she appeared in Carry on Columbus (1992), a failed attempt to resurrect the Carry On series. The same year she started a more successful venture, Absolutely Fabulous (1992), which became one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade and put her back into the spotlight.This was June's first Carry On, 'Carry On Nurse' it was only a bit role as a wife of a patient, but she went on to do a few more, but after a big gap she returned in 1972 and also did 'Carry on Columbus' the 1992 attempt at a re-start. June had an extensive career, mostly in British TV, her last role was in the 'Absolutely Fabulous' movie, after featuring in the series, that was in 2016, sadly she passed away in 2018 after a good life, aged 93.- Born in Marylebone, London, versatile character actress Rosalind Marie Knight was born to theatrical parentage. Her father was the accomplished thespian Esmond Knight. Her mother, the comedienne Frances Clare, often featured in Ivor Novello operettas. Rosalind's interest in theatre was first kindled at the age of six when she and her mother attended a staging of Novello's "The Dancing Years" at Drury Lane. Rosalind was evacuated to the countryside with her nanny during the war years. In 1949, she accompanied her father to the Old Vic Theatre and became enthralled by a production of "The Snow Queen", primarily performed by drama school novices. The following year she won an audition and spent two years at the Old Vic Theatre School. This was succeeded by a lengthy apprenticeship in repertory which led to her gaining further experience as assistant stage manager for the West of England Theatre Company, the Midland Theatre Company in Coventry and the Piccolo Theatre Company in Manchester.
In 1955, she made her first impact on screen as a lady-in-waiting in Laurence Olivier's Richard III (1955), which also featured her father in the cast. A year later, having come to the attention of a movie producer, she played Annabel, one of the schoolgirls, in Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) (decades later, she would return as a teacher in the sequel The Wildcats of St. Trinian's (1980)). This set the tone for a number of subsequent comedic roles which included a couple of early Carry On's and the Tony Richardson-directed Tom Jones (1963), in which she played the giddy Mrs. Harriet Fitzpatrick. While doing the Carry On films she was not under any form of contract and was paid a mere $50 a week. In 1957, Rosalind joined her father in an early BBC adaptation of Nicholas Nickleby (1957) as the spiteful Fanny Squeers. In a later miniseries based on Charles Dickens, Martin Chuzzlewit (1964), she was a splendidly shrewish Charity Pecksniff.
During her prolific career, Rosalind relished every opportunity to portray a diverse range of characters, good and bad, from servants to princesses (Alice of Battenberg in The Crown (2016)) to old maids (Aspasia Fitzgibbon in The Pallisers (1974)) to wealthy socialites (Margot Asquith in Nancy Astor (1982)) and unpleasant aristocratic dowagers (Daphne Winkworth in Jeeves and Wooster (1990)). She even essayed a retired prostitute turned landlady in the sitcom Gimme Gimme Gimme (1999). In addition to a staple of period dramas she guested in numerous episodic TV dramas, including Poirot (1989), Dalziel and Pascoe (1996), Heartbeat (1992), Marple (2004), Midsomer Murders (1997) and Sherlock (2010). All the while, she remained heavily engaged in theatrical work with the Old Vic, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Court Theatre, her last appearance being the strict, incorruptible governess Mrs. Prism in Shaw's "The Importance of Being Earnest".
Rosalind was married to director/producer Michael Elliott from 1959. In 1976, she helped rebuild and re-open the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, of which her husband was involved as one of five artistic directors. She was also a patron of the Actor's Centre in London and the Ladies' Theatrical Guild (a charity founded in 1891). Rosalind Knight continued to perform as an actress right up to her death on December 19 2020, at the age of 87.The odd looking Rosalind Knight played a bit role in 'Carry On Nurse' but she had a more substantial role in 'Carry On Teacher' as Kenneth Connor's love interest School Inspector, never to appear in another. Because she did the two and one was a major role I have listed her. Despite only the 2 Carry On's Rosalind has had a busy career, up until 2020, but i'm sorry to say has now passed away, aged 87. - Actress
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Jill Adams (nee Siggins), was discovered while working as a model, having been asked to step in at the department store where she was an artist, when a model failed to show up. She was the daughter of Irish-American silent film actress Molly Adair, and New-Zealand writer, Arthur James Siggins (published under the name A.J. Siggins),. He had first sailed from the Antipodes to Africa as a young man to fight in the Boer war, where he served with the Matabele Mounted Police and later represented The ANZACs at Cecil Rhodes funeral in1902. His first wife was from Mozambique. The couple first met in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), where he was working with the High Commission. She was there on location to star in the silent film version of 'The Blue Lagoon' The young ingénue became A.J. Siggins' 2nd wife. After several years in Africa, during which time two sons were born, they relocated to England, where Jillian M.M.J. Siggins was born in London. During WWII, the family moved to North Wales, where they had 2 working farms. Upon returning to London following the war, and after Jill had become a successful model, she married a young US Navy officer stationed in the British capital, by the name of James Adams, in 1951. They had a daughter (Tina) in 1952. Jill's career began to flourish, but sadly the marriage did not, and now alone she began securing a few minor TV and film roles, before eventually being signed by J. Arthur Rank as one of the corporation's 'starlets'. The bubbly blonde actress, Jill Adams, soon made a string of popular films for the studios - many of which were light-hearted comedies such as 'Doctor at Sea' and 'Brothers in Law' - and she was often referred to as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe. She also made a few films in the US and Australia. In 1957, she married the well-known BBC radio and TV personality, Peter Haigh, and they were very much the 'It' couple. They had a daughter, Peta Louise, in 1962. Jill also starred in the popular TV series 'The Flying Doctor' which lasted for 39 episodes. Over the next few years, although no longer getting the bigger roles, Adams continued to work both in radio and on stage. But, by the end of the 60s, with fewer opportunities available, she essentially retired from show business. In 1971, she and her husband Peter moved the family to the Algarve in Portugal, where they ran a hotel and restaurant in Albufeira. When that marriage ended, Adams spent several years with Michael Johnson, a former British radio host and musician, with whom she ran two businesses. She then eventually went solo until meeting Alan 'Buster' Jones, and moved first to the Lisbon area to be with him, and then they relocated to Spain. Following Jones's death in 1996, in the Costa del Sol, she returned to Portugal to be nearer to family. Always a prolific, popular and talented artist, she continued to paint even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and right up until her death in Clareanes, in the Algarve., on May 13, 2008, at the age of 77.Another glam girl of the day, Jill played a Police Woman in 'Carry on Constable', the only Carry On she did, she was in several British films in the 50's and 60's but retired early from acting in 1966, she moved to Portugal where she first ran an hotel, then a restaurant, she lived there until her death in 2008 aged 77.- Dorinda Stevens was born on 16 August 1932 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Avengers (1961), Jack the Ripper (1959) and Night Train to Paris (1964). She was married to Michael Boultbee. She died on 25 October 2012 in Winchester, Hampshire, England, UK.Dorinda had a similar portfolio to Jill Adams, she had a small role in 'Carry on Constable', but she also had a brief role in 'Carry on Jack' and in the spin-off 'Raising the Wind, she retired from acting in 1965, she lived a little longer though, passing away in 2012 aged 80.
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Best known for playing the perpetually-ditzy blonde bimbo in several installments of the "Carry On" franchise, buxom Liz Fraser (born Elizabeth Joan Winch above a corner shop in south London) studied at RADA on a scholarship and first acted in repertory theatre and television before breaking into films. Her first role of note was Cynthia, the daughter of radical left-wing shop steward Fred Kite in The Boulting Brothers comedy I'm All Right Jack (1959) (the film which made Peter Sellers a star). In a second outing with Sellers, (Two Way Stretch (1960), she played his girlfriend Ethel; up next were eight guest appearances on Hancock's Half Hour (1956). By that time, her screen personae were firmly established as scatterbrained blondes or feisty gum-chewing working-class Cockneys. Though she often managed to rise above her material, the typecasting sadly continued through a series of dreadful low-brow '70s sex comedies in the 'Adventures' and 'Confessions' series, which represented a significant step-down from the "Carry Ons" and did nothing for her reputation.
Liz attempted to change her image by playing straight dramatic roles in The Family Way (1966) and Up the Junction (1968) (as the mother) and her later career prospered as a fine character actress with guest spots on The Professionals (1977), Minder (1979), Foyle's War (2002), and Midsomer Murders (1997), along with a string of successes on the West End stage. In her private life, she was known to be fond of animals, and she loved to play bridge and ladies' bowls at the exclusive Hurlingham club in Fulham. Her financial astuteness brought substantial gains at the stock market, which she in turn developed into a healthy property portfolio. She always spoke fondly of her co-stars, many of whom she regarded as her close 'mates' during the sixties, in particular Sidney James, Joan Sims, Tony Hancock and Tommy Cooper.Lovely Liz Fraser, chosen for her buxom looks, but turned out to be a good actress, she was already experienced before Carry On, having done several high profile British Comedy-dramas, her first Carry On was 'Carry On Regardless', she did 3 more, her best role was in 'Carry on Cruising' partnering up with Dilys Laye, it was their film, she also did a spin off, 'Raising The Wind', her career continued in British comedy, later turning to more serious stuff, she was still acting a bit when she sadly passed away in 2018, aged 88.- Actress
Legendary Australian character actress of the British screen, Miss Cannon was without doubt one of the best scene stealing actresses.
Her pixie like looks and extraordinary facial expressions made her a true favourite of many a British movie.
Without her appearances in many a 'Carry On..' film in the 1960s, her career would have probably been forgotten today. Arguably her most famous performance was as the lonely but happy spinster in Carry on Cruising (1962). The bar scene with Dilys Laye where both their characters get hideously drunk, is as legendary as the movie itself.The "Mad Pixie" as Sid James called her, was an Australian who came to England, she started her acting career in the 30's, her first Carry On being a small role in ...Constable', she had a better role in 'Carry On Regardless' and another in 'Carry on Cruising', her last was 'Carry On Cabby', she also did 2 of the spin-offs, she retired soon after in 1964, and moved to France, sadly she also passed away in 1972, aged 66.- Actress
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Fenella Fielding was born on 17 November 1927 in Hackney, London, England, UK. She was an actress and writer, known for Guest House Paradiso (1999), Carry on Screaming! (1966) and The Avengers (1961). She died on 11 September 2018 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK.Famous for her "smoking" role in 'Carry on Screaming', but she actually started in Carry On in a small role in 'Carry On Regardless' this was also a 'vamp' role, she only did 2, one of them was very memorable though. She had a long career, mostly in British TV, she was still acting when she passed away in 2018 aged 90, in fact a few of the episodes appeared a year after she died, a case of her immortal role in ..... Screaming' repeating itself in real life!
2018 was a bad year for Carry on Girls, 4 passed away in that year.- Actress
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Judith Furse was born on 4 March 1912 in Camberley, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress and producer, known for Black Narcissus (1947), Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939) and Carry on Spying (1964). She died on 29 August 1974 in Canterbury, Kent, England, UK.Judith was not a handsome woman, she usually played "battle-axes" in her later years, which is when she appeared in 'Carry On Regardless', she also did the sinister Dr. Crow in 'Carry on Spying', and had a role in the spin-off 'The Iron Maiden' and a small role in 'Carry On Cabby', despite her looks, she had a good career from 1938 -1972, but she passed away in 1974 aged 62.- Actress
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A raven-haired, sometimes blonde (particularly in the earlier years) pretty actress, Dilys Laye was capable of a wide range of roles, from straight drama to comedy. She began in the 1950s, like most other British screen actresses of the era, in studio-system-style films. One of her first films was Paper Gallows (1950) and she continued in popular movies like Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) and Doctor at Large (1957).
Today she is often remembered for her appearances in the "Carry On.." films. Her first "Carry On..." appearance was in Carry on Cruising (1962), where along with Esma Cannon she stole many of the best comedy scenes from the regular cast; the bar scene is an example of this. She took over the role at four days' notice when Joan Sims was unable to appear because of ill health. Her next 'Carry On...' appearance saw her take on a sinister and darker role in Carry on Spying (1964) as Lila. She even sang, in a café-bar scene. In Carry on Doctor (1967) she played patient Mavis Winkle, who is searching for love and finds it in the unusual place of the hospital ward, and in Carry on Camping (1969) she appeared alongside "Carry On..." legend Joan Sims. They were perfectly cast together and complement each other's performances throughout the movie.
After that time her work was mainly on the stage with some television and film appearances. She made appearances in soaps such as Coronation Street (1960) and EastEnders (1985). Other character parts included Holby City (1999) and Doctors (2000).
She played Queen Elizabeth II in The Amazing Mrs Pritchard (2006).Beautiful Dilys Laye first appeared in 'Carry On Cruising' paired up with Liz Fraser as 2 girls on the make, apart from her beauty Dilys could act and wore different fashions of the day, it was an excellent performance and promotion of Carry On, with Liz it was their film, not Sid and the 2 kens who were above them on the billing, Dilys was in 'Carry on Spying' in a lessor role. Dilys actually started with the Carry On Team in one of their side efforts, 'Please Turn Over' from 1959 (she had been acting since 1949 aged 14), she also did ......Doctor' and .........Camping', she carried on acting almost until she sadly passed away in 2009, aged 74, she was wonderful and will be greatly missed.- Actress
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This feisty and very funny British comedienne and musical revue vet with the trademark 60s brunet page-boy haircut, pronounced jaw, and arguably the largest, Bette Davis-like eyes in London was born Shirley Anne Broadbent in Ashton-under-Lyne, Cheshire on September 14, 1935. The daughter of Hubert Howath Broadbent, an accountant, and wife Connie (Pyke) Broadbent, who greatly prodded her young daughter into becoming a performer, Amanda was named after the Depression-era child star Shirley Temple. Her grandfather was a theatre owner in Ashton-under-Lyne, and young Shirley made her very first appearance there at the age of 3 as a Christmas Tree Fairy.
Not long after this she began training earnestly in singing and in dance, particularly ballet. As a youngster she won a talent-judging contest singing "I'm Just a Little Girl Who's Looking for a Little Boy". She then went on to attend school at St. Anne's College in St. Anne's-on-Sea and later studied acting at the Cone-Ripman School.
After her parents' divorce, the teenager ran away from home and off to London where she lived at the Theatre Girls Club and subsequently found work as a chorus girl. By 1958 she had changed her marquee name to "Amanda Barrie" and made her TV debut with the comedy team of Morecambe and Wise in which her skirt accidentally fell off on live TV. She then took her first West End curtain call in a 1961 production of "Babes in the Wood". Eventually Amanada decided to set her sights beyond a dancing career, and moved more into musical revue work in the hopes for good comedy parts. Finding work as a dancer in cabaret shows and the revue "On the Brighter Side", she also trained at the Bristol Old Vic but did not perform in repertory.
Throughout the 1960s Amanda focused on her musical talents in the West End, and sparkled in a number of comedy shows. In the early part of the decade she hit solid notices with the revues "Six of One" (1963) with Dora Bryan and "See You Inside (1963)". Other stage work (which included occasional drama) came in the form of "Cabaret" (as Sally Bowles), "Private Lives", "Hobson's Choice, "Any Wednesday", "A Public Mischief", "She Loves Me" (replacing Rita Moreno in London), and "Little by Little". She also worked as the TV hostess on "Double Your Money" with Hughie Green and appeared in a number of comedy films: Operation Bullshine (1959), her debut in an unbilled bit, A Pair of Briefs (1962), Doctor in Distress (1963)and I've Gotta Horse (1965). She appeared to very good advantage in two of the slapstick "Carry On..." film series. She played a female cabbie in the Carry on Cabby (1963) and Cleopatra herself (with a sexy lisp) in Carry on Cleo (1964).
After her film peak Amanda continued to show resiliency on stage and TV. Theatre endeavors included "Absurd Person Singular", the musical "Stepping Out" with Julia McKenzie, "The Mating Game", "Blithe Spirit (as Elvira) and "Twelfth Night". Occasional movie work came in, including the addled comedy One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975) with Helen Hayes. Of the countless sitcoms Amanda has been involved in, she became a soap opera favorite beginning in 1981 with her participation as Alma Sedgewick in Coronation Street (1960). Her appearances were infrequent until the character became a regular in 1989. She retired the role after 11 years in 2001 in an effort to spread her wings once again and seek other work. The producers actually killed off her popular character in quick fashion with a rapid case of cervical cancer.
In 1967 Amanda married actor and theatre director Robin Hunter and the twosome appeared occasionally on stage together, including the pantomime "Aladdin" in late 1967 and 1968 in which Amanda had the title role. The couple separated in the 1980s, however, but remained good friends and never divorced. Hunter died in 2004. In 1997 Amanda battled a serious optic disease in which she eventually lost the sight of her left eye. She has continued to perform, however, and more recent work has included the pantomimes "Jack and the Beanstalk" (2006) and "Cinderella" (2007), in which she played the Fairy Godmother. In her popular and highly candid autobiography "It's Not a Rehearsal," a best seller published in 2003, Amanda opened up for the first time about her bisexuality.Stunning Amanda Barrie was the lead Glam Cab driver in 'Carry on Cabby', "flashing her headlamps", the only other one she did was 'Carry On Cleo' as Cleopatra, despite just 2 she made a big impression, she has had a long career her last role was in 2018, and she could be retired now, she deserves it she's been acting since 1957, 61 years and she is still going and looking great at 85.- Dominique Don was born in 1944 in Paris, France. She is an actress, known for Carry on Up the Khyber (1968), Genghis Khan (1965) and Are You Being Served? (1972).Dominique had an uncredited role as one of the Glam Cab drivers, that would on its own not be enough for my list, but she did a few more, she had bit parts in ....Jack', 'Follow That Camel' and .....Up The Khyber' altogether 4 of the best Carry On's, she also appeared in the Bond film 'Goldfinger'. Dominique was French, but spent most of her life in England and despite these roles, she only had a short career, her last was in 1978, apparently she still lives, now aged 76.
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Valerie Van Ost was born on July 25, 1944 in Berkhamstead, Hertfordshire, England. Van Ost was a dancer as a teenager at the London Palladium theatre prior to embarking on an acting career in both films and TV shows at the age of 17. Best known for her memorable appearances in four "Carry On" movies, Valerie was once considered as a possible replacement for Diana Rigg as Emma Peel on the hit TV series The Avengers (1961). After calling it quits as an actress, Van Ost went on to become a respected casting director and formed a casting company with her second husband Andrew Millington. She died at age 75 from liver cancer on September 10, 2019.There were 13 Glam Cab drivers altogether in 'Carry On Cabby', with only Amanda Barrie credited, another that did a bit more was Valerie, she was also in 'Don't Lose Your Head' and the 2 'Carry On ....Doctor's', she had quite a good acting career, retiring from acting in 1976 to go into Casting, sadly she passed away not long ago in September 2019, aged 75.- Amanda Reiss was born in 1943 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. She is an actress, known for Edward & Mrs. Simpson (1978), Rupert of Hentzau (1964) and Nurse on Wheels (1963). She has been married to Andrew McCulloch since 2002. They have two children.She was another Glam Cab driver in 'Carry On Cabby', but this was not her first, she was an uncredited Nurse in 'Carry On Nurse' and also played in a couple of off shoot films, 'Twice Round The Daffodils' and 'Nurse on Wheels', despite the small Carry On roles, she had quite a good career, mostly in British TV, retiring from acting in 1986, she still lives now aged 77.
Of the other Glam Cab drivers, for most .....Cabby' was their only film, one of them did play a Vestal Virgin in 'Carry On Cleo' but just a glimpse in that so none worth entering on here. - Actress
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An English actress of stage, screen and television, sister to Hayley Mills and daughter of Sir John Mills, Juliet first came to notice in films, actually after her sister Hayley started her career. Juliet, however, was first plucked onto the screen and signing a contract with Warner Brothers and taking small roles in comedies like Nurse on Wheels (1963) and Carry on Jack (1964). It wasn't until 1966, when Juliet Mills started getting attention in her role opposite James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara in the western film The Rare Breed (1966). She continued in television in the seventies as a recurring guest star on The Love Boat (1977), Wonder Woman (1975) and Fantasy Island (1977). She got her first starring television series, Nanny and the Professor (1970), in 1970, co-starring Richard Long, the series was top-rated, but was shortly canceled after two seasons by ABC. She hit the screen again in 1974, playing the possessed "Jessica Barrett" in the Italian horror film Beyond the Door (1974) ("Beyond the Door") for Film Ventures International, but it was pulled from theaters because it resembled The Exorcist (1973), even though it was becoming a box office hit. She didn't get very many roles after that and continued in television through the eighties. She did a small part in Waxwork II: Lost in Time (1992) and then played Juliette Lewis's friendly maid in the 1999 major motion picture The Other Sister (1999), co-starring Diane Keaton and Tom Skerritt. Juliet Mills has recently been in the daytime drama (soap opera) Passions (1999), playing "Tabitha", the witch. She is married to actor Maxwell Caulfield.Daughter of Sir John Mills, the very pretty Juliet was Sally alias Midshipman Albert Poop-Decker in 'Carry On Jack' this was her Carry On shared with Bernard Cribbins, the real Albert Poop-Decker. Juliet did appear in 2 side issues of the Carry On Franchise, she was lead role in 'Twice Round The Daffodils' and 'Nurse on Wheels' but did not do anymore Carry On's, a bit of a shame really because apart from being an excellent actor, she was and still is, extremely pretty, she is still acting at the age of 79.- Actress
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Legendary EastEnders actress and Carry On star Barbara Windsor was born Barbara Ann Deeks in Stepney, London, the daughter of Rose (Ellis), a dressmaker, and John Deeks, a costermonger. She was a bright pupil at school and her parents wanted her to go to university, but after her first taste of show business, when her grandmother took her backstage at a theatre, she decided acting was what she wanted to do.
Her mother spent all her savings on a place at the Aida Foster Acting School, where Barbara made her stage debut in Aida's 1950s pantomime at the Golders Green Hippodrome. Aida's tutors tried to iron out her Cockney accent but luckily they didn't succeed. In 1952, she was cast as one of the orphans in the musical "Love from Judy", which opened at London's Saville Theatre. With the show's star, she made her television debut in "Variety Parade". Two years later in 1954, she made her film debut as a school girl extra in "The Belles of St. Trinians", and by 1957, she was performing at London's Winston's Club with Amanda Barrie. The producer Joan Littlewood, who was committed to working class theatre, spotted her at an audition and in 1960 gave her the role which changed her life - Rose in "Fings Ain't What They Used to Be" at London's Garrick Theatre where it ran for two and a half years, during which she appeared in the sitcom The Rag Trade (1961).
As a result of the success of "Fings", Littlewood cast her in the film Sparrows Can't Sing (1963), which was seen by producer Peter Rogers who offered her roles in "Carry On" films, the first of which was Carry on Spying (1964). In 1964, She appeared in Joan's stage version of 'Oh! What a Lovely War' on Broadway and toured America with it. On her return, she was cast in the West End production of Lionel Bart's ill fated musical "Twang", which closed after a short run allowing her to take a role in "Come Spy with Me" with Danny La Rue at London's Whitehall Theatre. During the run, she had a complete change in playing one of the Ripper's victims in the film A Study in Terror (1965), then it was back to lighthearted roles in such films as Carry on Doctor (1967) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and in 1968, a British tour with Frankie Howerd in "The Wind in the Sasafras Tree". In late 1969, Ned Sherrin cast her as the music hall legend Marie Lloyd in "Sing a Rude Song" which opened at the Greenwich Theatre before transferring to the West End's Garrick Theatre.
Windsor did become well known in the London theatrical scene, but it was the "Carry On" comedies that made her a star. Although she appeared in only nine films in the long-running series (she left because she thought they were getting too risqué), she made such an impression as the basically good-hearted but dizzy sexpot that many of the series' fans believe she was in many more than she actually was. She almost didn't get the role originally, as she and series regular Kenneth Williams took an instant dislike to each other, but that was soon overcome and they became lifelong friends.
After she left the series, she continued her stage and film work, and became a regular in a long-running British soap opera, EastEnders (1985) as the matriarch of The Queen Victoria - Peggy Mitchell, which she played in over 1,500 episodes. She wrote two autobiographies, "Barbara - the Laughter and Tears of a Cockney Sparrow" and "All of Me - My Extraordinary Life". She was awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2000 Queen's New Years Honours for her services to entertainment. She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2016 Queen's New Years Honours for her services to entertainment and to charity.
Dame Barbara Windsor died of Alzheimer's disease on December 10, 2020, in London. She is survived by husband Scott Mitchell.Bubbly Babs as she is known, was introduced into Carry On history in 'Carry on Spying' playing a incompetent trainee spy but who had the gift of a photographic memory. Babs actually only did 8 of the 30 Carry On films (and none of the side issues), but she had a lasting impression, mostly the impression of her boobs popping out in ......Camping', but she was a good actress and went on to a cracking career, she has even had a film made about her, in which she appeared as her older self, ironically that was her last, as unfortunately she passed away in 2020 aged 83.