Ann Stephens (21 May 1931 – 15 July 1966) was a British child

actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a Character (arts), character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek ...

and singer, popular in the 1940s. She was born in London. In July 1941 she recorded several songs, including a popular version of "

The Teddy Bears' Picnic "The Teddy Bears' Picnic" is a song consisting of a melody by American composer John Walter Bratton, written in 1907, and lyrics added by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy in 1932. It remains popular as a children's song, having been recorded by nu ...

", " Dicky Bird Hop" (with

Franklin Engelmann Henry Franklin Engelmann (4 March 1908 – 2 March 1972) was a radio personality popular in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s, particularly as the host of ''Down Your Way'' and ''Gardeners' Question Time''. Life and career Franklin Engelmann was bor ...

) and a setting by Harold Fraser-Simson of one of

A. A. Milne Alan Alexander Milne (; 18 January 1882 – 31 January 1956) was an English writer best known for his books about the teddy bear Winnie-the-Pooh, as well as for children's poetry. Milne was primarily a playwright before the huge success of Winni ...

's verses about

Christopher Robin Christopher Robin is a character created by A. A. Milne, based on his son Christopher Robin Milne. The character appears in the author's popular books of poetry and ''Winnie-the-Pooh'' stories, and has subsequently appeared in various Disney a ...

, "Buckingham Palace," which was often featured on the BBC Light Programme's

Children's Favourites ''Junior Choice'' is a BBC Radio programme originally broadcast from 1967 until 1982 with Christmas specials from 2007 until 2015 and again since 2017. Originally broadcast on the BBC Light Programme on Saturday mornings from 9.10 to 9.55 (later, ...

. In the same year Stephens had made her recording debut as Alice in musical adaptations of

Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (; 27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet and mathematician. His most notable works are ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865) and its sequel ...

's ''

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a ...

'' and ''

Through the Looking Glass ''Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There'' (also known as ''Alice Through the Looking-Glass'' or simply ''Through the Looking-Glass'') is a novel published on 27 December 1871 (though indicated as 1872) by Lewis Carroll and the ...

''. She was chosen for this role from some 700 applicants auditioned by the record company His Master’s Voice. Later in the 1940s, Stephens appeared in several films, including ''

In Which We Serve ''In Which We Serve'' is a 1942 British patriotic war film directed by Noël Coward and David Lean. It was made during the Second World War with the assistance of the Ministry of Information (United Kingdom), Ministry of Information. The scree ...

'' (1942), '' Fanny By Gaslight'' (1944), ''

The Upturned Glass ''The Upturned Glass'' is a 1947 British film noir psychological thriller directed by Lawrence Huntington and starring James Mason, Rosamund John and Pamela Kellino. The screenplay concerns a leading brain surgeon who murders a woman he believes ...

'' (1947) and '' Your Witness'' (1950). In the 1950s she turned her attention to television drama. A surviving

Pathe Pathe or Pathé may refer to: * Pathé, a French company established in 1896 * Pathé Exchange, U.S. division of the French film company that was spun off into an independent entity * Pathé News, a French and British distributor of cinema news ...

newsreel of 1945 records her visit to the Hospital for Sick Children in

Great Ormond Street Great Ormond Street Hospital (informally GOSH or Great Ormond Street, formerly the Hospital for Sick Children) is a children's hospital located in the Bloomsbury area of the London Borough of Camden, and a part of Great Ormond Street Hospital ...

, London, for which her gramophone recordings had raised £8,000.

Selected discography

* "Ann's Nursery Rhymes" (based on

Mother Goose The figure of Mother Goose is the imaginary author of a collection of French fairy tales and later of English nursery rhymes. As a character, she appeared in a song, the first stanza of which often functions now as a nursery rhyme. This, howeve ...

rhymes) * "Buckingham Palace" (lyrics by

, music by Harold Fraser-Simson) * "Christopher Robin (Vespers)" (from

's ''

When We Were Very Young ''When We Were Very Young'' is a best-selling book of poetry by A. A. Milne. It was first published in 1924, and it was illustrated by E. H. Shepard. Several of the verses were set to music by Harold Fraser-Simson. The book begins with an intro ...

''; conducted by Clifford Greenwood) * "Dicky Bird Hop" (written by Ron Gourley, conducted by Henry Geehl) * Songs set to poems from

's ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' * "

" (music by

John Walter Bratton John Walter Bratton (January 21, 1867 – February 7, 1947) was an American Tin Pan Alley composer and theatrical producer who became popular during the era known as the Gay Nineties. Early life Raised by his grandmother, Mary Bratton, in New Ca ...

, lyrics by

Jimmy Kennedy James Kennedy (20 July 1902 – 6 April 1984) was a Northern Irish songwriter. He was predominantly a lyricist, putting words to existing music such as "Teddy Bears' Picnic" and "My Prayer" or co-writing with composers like Michael Carr, Wi ...

, conducted by Henry Geehl * "Wedding of the Gingerbreads" (conducted by Clifford Greenwood) * "King Wenceslas – A Christmas Play" (with

Arthur Askey Arthur Bowden Askey, (6 June 1900 – 16 November 1982) was an English comedian and actor. Askey was known for his short stature (5' 2", 1.58 m) and distinctive horn-rimmed glasses, and his playful humour incorporating improvisation ...

and

Florence Desmond Florence Dawson (31 May 1905 – 16 January 1993), better known by her stage name Florence Desmond, was an English actress, comedian and impersonator. Biography Early life and career Born in London in 1905, Desmond was educated at the Dame A ...

, narrated by Frank Phillips, music by Charles Williams) HMV C3640/1 Nov. 1947

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1942) * ''

Dear Octopus ''Dear Octopus'' is a comedy by the playwright and novelist Dodie Smith. It opened at the Queen's Theatre, London on 14 September 1938. On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 the run was halted after 373 performances; after ...

'' (1943) * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) * ''

They Were Sisters ''They Were Sisters'' is a 1945 British melodrama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring James Mason and Phyllis Calvert. The film was produced by Harold Huth, with cinematography from Jack Cox and screenplay by ...

'' (1945) * ''

'' (1947) * ''

No Room at the Inn ''No Room at the Inn'' is a 1945 play by Joan Temple that became a 1948 film directed by Daniel Birt. Both play and film are presented in flashback mode and share the same subject matter – cruelty, neglect and mental and physical abuse meted ...

'' (1948) * '' Your Witness'' (1950) * '' The Franchise Affair'' (1951) * ''

The Good Beginning ''The Good Beginning'' is a 1953 British drama film directed by Gilbert Gunn and written by Janet Green and starring John Fraser, Eileen Moore and Peter Reynolds. Cast * John Fraser - Johnny Lipson * Eileen Moore - Kit Lipson * Peter Reyno ...

'' (1953) * ''

Son of a Stranger ''Son of a Stranger'' is a 1957 British film directed by Ernest Morris and starring James Kenney, Ann Stephens, and Victor Maddern.''The Wedding of the Gingerbreads''
The Ann Stephens Nursery Series - No. 3. Ann Stephens with Vocal Trio, 3:00, without year. ''Swiss Foundation Public Domain'', 2019

External links

* 1931 births English film actresses English child actresses 1966 deaths 20th-century English actresses {{England-actor-stub