Betty Ann Davies (24 December 1910 – 14 May 1955) was a British

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

and

film actress An actor or actress is a person who portrays a 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 term is (), li ...

active from the 1920s to the 1950s. Davies made her first stage appearance at the Palladium in a revue in 1924. The following year she joined Cochran's Young Ladies in revues such as ''One Dam Thing After Another'' and ''

This Year of Grace ''This Year of Grace'' is a revue with a book, music, and lyrics by Noël Coward. It opened in London on 22 March 1928 at the London Pavilion and ran for nearly 10 months, directed by Frank Collins, with a cast featuring Sonnie Hale, Maisie Gay, ...

''. Davies enjoyed a long and distinguished West End career which included ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It won ...

'' (1934), '' Morning Star'' (1942), '' Blithe Spirit'' (1943) and '' Four Winds'' (1953). Her outstanding stage triumph was in the role of Blanche du Bois, which she took over from Vivien Leigh, in the original West End production of ''

A Streetcar Named Desire ''A Streetcar Named Desire'' is a play written by Tennessee Williams and first performed on Broadway on December 3, 1947. The play dramatizes the experiences of Blanche DuBois, a former Southern belle who, after encountering a series of pers ...

''. Davies appeared in 38 films, most notably as the future Mrs Polly in '' The History of Mr. Polly'' and in the first of the St Trinian's films '' The Belles of St. Trinian's'', and was active in TV at the time of her death. She went into hospital on May 14th 1955 to have an operation for appendicitis, but suffered from complications following surgery and died the same day. She was 44. She left one son, Brook Blackford.

Partial filmography

* '' My Old Duchess'' (1934) - Sally Martin * ''

Death at Broadcasting House ''Death at Broadcasting House'', also known as ''Death at a Broadcast'', is a 1934 British mystery film directed by Reginald Denham and starring Ian Hunter, Austin Trevor, Henry Kendall, and Jack Hawkins. Novel The original plot comes from a ...

'' (1934) - Poppy Levine * ''

Youthful Folly ''Youthful Folly'' is a 1934 British drama film directed by Miles Mander and starring Irene Vanbrugh, Jane Carr and Mary Lawson. It was a quota quickie made at Shepperton Studios for release by Columbia Pictures.Chibnall p.281 It portrays the l ...

'' (1934) * '' Joy Ride'' (1935) - Anne Maxwell * ''

Play Up the Band ''Play Up the Band'' is a 1935 British musical comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Stanley Holloway, Betty Ann Davies and Leslie Bradley. The film was made at Ealing Studios by the independent company City Films.Perry p.175 The f ...

'' (1935) - Betty Small * ''

Excuse My Glove ''Excuse My Glove'' is a 1936 British comedy sports film directed by Redd Davis and starring Len Harvey, Archie Pitt and Betty Ann Davies. It was produced by Alexander Film Productions. It was shot at Elstree Studios with sets designed by the ...

'' (1936) - Ann Haydon * ''

She Knew What She Wanted ''She Knew What She Wanted'' is a 1936 British musical comedy film directed by Thomas Bentley and starring Albert Burdon, Claude Dampier and Googie Withers. It was based on the stage musical '' Funny Face''. Premise An amoral young dancer falls ...

'' (1936) - Frankie * '' Chick'' (1936) - Peggy * ''Radio Lover'' (1936) - Wendy Maradyck * ''

Tropical Trouble ''Tropical Trouble'' is a 1936 British comedy film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Douglass Montgomery, Betty Ann Davies and Alfred Drayton. It was based on the novel ''Bunga-Bunga'' by Stephen King-Hall. A series of misunderstandings lea ...

'' (1936) - Mary Masterman * '' Lucky Jade'' (1937) - Betsy * ''

Merry Comes to Town ''Merry Comes to Town'' is a 1937 British comedy film directed by George King and starring Zasu Pitts, Guy Newall and Betty Ann Davies. It was made at Shepperton Studios.Wood p.95 Cast * Zasu Pitts as Winnie Oatfield * Guy Newall as Prof. Joh ...

'' (1937) - Marjorie Stafford * '' Under a Cloud'' (1937) - Diana Forbes * '' Silver Top'' (1938) - Dushka Vernon * ''

Mountains O'Mourne ''Mountains O'Mourne'' is a 1938 British musical film directed by Harry Hughes and starring Rene Ray, Niall MacGinnis and Jerry Verno. It was shot at Walton Studios near London.Wood p.99 The film's sets were designed by the art director R. Hol ...

'' (1938) - Violet Mayfair * ''

Kipps ''Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul'' is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1905. It was reportedly Wells's own favourite among his works, and it has been adapted for stage, cinema and television productions, including the musical '' ...

'' (1941) - Flo Bates * ''

It Always Rains on Sunday ''It Always Rains on Sunday'' is a 1947 British film adaptation of Arthur La Bern's novel by the same name, directed by Robert Hamer. The film has been compared with the poetic realism movement in the French cinema of a few years earlier by the ...

'' (1947) - Sadie, his wife * ''

Escape Escape or Escaping may refer to: Computing * Escape character, in computing and telecommunication, a character which signifies that what follows takes an alternative interpretation ** Escape sequence, a series of characters used to trigger some so ...

'' (1948) - Girl in Park * ''

To the Public Danger ''To the Public Danger'' is a 1948 British drama short film directed by Terence Fisher and produced by John Croydon. It stars Dermot Walsh, Susan Shaw, Barry Letts, and Frederick Piper. The film was made at Highbury Studios as a second featu ...

'' (1948, Short) - Barmaid * '' The Passionate Friends'' (1949) - Miss Joan Layton * '' The History of Mr. Polly'' (1949) - Miriam Larkins Polly * ''

Now Barabbas ''Now Barabbas'' is a 1949 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Richard Greene, Cedric Hardwicke and Kathleen Harrison. It is sometimes known as ''Now Barabbas Was a Robber''. It was based on a 1947 play of the same title by ...

'' (1949) - Rosie * '' Man in Black'' (1949) - Bertha Clavering * ''

The Blue Lamp ''The Blue Lamp'' is a 1950 British police procedural film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Jack Warner as PC Dixon, Jimmy Hanley as newcomer PC Mitchell, and Dirk Bogarde as criminal Tom Riley. The title refers to the blue lamps that t ...

'' (1950) - Mary Bertha Lewis (uncredited) * '' Trio'' (1950) - Mrs. Helen Chester (segment "Sanatorium") * ''

The Woman with No Name ''The Woman with No Name'' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Ladislao Vajda and starring Phyllis Calvert, Edward Underdown, Helen Cherry, Richard Burton and James Hayter. In the United States it was released as ''Her Panelled Door''. Pl ...

'' (1950) - Beatrice * '' Outcast of the Islands'' (1951) - Mrs. Williams * ''

Meet Me Tonight ''Meet Me Tonight'' is a 1952 in film, 1952 omnibus British comedy film adapted from three one act plays by Noël Coward: ''Red Peppers'', ''Fumed Oak'' and ''Ways and Means (play), Ways and Means''; which are part of his ''Tonight at 8.30'' pla ...

'' (1952) - Doris Gow (segment "Fumed Oak: An Unpleasant Comedy") * ''

Cosh Boy ''Cosh Boy'' (released in the United States as ''The Slasher'') is a 1953 British film noir directed by Lewis Gilbert and starring James Kenney and Joan Collins. It was made at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith. Plot Based on an original play ...

'' (1953) - Elsie * ''

Grand National Night ''Grand National Night'' is a 1953 British thriller film brought to the screen by George Minter, produced by Phil C. Samuel, and based on a play of the same title written by Campbell and Dorothy Christie. It was directed by Bob McNaught and s ...

'' (1953) - Pinkie Collins * ''Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder'' (1953) - Selina * ''

Murder by Proxy ''Murder by Proxy'' is a 1954 British film noir crime drama film directed by Terence Fisher and starring Dane Clark, Belinda Lee and Betty Ann Davies. The screenplay concerns a man who is offered money to marry a woman. It was produced by Hamm ...

'' (1954) - Mrs. Alicia Brunner * '' The Belles of St. Trinian's'' (1954) - Miss Waters * ''

Children Galore ''Children Galore'' is a 1955 comedy film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Eddie Byrne and June Thorburn. A village squire offers to give away a cottage to a deserving family with the most grandchildren. Cast * Eddie Byrne as Zacky Jones * ...

'' (1955) - Mrs. Ark * ''

Alias John Preston ''Alias John Preston'' is a 1955 British thriller film directed by David MacDonald and starring Betta St. John, Alexander Knox and Christopher Lee. Its plot is about a mysterious and wealthy man who moves to a small village where he outwardly ...

'' (1955) - Mrs. Sandford

References

External links

* 1910 births 1955 deaths Actresses from London British film actresses 20th-century British actresses 20th-century English women 20th-century English people {{UK-film-actor-stub