Charlotte Mitchell (born Edna Winifred Mitchell; 23 July 1926 – 2 May 2012) was an English actress and poet.

Biography

In the 1950s she provided lyrics, sketches, and occasionally acted in revues on

London's West End The West End of London (commonly referred to as the West End) is a district of Central London, west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, in which many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buil ...

. She was especially successful in her ventures providing lyrics for

Madeleine Dring Madeleine Winefride Isabelle Dring (7 September 1923 – 26 March 1977) was an English composer, pianist, singer and actress. Life Madeleine Dring spent the first four years of her life at Raleigh Road, Harringay, before the family moved to Stre ...

in ''

Airs on a Shoestring ''Airs on a Shoestring'' was a British musical revue, first staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 22 April 1953. The show, described as "an intimate revue", was devised and directed by Laurier Lister. Cast members included Max Adrian, Ma ...

'' (1953), ''Pay the Piper'' (1954), and '' Fresh Airs'' (1956), all productions of

Laurier Lister George Laurier Lister, OBE (22 April 1907 – 30 September 1986) was an English theatre writer, actor, director and producer, best known for a series of revues presented in London in the late 1940s and 1950s. He was later associated with Laurence ...

. She was once (allegedly) the girlfriend of

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show'', featured on a number of hit comic songs ...

, and appeared in ''

The Goon Show ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September 19 ...

'' episodes ''Ye Bandit of Sherwood Forest'' (1954) as

Maid Marian Maid Marian is the heroine of the Robin Hood legend in English folklore, often taken to be his lover. She is not mentioned in the early, medieval versions of the legend, but was the subject of at least two plays by 1600. Her history and circums ...

and ''Tales of Montmartre'' (1956) as Seagoon's love interest, Fifi. Charlotte Mitchell was married to the actor

Philip Guard Philip John Guard (born 29 November 1928 in Rochford, Essex) is an English stage actor. Guard has appeared occasionally in film and TV, but has been more prolific on stage. He was married to the actress Charlotte Mitchell who died in 2012; they s ...

, from whom she separated in 1968, and was the mother of three children: actors

Christopher Guard Christopher Guard (born 5 December 1953) is an English actor, musician and artist. He is known for roles such as Jim Hawkins in '' Return to Treasure Island'' (1986), Bellboy in ''Doctor Who'' serial ''The Greatest Show in the Galaxy'' (1988), ...

and

Dominic Guard Dominic Guard (born 18 June 1956) is an English child psychotherapist and author, formerly an actor. Early life Guard was born in London on 18 June 1956. His father, Philip Guard, was an English stage actor, his mother, Charlotte Mitchell, an a ...

and animator and novelist

Candy Guard ''Pond Life'' is a British animated cartoon, animated television series that was written, animated and directed by comedian and animator Candy Guard and follows the misadventures of its neurotic and self-obsessed protagonist, Dolly Pond. Two seri ...

. Charlotte lived in West London during the later part of her life and continued to be active as a poet. She appeared on

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927). The service provides national radio stations covering th ...

with

Ian Carmichael Ian Gillett Carmichael, OBE (18 June 1920 – 5 February 2010) was an English actor who worked prolifically on stage, screen and radio in a career spanning 70 years. He found prominence in the films of the Boulting brothers, including ' ...

in ''The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C. Potter''. Carmichael played Gerald C. Potter, mystery writer, while she played Diana, his wife, who, under the pseudonym of Miss Magnolia Badminton, wrote romantic novels. She also played, on radio, the Dowager Duchess (

Lord Peter Wimsey Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey (later 17th Duke of Denver) is the fictional protagonist in a series of detective novels and short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers (and their continuation by Jill Paton Walsh). A dilettante who solves mysteries for ...

's mother) in the radio adaption of ''Strong Poison'' that starred Ian Carmichael as Peter Wimsey and the character of Kath Miller in the

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 15 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the station broadcasts a wide range of content. ...

daily serial ''

Waggoners' Walk ''Waggoners' Walk'' was a daily radio soap opera, set in the fictional cul-de-sac of Waggoners' Walk and its environs in Hampstead, north London. It was broadcast daily on BBC Radio 2 from 1969 to 1980, in the form of 15-minute episodes on w ...

''. On television, she played Amy Winthrop the housekeeper in ''

The Adventures of Black Beauty ''The Adventures of Black Beauty'' is a British adventure family television series produced by London Weekend Television and shown by ITV in the United Kingdom between 1972 and 1974. It was distributed internationally by London Weekend Internat ...

'' (1972–74), and Monica Spencer in

And Mother Makes Five ''...And Mother Makes Five'' is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1 May 1974 to 11 February 1976. Starring Wendy Craig, it is the sequel of '' ...And Mother Makes Three'' and aired for four series. It was written by Richard Waring, Brian ...

. Her poetry was published in collections such as "Twelve Burnt Saucepans", "Looking Round Dangerously", "I Want to Go Home" and "Just in Case". These provided the basis of a series of popular programmes on BBC Radio 4 in which she read her own work. Her poetry is often requested and read on the

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC that replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. It broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history from the BBC' ...

's ''

Poetry Please ''Poetry Please'' is a weekly radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in which listeners request poems, which are then read by a cast of actors. It is broadcast on Sunday afternoons and repeated the following Saturday night. The current presenter ...

'', and one of her poems was chosen by

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Regarded as one of Britain's best actresses, she is noted for her versatile work in various films and television programmes encompassing several genres, as well as for her ...

and Michael Williams in their joint BBC Radio 4 programme ''With Great Pleasure''.

Death

She died in Chiswick, London, on 2 May 2012, aged 85 from pneumonia. She had previously battled

breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a re ...

and

myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, anemi ...

Filmography

Films

* ''

The Romantic Age ''The Romantic Age'' is a 1949 British drama film directed by Edmond T. Gréville. The screenplay by Peggy Barwell and Edward Dryhurst is based on the French novel ''Lycee des jeunes filles'' by Serge Véber. The film was retitled ''Naughty Ar ...

'' (1949, ''Naughty Arlette'' 1950 in the US) – Charlotte (uncredited) * '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950) – Ethel (uncredited) * ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. The film was remade as ''Some Will, Some Won't'' (1970). Plot In his will, notorious practical joker Henry Russell leave ...

'' (1951) – Ethel * ''

The Man in the White Suit ''The Man in the White Suit'' is a 1951 British satirical science fiction comedy film made by Ealing Studios. It stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film was nominated for an Ac ...

'' (1951) – Mill Girl * ''

Lady Godiva Rides Again ''Lady Godiva Rides Again'' is a 1951 British comedy film starring Pauline Stroud, George Cole and Bernadette O'Farrell, with British stars in supporting roles or making cameo appearances. It concerns a small-town English girl who wins a local ...

'' (1951) – Lucille * ''

Curtain Up ''Curtain Up'' is a 1952 British comedy film directed by Ralph Smart and starring Robert Morley, Margaret Rutherford and Kay Kendall. Written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee it is based on the play ''On Monday Next'' by Philip King. It w ...

'' (1952) – Daphne Ray * ''

Time Bomb A time bomb (or a timebomb, time-bomb) is a bomb whose detonation is triggered by a timer. The use (or attempted use) of time bombs has been for various purposes including insurance fraud, terrorism, assassination, sabotage and warfare. They ar ...

'' (1953) – Buffet Waitress (uncredited) * ''

The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan ''The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan'' (also known as ''Gilbert & Sullivan'' and ''The Great Gilbert and Sullivan'') is a 1953 British musical drama film dramatisation of the collaboration between Gilbert and Sullivan. Librettist W. S. Gilbert a ...

'' (1953) (or ''The Great Gilbert and Sullivan'' in the US) – Charlotte * '' Street Corner'' (1953, ''Both Sides of the Law'' 1954 in the US) – Lily Propert (uncredited) * ''

Lost Lost may refer to getting lost, or to: Geography *Lost, Aberdeenshire, a hamlet in Scotland * Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail, or LOST, a hiking and cycling trail in Florida, US History *Abbreviation of lost work, any work which is known to have bee ...

'' (1955, ''Tears for Simon'' 1957 in the US) – Farmer's Wife (uncredited) * '' The Bridal Path'' (1959) – Mrs. Mavis Bruce (uncredited) * '' Village of the Damned'' (1960) – Janet Pawle * ''

Dentist in the Chair ''Dentist in the Chair'' is a 1960 British comedy film, directed by Don Chaffey and starring Bob Monkhouse, Ronnie Stevens, Eric Barker and Vincent Ball. The screenplay was written by Val Guest, and based on a novel by Matthew Finch. Additiona ...

'' (1960) – Woman in Surgery * ''

Nearly a Nasty Accident ''Nearly a Nasty Accident'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Don Chaffey and starring Jimmy Edwards, Kenneth Connor, Shirley Eaton and Eric Barker. A mechanically minded but accident-prone aircraftman (Kenneth Connor) creates chaos an ...

'' (1961) – Miss Chamberlain * ''

Dentist on the Job ''Dentist on the Job'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards, the sequel to ''Dentist in the Chair'' (1960). It was released in the US with the title ''Get On with It!''. The film was co-written by Hugh Woodhouse a ...

'' (1961, ''Get on with It!'' 1963 in the US) – Mrs. Burke * ''

The Blood on Satan's Claw ''The Blood on Satan's Claw'' is a 1971 British supernatural horror film directed by Piers Haggard and starring Patrick Wymark, Linda Hayden, and Barry Andrews. Set in early 18th-century England, it follows the residents of a rural village w ...

'' (1970) – Ellen * ''

Jim, the World's Greatest ''Jim the World's Greatest'' is a 1976 Drama (film and television), drama film written and directed by Don Coscarelli and Craig Mitchell. The movie began production when Coscarelli and Mitchell were 18-year-olds, while being financed by their pare ...

'' (1975) – School Secretary * ''

The French Lieutenant's Woman ''The French Lieutenant's Woman'' is a 1969 postmodern historical fiction novel by John Fowles. The plot explores the fraught relationship of gentleman and amateur naturalist Charles Smithson and Sarah Woodruff, the former governess and inde ...

'' (1981) – Mrs. Tranter * ''Out of the Darkness'' (1985) – Mrs. Barrow * ''

The First Kangaroos ''The First Kangaroos'' is a 1988 British–Australian made for TV sports film directed by Frank Cvitanovich and starring Dennis Waterman, Chris Haywood and Dominic Sweeney. It depicts the 1908–09 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the first-eve ...

'' (1988) – Mrs. Oaks

Television

* ''

Not in Front of the Children ''Not in Front of the Children: "Indecency," Censorship, and the Innocence of Youth'' is a non-fiction book by attorney and civil libertarian, Marjorie Heins about freedom of speech and the relationship between censorship and the "think of the ch ...

'' (1967–1970) – Mary * ''

Dombey and Son ''Dombey and Son'' is a novel by English author Charles Dickens. It follows the fortunes of a shipping firm owner, who is frustrated at the lack of a son to follow him in his footsteps; he initially rejects his daughter's love before eventual ...

'' (1969) - Polly "Richards" Toodle * ''

Persuasion Persuasion or persuasion arts is an umbrella term for Social influence, influence. Persuasion can influence a person's Belief, beliefs, Attitude (psychology), attitudes, Intention, intentions, Motivation, motivations, or Behavior, behaviours. ...

'' (1971) – Mrs. Clay * ''

'' (1972–1974) – Amy Winthrop * ''

The Kids from 47A ''The Kids from 47A'' is a British children's television series produced by Associated Television. Three series were made; the first (comprising 15 episodes) was shown in 1973, the second (13 episodes) and third (13 episodes) in 1974. The third ...

'' (1973, Writer) * '' ...And Mother Makes Five'' (1974–1976) – Monica Spencer * ''

In This House of Brede ''In This House of Brede'' is a novel by Rumer Godden published in 1969 by Viking in the US and by Macmillan in the UK. Synopsis The novel is a portrait of religious life in England that centers on Philippa Talbot, a highly successful professio ...

'' (1975, TV Movie) – Mrs. Fraser * ''

Miss Jones and Son ''Miss Jones and Son'' is a comedy series first broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV in 1977. It starred Paula Wilcox, Christopher Beeny, Charlotte Mitchell and Norman Bird. It was written by Richard Waring (writer), Richard Waring and produced a ...

'' (1977) – Mum * ''Shades of Darkness'' (1983) – Mrs. Blinder * '' Return to Treasure Island'' (1986) – Mrs. Hawkins * ''

The Woman He Loved ''The Woman He Loved'' is a 1988 British HTV made-for-television romantic drama film for ITV about the abdication of Edward VIII. Directed by Charles Jarrott, it stars Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour and Olivia de Havilland. Jane Seymour was ...

'' (1988, TV Movie) – Lady Chatfield * ''

Selling Hitler ''Selling Hitler'' is a 1991 ITV television comedy-drama mini-series about the Hitler Diaries hoax and was based on Robert Harris's 1986 book ''Selling Hitler: The Story of the Hitler Diaries''. Plot In 1981, Gerd Heidemann ( Jonathan Pryce) ...

'' (1991) – Lady Katherine Giles * '' Pond Life'' (1996) – Ivy * '' Heartbeat'' (1997–1999) – Granny Bellamy (final appearance)

References

External links

Obituary – The Guardian
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Charlotte 1926 births 2012 deaths Deaths from cancer in England Deaths from pneumonia in England Deaths from multiple myeloma English film actresses English television actresses English radio actresses Actors from Ipswich Actresses from Suffolk 20th-century British businesspeople