Cora Goffin (26 April 1902 – 10 June 2004) later known as Lady Littler, was a British actress on the London stage, in

pantomime Pantomime (; informally panto) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for family entertainment. It was developed in England and is performed throughout the United Kingdom, Ireland and (to a lesser extent) in other English-speaking ...

, and in two silent films.

Early life

Cora Gwynne Poole Goffin was born in

Hampstead Hampstead () is an area in London, which lies northwest of Charing Cross, and extends from Watling Street, the A5 road (Roman Watling Street) to Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland. The area forms the northwest part of the Lon ...

in 1902, the daughter and namesake of actress Cora Poole. She was on stage from childhood, with her mother's instruction and encouragement.

Career

Cora Goffin was an actress on the London stage from her teens, where she often played children, including boys. She played Little Lord Fauntleroy, Colin in ''Mother Goose'', a principal boy in ''Jack and the Beanstalk'', and Alice in ''Alice in Wonderland'' (1913), sometimes billed as "Little Cora Goffin." "Cora cannot have been more than twelve years old, but she spoke the lines of her long part with the assurance of an old hand, danced on her toes like a little prima ballerina, and took her encores with the enviable enjoyment of unspoilt childhood," commented a reviewer in ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

''. She toured with the Juvenile Shakespeare Company, and starred in a touring production of ''

Sweet Lavender ''Sweet Lavender'' is a play in three acts by Arthur Wing Pinero, first performed in 1888. The sentimental and gently humorous story concerns the romance of Lavender Rolt and Clement Hale, and the complications impeding the course of true love. ...

''. During

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, she performed at a benefit show for the Soldiers' and Sailors' Dental Aid Fund. In 1923, she was the female lead in ''The Talk of the Town''. In 1926, she played the lead in ''

No, No, Nanette ''No, No, Nanette'' is a musical comedy with lyrics by Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach, music by Vincent Youmans, and a book by Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel, based on Mandel's 1919 Broadway play ''My Lady Friends''. The farcical story involves th ...

'' after

Binnie Hale Beatrice "Binnie" Mary Hale-Monro (22 May 1899 – 10 January 1984) was an English actress, singer and dancer. She was one of the most successful musical theatre stars in London in the 1920s and 1930s, able to sing leading roles in operetta a ...

left the role. There were reports that she had her legs insured for £20,000 with Lloyd's of London. She performed in pantomime shows produced by her husband in the 1930s, especially ''Aladdin''. She retired from the stage in 1940. Goffin appeared in two silent films produced by the Lambart Film Company: ''Romance and Reality'' (1921), '' Down Under Donovan'' (1922). She sang on radio programs in the 1930s.

Personal life

Goffin married theatre manager

Emile Littler Sir Emile Littler (9 September 1903 – 23 January 1985), born Emile Richeux, was an English theatrical impresario, producer and author. Life and career Littler was born in Ramsgate, Kent, in the south east of England, the younger son in the fami ...

in 1933; there was a Pathé News interview with them on their wedding day, which was a

Friday the 13th Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day in Western superstition. It occurs when the 13th day of the month in the Gregorian calendar falls on a Friday, which happens at least once every year but can occur up to three times in the same year. ...

. The couple adopted two daughters in the 1950s. She became Lady Littler when Emile was knighted in 1974. Sir Emile Littler died in 1985. Cora Goffin, Lady Littler, died in 2004, aged 102 years, in

Lewes Lewes () is the county town of East Sussex, England. It is the police and judicial centre for all of Sussex and is home to Sussex Police, East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, Lewes Crown Court and HMP Lewes. The civil parish is the centre of ...

, Sussex.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Goffin, Cora 1902 births 2004 deaths Actresses from London British women in World War I British centenarians English stage actresses Actors from Hampstead Women centenarians