Esma Ellen Charlotte Littmann (née Cannon) (27 December 1905 – 18 October 1972), credited as Esme or Esma Cannon, was a diminutive () Australian-born character actress and comedian, who moved to Britain in the early 1930s. Although she frequently appeared on television in her latter years, Cannon is best remembered as a film actress, with a lengthy career in British productions from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Career

After early experience at Minnie Everett's School of Dancing in Sydney, Cannon began acting on the stage at the age of four in ''

Madama Butterfly ''Madama Butterfly'' (; ''Madame Butterfly'') is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story "Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Luther ...

''. She appeared in productions for both the J. C. Williamson and Tait companies – including the early prominent role of Ruth Le Page in ''Sealed Orders'' at the Theatre Royal in 1914, and played Baby in an adaptation of ''

Seven Little Australians ''Seven Little Australians'' is a classic Australian children's literature novel by Ethel Turner, published in 1894. Set mainly in Sydney in the 1880s, it relates the adventures of the seven mischievous Woolcot children, their stern army father ...

'' the same year. She was given children's parts well into adulthood. In an interview with the ''Australian Women's Weekly'' published in 1963, she claimed it was the theatrical impresario Percy Hutchinson who told her if she visited London he would give her work; her first London role was in the play ''Misadventure''. She worked not only as an actor in Britain in the 1930s but also in stage management and production. Her film début was an uncredited part in ''

The Man Behind the Mask ''The Man Behind the Mask'' is a 1936 British mystery film directed by Michael Powell and starring Hugh Williams, Jane Baxter, Ronald Ward, Maurice Schwartz, George Merritt, Henry Oscar and Peter Gawthorne. A man assaults and switches places wi ...

'' (1936). She was first credited, as Polly Shepherd, in ''

The Last Adventurers ''The Last Adventurers'' is a 1937 British drama film directed by Roy Kellino and starring Niall MacGinnis, Roy Emerton, Linden Travers and Peter Gawthorne. A shipwrecked castaway is rescued by a sea captain, and then falls in love with the capt ...

'' (1937), and appeared in 64 films over the next 26 years. She had small parts in three early

Powell and Pressburger The British film-making partnership of Michael Powell (1905–1990) and Emeric Pressburger (1902–1988)—together often known as The Archers, the name of their production company—made a series of influential films in the 1940s and 1950s. ...

films: ''

The Spy in Black ''The Spy in Black'' (US: ''U-Boat 29'') is a 1939 British film, and the first collaboration between the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They were brought together by Alexander Korda to make the World War I spy thrill ...

'' (1939), ''

Contraband Contraband (from Medieval French ''contrebande'' "smuggling") refers to any item that, relating to its nature, is illegal to be possessed or sold. It is used for goods that by their nature are considered too dangerous or offensive in the eyes o ...

'' (1940) and ''

A Canterbury Tale ''A Canterbury Tale'' is a 1944 British film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger starring Eric Portman, Sheila Sim, Dennis Price and Sgt. John Sweet; Esmond Knight provided narration and played two small roles. For the post-war American ...

'' (1944). Apart from her usual comedy roles, she gave two dramatic performances, the first in ''

Holiday Camp A holiday camp is a type of holiday accommodation that encourages holidaymakers to stay within the site boundary, and provides entertainment and facilities for them throughout the day. Since the 1970s, the term has fallen out of favour with term ...

'' (1947), playing a pathetic spinster who is lured to her death as a murder victim, and the other as a girl struck dumb by terror, alongside Margaret Lockwood in '' Jassy'' (also 1947). Towards the end of her career, she appeared in ''

Inn for Trouble ''Inn for Trouble'' is a 1960 black and white British comedy film intended as a low budget filler to support a main feature in the days of cinema double features. it was a spin-off of the 1950s sitcom ''The Larkins'' - starring Peggy Mount, Davi ...

'' (1960), ''

Doctor in Love ''Doctor in Love'' is a 1960 British comedy film, the fourth of the seven films in the ''Doctor'' series, starring James Robertson Justice as Sir Lancelot Spratt and Michael Craig as Dr Richard Hare. This was the first film in the series not to ...

'' (1960), '' Raising the Wind'' (1961), '' What a Carve Up!'' (1961), ''

Over the Odds ''Over the Odds'' is a 1961 British comedy film directed by Michael Forlong and starring Marjorie Rhodes, Glenn Melvyn, Cyril Smith, Esma Cannon and Thora Hird and Wilfrid Lawson. The screenplay concerns a bookmaker who struggles to cope wi ...

'' (1961), ''

We Joined the Navy ''We Joined the Navy'' is a 1962 British comedy film directed by Wendy Toye and starring Kenneth More, Lloyd Nolan, Joan O'Brien, Derek Fowlds, Graham Crowden, Esma Cannon and John Le Mesurier. Produced by Daniel M. Angel, it was based on th ...

'' (1962), '' On the Beat'' (1962), '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963) and ''

Hide and Seek Hide-and-seek (sometimes known as hide-and-go-seek) is a popular children's game in which at least two players (usually at least three) conceal themselves in a set environment, to be found by one or more seekers. The game is played by one chose ...

'' (1964). She was cast as Edie Hornett opposite Peggy Mount in the comedy '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956). She played "Brother" Lil in the British television comedy series ''

The Rag Trade ''The Rag Trade'' is a British television sitcom broadcast by the BBC between 1961 and 1963 and by LWT between 1977 and 1978. Although a comedy, it shed light on gender, politics and the "class war" on the factory floor. The scripts were wr ...

'' (1961–1963), and also appeared in four ''Carry On'' films: ''

Carry On Constable ''Carry On Constable'' is a 1960 British comedy film, the fourth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). It was released in February 1960. Of the regular team, it featured Kenneth Connor, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joa ...

'' (1960), ''

Carry On Regardless ''Carry On Regardless'' is a 1961 British comedy film, the fifth in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). The film revolves loosely around the activities of a job agency, 'Helping Hands', run by Sid James's character, Bert Handy ...

'' (1961), '' Carry On Cruising'' (1962) and ''

Carry On Cabby ''Carry On Cabby'' is a 1963 British comedy film, the seventh in the series of 31 ''Carry On'' films (1958–1992). Released on 7 November 1963, it was the first to have a screenplay written by Talbot Rothwell (although the first screenplay "To ...

'' (1963).

Retirement and death

Cannon married Ernst Littmann in London in 1945. They remained married until her death in 1972. Cannon, whose first name sometimes appears incorrectly as "Esme", retired in 1964 after ''

''. She died in 1972 at the age of 66 and is buried at

Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt () is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France. Population See also *Communes of the Indre-et-Loire department The following is a list of the 272 communes of the Indre-et-Loire department of Fra ...

in France.''La Nouvelle République''
3/01/2015. Her elusiveness was such that her former colleagues and friends discovered she had died only after a "Where are They Now?" feature appeared in '' Films and Filming'' a number of years after her death. She was played by the actress

Marcia Warren Marcia Warren (born 26 November 1942) is an English stage, film and television actress. On stage, she appeared in ''Blithe Spirit'' as Madame Arcati and '' The Sea'' (2008) at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. She is currently appearing in Netflix' ...

in the 2011 TV play ''

Hattie Hattie or Hatty may refer to: People *Hattie Alexander (1901–1968), American pediatrician and microbiologist *Hattie Helen Gould Beck, birth name of burlesque dancer Sally Rand (1904–1979) *Hattie Bessent (1908–2015), American psychiatric ...

'', a drama based on the career of

Hattie Jacques Hattie Jacques (; born Josephine Edwina Jaques; 7 February 1922 – 6 October 1980) was an English comedy actress of stage, radio and screen. She is best known as a regular of the ''Carry On'' films, where she typically played strict, no-non ...

. The play featured a number of scenes with the two actresses on the set of ''Carry On Cabby'' (her antepenultimate role) with Cannon characterised as being disenchanted with acting and proposing leaving show business.

Selected filmography

* ''

'' (1936) – Waitress (uncredited) * ''

The Five Pound Man ''The Five Pound Man'' is a 1937 British comedy crime film directed by Albert Parker and starring Judy Gunn, Edwin Styles and Charles Bannister. It was made at Wembley Studios as a quota quickie by the British subsidiary of 20th Century Fox.C ...

'' (1937) – Lucy * ''

Cotton Queen ''Cotton Queen'', also known as ''Crying Out Loud'', is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Bernard Vorhaus, and starring Stanley Holloway, Will Fyffe, and Mary Lawson. Production The film was directed by Vorhaus at Elstree Studios for th ...

'' (1937) – Telephonist (uncredited) * ''

'' (1937) – Polly Shepherd * ''

I See Ice ''I See Ice'' is a 1938 British comedy film directed by Anthony Kimmins and starring George Formby, Kay Walsh and Betty Stockfeld. The film depicts the adventures of a photographer working for a London newspaper. It features the songs "In My Lit ...

'' (1938) – Bride (uncredited) * '' It's in the Air'' (1938) – Sir Philip's Maid (uncredited) * '' Trouble Brewing'' (1939) – Maid (uncredited) * ''

The Nursemaid Who Disappeared ''The Nursemaid Who Disappeared'' is a 1939 British, black-and-white, crime film, directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Ronald Shiner as Detective Smith (uncredited), Ian Fleming, Arthur Margetson, Peter Coke and Edward Chapman. Based on ...

'' (1939) – Mary – Nursemaid (uncredited) * ''

I Met a Murderer ''I Met a Murderer'' is a 1939 British thriller film directed by Roy Kellino and starring James Mason, Pamela Mason, Sylvia Coleridge and William Devlin. A man murders his oppressive wife and flees from the police. He meets a young woman who ...

'' (1939) – Blonde Camper * ''

'' (1939) – Maggie (uncredited) * ''

Poison Pen A poison pen letter is a letter or note containing unpleasant, abusive, or malicious statements or accusations about the recipient or a third party. It is usually sent anonymously. In the term "poison pen" (or poisoned pen), the word poison is u ...

'' (1939) – Mrs Warren * ''

'' (1940) – Erik Skold's Niece (uncredited) * ''

The Briggs Family ''The Briggs Family'' is a 1940 UK, British drama film directed by Herbert Mason and starring Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman, Felix Aylmer, Jane Baxter, Oliver Wakefield and Austin Trevor. During the Second World War, a special constable ...

'' (1940) – Myrtle * ''

Quiet Wedding ''Quiet Wedding'' is a 1941 British romantic comedy film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring Margaret Lockwood, Derek Farr and Marjorie Fielding. The screenplay was written by Terence Rattigan and Anatole de Grunwald based on the play ''Qui ...

'' (1941) – (uncredited) * ''

Asking for Trouble ''Asking for Trouble'' is a 1942 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Max Miller, Carole Lynne and Wilfrid Hyde-White. Its plot follows a fishmonger who takes up bookmaking to earn extra cash. Cast * Max Miller as Di ...

'' (1942) – Ada * '' The Young Mr. Pitt'' (1942) – Servant at Lord Auckland's (uncredited) * '' It's in the Bag'' (1944) – Commandant W.T.C. (uncredited) * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) – Maid (uncredited) * ''

'' (1944) – Agnes * ''

The Way Ahead ''The Way Ahead'' (also known as ''Immortal Battalion'') (1944) is a British Second World War drama film directed by Carol Reed. The screenplay was written by Eric Ambler and Peter Ustinov. The film stars David Niven, Stanley Holloway and Willi ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Brewer * ''

English Without Tears ''English Without Tears'' is a 1944 British romantic comedy film directed by Harold French and starring Michael Wilding, Penelope Dudley-Ward and Lilli Palmer. It was released in the U.S. under the title ''Her Man Gilbey'', as a reference to th ...

'' (1944) – Queenie * ''

Don't Take It to Heart ''Don't Take It to Heart'' is a 1944 British comedy film directed by Jeffrey Dell and starring Richard Greene, Alfred Drayton, Patricia Medina, Moore Marriott and Richard Bird. It was shot at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith with sets de ...

'' (1944) – Maid * '' The Years Between'' (1946) – Effie * ''

'' (1947) – Elsie Dawson * '' Jassy'' (1947) – Lindy Wicks * ''

Here Come the Huggetts ''Here Come the Huggetts'' is a 1948 British comedy film, the first of the The Huggetts (film series), Huggetts series, about a working class English family. All three films in the series were directed by Ken Annakin and released by Gainsborough ...

'' (1948) – Youth Leader * ''

Vote for Huggett ''Vote for Huggett'' is a 1949 British comedy film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Susan Shaw and Petula Clark. Warner reprises his role as the head of a London family, in the post-war years. In this, the t ...

'' (1949) – Bit Role (uncredited) * ''

The Huggetts Abroad ''The Huggetts Abroad'' is a 1949 British film starring Jack Warner, Kathleen Harrison, Petula Clark and Susan Shaw. It was the final film of The Huggetts. The film was less commercially successful than its predecessors. A sequel, ''Christmas ...

'' (1949) – Miss Hawker, Brown Owl * '' Fools Rush In'' (1949) – Mrs. Atkins * '' Marry Me!'' (1949) – Pleasant Little Woman (uncredited) * '' Helter Skelter'' (1949) – Autograph Huntress (uncredited) * ''

Guilt Is My Shadow ''Guilt Is My Shadow'' is a 1950 British drama film directed by Roy Kellino and starring Elizabeth Sellars, Patrick Holt and Peter Reynolds. In the film, a woman is haunted by her conscience after she kills a man and hides the body. It is base ...

'' (1950) – Peggy * ''

Double Confession ''Double Confession'' is a 1950 British crime film directed by Ken Annakin and starring Derek Farr, Joan Hopkins, William Hartnell and Peter Lorre. The screenplay, written by William Templeton, is based on the novel, ''All On A Summer's Day'' ...

'' (1950) – Madam Cleo * '' Last Holiday'' (1950) – Miss Fox * ''

Crow Hollow ''Crow Hollow'' is a 1952 British mystery film directed by Michael McCarthy and starring Donald Houston, Natasha Parry and Patricia Owens. It is based on the 1950 novel ''Crow Hollow'' by Dorothy Eden. In the film, newlywed Ann Amour survives ...

'' (1952) – Aunt Judith * ''

Noose for a Lady ''Noose for a Lady'' is a 1953 British crime film directed by Wolf Rilla and starring Dennis Price, Rona Anderson and Ronald Howard. It is based on the novel ''Whispering Woman'' by Gerald Verner. Plot The plot concerns an amateur detective ...

'' (1953) – Miss Ginch * ''

The Steel Key ''The Steel Key'' is a 1953 British thriller film directed by Robert S. Baker and starring Terence Morgan, Joan Rice and Raymond Lovell. Premise Adventurer Johnny O'Flynn (Terence Morgan) attempts to track down thieves who have stolen a secret ...

'' (1953) – Patient in Doctor's Waiting Room * ''

Trouble in Store ''Trouble in Store'' is a 1953 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Norman Wisdom as a department store clerk in his cinema debut. The film also featured Moira Lister, Margaret Rutherford, Jerry Desmonde and Lana ...

'' (1953) – Lady Customer In Park Cafe (uncredited) * ''

The Sleeping Tiger ''The Sleeping Tiger'' is a 1954 British film noir directed by Joseph Losey and starring Alexis Smith, Dirk Bogarde and Alexander Knox. It was Losey's first British feature, which he directed under the pseudonym of Victor Hanbury due to being bl ...

'' (1954) – Cleaner with ladder * ''

Out of the Clouds ''Out of the Clouds'' is a 1955 British drama film directed by Basil Dearden and starring Anthony Steel, Robert Beatty and James Robertson Justice. An Ealing Studios production, the film is composed of small stories dealing with the passenger ...

'' (1955) – Her Companion * ''

Simon and Laura ''Simon and Laura'' is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Muriel Box and starring Peter Finch and Kay Kendall. Play Satirising the early days of BBC Television, ''Simon and Laura'' focuses on an argumentative theatrical couple called Simon a ...

'' (1955) – Laura from Newcastle * '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956) – Edie Hornett * ''

Three Men in a Boat ''Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)'',The Penguin edition punctuates the title differently: ''Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog!'' published in 1889, is a humorous account by English writer Jerome K. Jerome of a tw ...

'' (1956) – Meek Woman (Maze) * '' A Touch of the Sun'' (1956) Miss Tickle * ''

Further Up the Creek ''Further Up the Creek'' is a 1958 British comedy film written and directed by Val Guest and starring David Tomlinson, Frankie Howerd, Shirley Eaton, Thora Hird, Desmond Llewelyn and Lionel Jeffries. It served as a follow up to '' Up the Creek'' ...

'' (1958) – Maudie Lovelace * ''

Jack the Ripper Jack the Ripper was an unidentified serial killer active in and around the impoverished Whitechapel district of London, England, in the autumn of 1888. In both criminal case files and the contemporaneous journalistic accounts, the killer wa ...

'' (1959) – Nelly the Woman at Police Station * ''

I'm All Right Jack ''I'm All Right Jack'' is a 1959 British comedy film directed and produced by John and Roy Boulting from a script by Frank Harvey, John Boulting and Alan Hackney based on the 1958 novel ''Private Life'' by Alan Hackney. The film is a sequel t ...

'' (1959) – Spencer * ''

Expresso Bongo ''Expresso Bongo'' is a 1958 West End musical and a satire of the music industry. It was first produced on the stage at the Saville Theatre, London, on 23 April 1958. Its book was written by Wolf Mankowitz and Julian More, with music by Davi ...

'' (1959) – Night Club Cleaner (uncredited) * ''

'' (1960) – Dolly * ''

The Flesh and the Fiends ''The Flesh and the Fiends'' (US title ''Mania'') is a 1960 British horror film directed by John Gilling. It stars Peter Cushing as 19th-century medical doctor Robert Knox, who purchases human corpses for research from a murderous pair named Bu ...

'' (1960) – Aggie * ''

'' (1960) – Deaf Old Lady * ''

'' (1960) – Rafia Woman (uncredited) * '' No Kidding'' (1960) – District Nurse * ''

'' (1961) – Miss Cooling * '' Raising the Wind'' (1961) – Mrs. Deevens * '' What a Carve Up!'' (1961) – Aunt Emily * ''

'' (1961) – Alice * '' Carry On Cruising'' (1962) – Bridget Madderley * '' In the Doghouse'' (1961) – Mrs. Raikes * ''

'' (1962) – Consul's Wife * ''

The Fast Lady ''The Fast Lady'' is a 1962 British comedy film, directed by Ken Annakin. The screenplay was written by Henry Blyth and Jack Davies, based on the 1925 novel of the same name by Keble Howard. Don Sharp directed second unit. "The Fast Lady" is th ...

'' (1962) – Lady on Zebra Crossing * '' On the Beat'' (1962) – Mrs. Timms * '' Nurse on Wheels'' (1963) – Mrs. Jones * ''

'' (1963) – Flo Sims * ''

'' (1964) – Tea Lady (final film role)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cannon, Esma 1905 births 1972 deaths Actresses from Sydney Australian film actresses Australian television actresses Australian emigrants to England British film actresses British television actresses 20th-century British actresses