Margaret Brackenbury Lacey (26 October 1911 – 4 October 1988) was a British character actress and ballet teacher. She appeared in over 30 films between 1957 and 1985, usually playing a sweet old lady or motherly figure in minor roles.

Early life

Margaret Lacey was born in

Chorlton-cum-Hardy Chorlton-cum-Hardy is a suburban area of Manchester, England, southwest of the Manchester city centre, city centre. Chorlton (ward), Chorlton ward had a population of 14,138 at the United Kingdom Census 2011, 2011 census, and Chorlton Park (w ...

, near

Manchester Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...

. She was baptised there, at the Church of St. Clement, in 1912, where her baptismal record gives her birthday as 26 October 1911, and her parents' names as Algernon Hearne Lacey and Florence Fanny. She was raised in Wales, and attended Miss Hammond's School in

Colwyn Bay Colwyn Bay ( cy, Bae Colwyn) is a town, community and seaside resort in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales overlooking the Irish Sea. It lies within the historic county of Denbighshire. Eight neighbouring communities are incorpo ...

Career

Margaret Lacey was magician

Jasper Maskelyne Jasper Maskelyne (29 September 1902 – 15 March 1973) was a British stage magician in the 1930s and 1940s. He was one of an established family of stage magicians, the son of Nevil Maskelyne and a grandson of John Nevil Maskelyne. He is most r ...

's assistant in London, as a young woman in the 1930s. Lacey appeared in over 30 films between 1957 and 1985, mostly playing a sweet old lady or motherly figure in minor roles. Some of her film credits include ''

Bomb in the High Street ''Bomb in the High Street'' is a 1963 British drama film directed by Peter Bezencenet and Terry Bishop. It stars Ronald Howard, Terry Palmer, and Suzanna Leigh. Premise A gang of villains carry out a bank robbery disguised as soldiers, creati ...

'' (1963), '' Seance on a Wet Afternoon'' (1964), ''

Island of Terror ''Island of Terror'' is a 1966 British horror film released by Planet Film Productions. The film was released in the United States by Universal Studios on a double bill with ''The Projected Man'' (1967). The idea for the film came when the prod ...

'' (1966), and ''

Far from the Madding Crowd ''Far from the Madding Crowd'' (1874) is Thomas Hardy's fourth novel and his first major literary success. It originally appeared anonymously as a monthly serial in ''Cornhill Magazine'', where it gained a wide readership. The novel is set in ...

'' (1967), ''

Black Beauty ''Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions, the Autobiography of a Horse'' is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she was bedridden and seriously ill.Merriam-Webster (1995). ...

'' (1971), and '' Richard's Things'' (1980). She was a favorite face of film directors

Roy Boulting John Edward Boulting (21 December 1913 – 17 June 1985) and Roy Alfred Clarence Boulting (21 December 1913 – 5 November 2001), known collectively as the Boulting brothers, were English filmmakers and identical twins who became known for thei ...

and

John Schlesinger John Richard Schlesinger (; 16 February 1926 – 25 July 2003) was an English film and stage director. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for ''Midnight Cowboy'', and was nominated for the same award for two other films ('' Darling'' an ...

, the latter of whom called her his "mascot". Lacey is perhaps best remembered internationally for her minor role in the

James Bond The ''James Bond'' series focuses on a fictional British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short-story collections. Since Fleming's death in 1964, eight other authors have ...

film '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971) in which she played Mrs. Whistler, a seemingly innocent Christian school teacher who smuggles diamonds in her bible for the henchmen Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd. The character is later found murdered and her body recovered out of an

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...

canal. On television, Lacey appeared in ''

Dr Finlay's Casebook ''Dr. Finlay's Casebook'' is a television drama series that was produced and broadcast by the BBC from 1962 until 1971. Based on A. J. Cronin's 1935 novella ''Country Doctor'', the storylines centred on a general medical practice in the fictiona ...

'', ''

The Saint The Saint may refer to: Fiction * Simon Templar, also known as "The Saint", the protagonist of a book series by Leslie Charteris and subsequent adaptations: ** ''The Saint'' (film series) (1938–43), starring Louis Hayward, George Sanders an ...

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Origi ...

'', ''

Weavers Green ''Weavers Green'' is a British television soap opera, made in 1966 for ITV by Anglia Television. It was notable for being one of the first television programmes to be shot on location using videotape and outside broadcast equipment, rather than f ...

'', and ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by the BBC, it debuted ...

'' in the 1960s. Her last credited appearances were in ''

Magnum, P.I. ''Magnum, P.I.'' is an American crime drama television series starring Tom Selleck as Thomas Magnum, a private investigator (P.I.) living on Oahu, Hawaii. The series ran from December 11, 1980 to May 8, 1988 during its first-run broadcast on ...

'' and ''

The Brothers McGregor ''The Brothers McGregor'' is a British situation comedy series set in Liverpool, and a spin-off of ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', featuring two characters that originally appeared in the soap for one episode in May 1982. The show ran fo ...

'' in the 1980s. In 1988, ''Extra Special: Margaret Lacey'', a documentary about Lacey, aired on British television. For some years in the 1950s and 1960s she held regular dancing classes at the former Metropole Hotel in Colwyn Bay.Audrey Parry and José Dixon, "Dancing Schools: Miss Margaret Lacey" in
Colwyn Bay Memories: Tales out of School
' (2018), Colwyn Bay Heritage. She also organized concerts and choreographed entertainments at the Prince of Wales Theatre. She was a fixture in the

Llandudno Llandudno (, ) is a seaside resort, town and community in Conwy County Borough, Wales, located on the Creuddyn peninsula, which protrudes into the Irish Sea. In the 2011 UK census, the community – which includes Gogarth, Penrhyn Bay, Craigsi ...

Victorian Extravaganza, playing

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

in the festivities.

Personal life

Lacey lived in retirement in Wern Cottage,

Rowen, Conwy Rowen is a village on the western slopes of the Conwy valley in the parish of Caerhun and the former County of Caernarfonshire in Wales. It lies off the B5106 road, between Tal y Bont and the Groes Inn. ''Buildings of Gwynedd'' 2009 refers ...

. "Margaret Lacey was a rather eccentric lady," recalled one of her students in a local history. "Her outfits were colorful, and the layers did not always match. Her hair was worn in a rather dishevelled bun, but her bearing was always ladylike." She died in 1988, aged 76, in Llandudno.

Selected filmography

* '' Brothers in Law'' (1957) - Helper * ''

Happy Is the Bride ''Happy Is the Bride'' is a 1958 black and white British comedy film written and directed by Roy Boulting and starring Ian Carmichael, Janette Scott, Cecil Parker, Terry-Thomas and Joyce Grenfell. It is based on the play ''Quiet Wedding (play), Q ...

'' (1958) - Miss Dacres * ''

Carlton-Browne of the F.O. ''Carlton-Browne of the F.O.'' (U.S. title: ''Man in a Cocked Hat'') is a 1959 British comedy film made by the Boulting Brothers and starring Terry-Thomas, Peter Sellers, and Luciana Paluzzi. It centres on an inept Foreign and Commonwealth Offic ...

'' (1959) - Onlooker * ''

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) - Empire Loyalist * ''

A French Mistress ''A French Mistress'' is a 1960 British comedy film directed by Roy Boulting and starring Cecil Parker, James Robertson Justice, Agnès Laurent, Ian Bannen, Raymond Huntley, Irene Handl and Thorley Walters. It is based on a stage play, ''The F ...

'' (1960) - Kitchen Maid * ''

Suspect In law enforcement jargon, a suspect is a known person accused or suspected of committing a crime. Police and reporters in the United States often use the word suspect as a jargon when referring to the perpetrator of the offense (perp in dated U ...

'' (1960) - Prince's Secretary * ''

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) - Old Lady Contestant * ''

'' (1961) - Woman at barrier * ''

Only Two Can Play ''Only Two Can Play'' is a 1962 British comedy film starring Peter Sellers, based on the 1955 novel ''That Uncertain Feeling (novel), That Uncertain Feeling'' by Kingsley Amis. Sidney Gilliat directed the film from a screenplay by Bryan Forbes. ...

'' (1962) - 1st Pianist (uncredited) * ''

Heavens Above! ''Heavens Above!'' is a 1963 British satirical comedy film starring Peter Sellers, directed by John and Roy Boulting, who also co-wrote along with Frank Harvey, from an idea by Malcolm Muggeridge. It is in a similar vein to the earlier collab ...

'' (1963) - Molly (uncredited) * ''

Billy Liar ''Billy Liar'' is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popular songs. The semi-comical story is about William Fisher, ...

'' (1963) - Mrs. Matthieson (uncredited) * ''

Ladies Who Do ''Ladies Who Do'' is a 1963 British comedy film directed by C. M. Pennington-Richards and starring Peggy Mount, Robert Morley and Harry H. Corbett. Plot Mrs. Cragg (Peggy Mount) works as a charwoman (part-time domestic servant) for retired C ...

'' (1963) - 3rd Charlady (uncredited) * ''

Séance on a Wet Afternoon ''Séance on a Wet Afternoon'' is a 1964 British thriller film directed by Bryan Forbes, and starring Kim Stanley, Richard Attenborough, Nanette Newman, Mark Eden and Patrick Magee. Based on the 1961 novel by Mark McShane, the film follows a ...

'' (1964) - Woman at first Seance * '' Rotten to the Core'' (1965) - Miss Rossiter * ''

Sky West and Crooked ''Sky West and Crooked'' (known in the United States as ''Gypsy Girl'') is a 1966 British romantic drama film starring Hayley Mills. The film was directed by her father, John Mills, and was co-written by her mother, Mary Hayley Bell. The titl ...

'' (1965) - Village Woman * ''

The Deadly Affair ''The Deadly Affair'' is a 1967 British spy film based on John le Carré's first novel, ''Call for the Dead'' (1961). The film stars James Mason and was directed by Sidney Lumet from a script by Paul Dehn. As it is a Columbia Pictures productio ...

'' (1966) - Mrs. Bird (uncredited) * ''

'' (1966) - Old Woman * ''

The Family Way ''The Family Way'' is a 1966 British comedy-drama film about the marital difficulties of a young newlywed couple living in a crowded house with the husband's family. Based on Bill Naughton's play '' All in Good Time'' (1963), the film began life ...

'' (1966) - Mrs. Harris * ''

'' (1967) - Maryann Money * ''

There's a Girl in My Soup '' There's a Girl in My Soup'' is a 1970 British romantic comedy film based on the stage play of the same name, directed by Roy Boulting and starring Peter Sellers and Goldie Hawn. The film was Sellers' last commercial success until '' Return ...

'' (1970) - Autograph Hunter * ''

'' (1971) -

Anna Sewell Anna Sewell (; 30 March 1820 – 25 April 1878)''The Oxford guide to British women writers'' by Joanne Shattock. p. 385, Oxford University Press. (1993) was an English novelist. She is known as the author of the 1877 novel ''Black Beauty'', her ...

* ''

Mr. Forbush and the Penguins ''Mr. Forbush and the Penguins'' (also known as ''Cry of the Penguins'') is a 1971 British comedy drama film, directed by Arne Sucksdorff, Alfred Viola and Roy Boulting. It stars John Hurt, Hayley Mills, Dudley Sutton and Tony Britton. Plot A ...

'' (1971) - Auntie * '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971) - Mrs. Whistler * '' The Ruling Class'' (1972) - Midwife (uncredited) * '' Bless This House'' (1972) - Vicar's Wife * ''Smokey Joe's Revenge'' (1974) - Mrs. Williams * Robin’s Nest (1976) - Old lady * ''

Yanks ''Yanks'' is a 1979 drama film directed by John Schlesinger, and starring Richard Gere, Vanessa Redgrave, William Devane, Lisa Eichhorn and Tony Melody. The film is set during the Second World War in Northern England and features no combat scen ...

'' (1979) - Woman at Hotel * '' Richard's Things'' (1980) - Miss Beale * ''

Secret Places ''Secret Places'' is a 1984 British drama film directed by Zelda Barron and starring Marie Theres Relin, Tara MacGowran, Claudine Auger and Jenny Agutter. It was based on a novel by Janice Elliott. It was one of the most popular films shown at t ...

'' (1984) - Mrs. Burgess

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lacey, Margaret 1911 births 1988 deaths People from Llandudno People from Chorlton-cum-Hardy British film actresses 20th-century British actresses