Patricia Alice Laffan (19 March 1919 – 10 March 2014) was an English stage, film, television and radio actress, and also, after her retirement from acting, an international fashion impresario. She was five-feet-six-inches tall, with dark reddish-brown hair and green eyes. She is best known for her film roles as the Empress

Poppaea Poppaea Sabina (AD 30 – 65), also known as Ollia, was a Roman empress as the second wife of the Emperor Nero. She had also been wife to the future emperor Otho. The historians of antiquity describe her as a beautiful woman who used intrigues ...

in ''

Quo Vadis ''Quō vādis?'' (, ) is a Latin phrase meaning "Where are you marching?". It is also commonly translated as "Where are you going?" or, poetically, "Whither goest thou?" The phrase originates from the Christian tradition regarding Saint Pete ...

'' (1951) and the alien Nyah in ''

Devil Girl from Mars ''Devil Girl from Mars'' is a 1954 British black-and-white science fiction film, produced by the Danziger Brothers, directed by David MacDonald and starring Patricia Laffan, Hugh McDermott, Hazel Court, Peter Reynolds, and Adrienne Corri. ...

'' (1954). Her biography, "Devil Girl Remembered", was written by Andrew Ross in 2021 and published by Fantom Publishing.

Early life

Patricia Laffan was the daughter of Irish-born Arthur Charles Laffan (1870–1948) and London-born Elvira Alice Vitali (1896–1979). She described her father as 'a successful rubber planter in Malaya'. Her parents returned to the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

shortly before the birth of their daughter in London. On seeing the

MGM Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 a ...

film ''

The Broadway Melody ''The Broadway Melody'', also known as ''The Broadway Melody of 1929'', is a 1929 American pre-Code musical film and the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It was one of the first musicals to feature a Technicolor seque ...

'' (1929) at the age of ten, Patricia decided she wanted to act. She was educated at schools in Folkestone, Kent, and at the

Institut Français The Institut Français (French capitalization, Institut français; "French institute") is a French Établissements publics à caractère industriel et commercial, public industrial and commercial organization (EPIC). Started in 1907 by the Min ...

in London. At the Webber-Douglas Dramatic School she studied acting. She also studied dancing at the De Vos Ballet School.

Career

Laffan's first film appearance was in '' One Good Turn'' (1936). She joined the Oxford Playhouse Repertory Company, and her first stage appearance was as Jenny Diver in ''

The Beggar's Opera ''The Beggar's Opera'' is a ballad opera in three acts written in 1728 by John Gay with music arranged by Johann Christoph Pepusch. It is one of the watershed plays in Augustan drama and is the only example of the once thriving genre of satiri ...

'' (January 1937) at the

Oxford Playhouse Oxford Playhouse is a theatre designed by Edward Maufe and F.G.M. Chancellor. It is situated in Beaumont Street, Oxford, opposite the Ashmolean Museum. History The Playhouse was founded as ''The Red Barn'' at 12 Woodstock Road, North Oxfo ...

. Her first London appearance was as the Young Girl in ''Surprise Item'' (25 February 1938) at the Ambassadors Theatre. Her first credited film part may have been as a cast member in ''Cross Beams'' (1940). She toured military bases throughout England during World War II, appearing in '' Hay Fever'' and ''

Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...

''. In the period 1946-1947 she appeared in six

teleplays A teleplay is a screenplay or script used in the production of a scripted television program or series. In general usage, the term is most commonly seen in reference to a standalone production, such as a television film, a television play, or a ...

for the BBC, in which she had substantial roles and was always credited. From this point onwards her film roles were also more substantial and always credited. In 1947 she was cast with

Don Stannard Don Stannard (1915 – 9 July 1949) was a British actor. Born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, Stannard trained at RADA, graduating in 1935. He is best remembered for playing the secret agent Dick Barton in three Hammer films: '' Dick Barton: Specia ...

in the short mystery film ''Death in High Heels'' as Magda Doon, a fashion model and unintended murder victim. In 1948 she was in another short film, ''Who Killed Van Loon?'', starring

Raymond Lovell Raymond Lovell (13 April 1900 – 1 October 1953) was a Canadian-born actor who performed in British films. He mainly played supporting roles, often somewhat pompous characters. Lovell initially trained as a physician at Cambridge University, ...

. In 1950 she appeared in the feature-length crime drama ''Hangman's Wharf'' as Rosa Warren, a glamorous film star. In the

M-G-M Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc., also known as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and abbreviated as MGM, is an American film, television production, distribution and media company owned by Amazon through MGM Holdings, founded on April 17, 1924 ...

Technicolor Technicolor is a series of Color motion picture film, color motion picture processes, the first version dating back to 1916, and followed by improved versions over several decades. Definitive Technicolor movies using three black and white films ...

film ''

'' (1951) she played

, the second wife of the Roman Emperor

Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus ( ; born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus; 15 December AD 37 – 9 June AD 68), was the fifth Roman emperor and final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 unti ...

( Peter Ustinov). The producer and director of the epic blockbuster selected her for this major role after they watched a screen-test she had made for a smaller part in the film. This was her first film in colour, and it was the biggest, longest, most expensive and most commercially successful film in which she would appear. With costumes by Herschel McCoy, hairstyles by Sydney Guilaroff, jewellery by Joseff of Hollywood, and two pet cheetahs on golden leashes she was the most fabulous-looking character on the screen. Her performance as Poppaea has drawn considerable praise over the years. In '' Escape Route'' (1952), a crime thriller starring George Raft, she played Irma Brooks. She starred as the ruthless, PVC-clad alien Nyah in the science fiction movie ''

'' (1954), which is now a cult classic. She had a sizeable supporting role as Miss Alice MacDonald in

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

's CinemaScope mystery thriller ''

23 Paces to Baker Street ''23 Paces to Baker Street'' is a 1956 American DeLuxe Color mystery thriller film directed by Henry Hathaway. It was released by 20th Century Fox and filmed in Cinemascope on location in London. The screenplay by Nigel Balchin was based on the 1 ...

'' (1956). By the 1960s she appeared mainly on radio and television, including performances in ''Anna Karenina, The Aspern Papers'', and ''Rembrandt'', and panel game shows such as ''Petticoat Line'' and ''

Call My Bluff ''Call My Bluff'' is a British panel game show based on the short-lived US version of the same name. It was originally hosted by Robin Ray and later, most notably, by Robert Robinson. Its most prominent panellist was Frank Muir. Format The g ...

''. In the late 1960s and 1970s she produced and choreographed fashion shows around the world. The 10 July 1954 issue of '' Picture Show'' magazine featured "The Life Story of Patricia Laffan", which included these facts: Laffan had a piece printed in ''Winter Pie -- Miscellany for Men & Women'' ( A Pie Pocket Special), published in October 1947. It was entitled "Penicillin and Paris" and was a breezy account of her "first weekend in Paris," under doctor's orders to take vitamins and a holiday. She was "wined and dined on the right bank and on the left" and broadcast (and sang '' Night and Day'' with a large band) over Radiodiffusion Francaise. There is a reference to the fact that she was appearing in the film ''

The Rake's Progress ''The Rake's Progress'' is an English-language opera from 1951 in three acts and an epilogue by Igor Stravinsky. The libretto, written by W. H. Auden and Chester Kallman, is based loosely on the eight paintings and engravings '' A Rake's Prog ...

'', then showing in Paris. ''The Pittston Gazette'' on 20 January 1955 had an item discussing Laffan's first visit to the United States for a combination of work and vacation. She was scouting out panel and quiz shows (she appeared in several in England) to compare notes on American methods. She noted that "The air's so good here." On 25 January 1956, the ''Daily Reporter'' ran an item from

Louella Parsons Louella Parsons (born Louella Rose Oettinger; August 6, 1881 – December 9, 1972) was an American movie columnist and a screenwriter. She was retained by William Randolph Hearst because she had championed Hearst's mistress Marion Davies and s ...

: “Hollywood is talking about the uncanny resemblance of British actress Patricia Laffan to

Gertrude Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence (4 July 1898 – 6 September 1952) was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. Early life Lawrence was born Gertr ...

, and the interest in Patricia to play the Lawrence biography…”

Later life

Laffan was interviewed in London on 21 March 1998 by Lisa Cohen, for her book ''All We Know'' (Farrar, Straus and Giroux 2012), an account of the lives of three women: New York intellectual Esther Murphy Strachey, writer-feminist

Mercedes de Acosta Mercedes de Acosta (March 1, 1892 – May 9, 1968) was an American poet, playwright, and novelist. Although she failed to achieve artistic and professional distinction, de Acosta is known for her many lesbian affairs with celebrated Broadway and ...

, and British Vogue fashion editor Madge Garland. Laffan had a tangential connection to Garland, who was romantically involved with divorce lawyer Frances (Fay) Blacket Gill, one of the first women solicitors in England. Laffan is referred to as Gill's "last girlfriend", and she briefly discusses Gill and her relationship with Garland. In 2008, Laffan was interviewed by

Matthew Sweet Sidney Matthew Sweet (born October 6, 1964) is an American alternative rock/power pop singer-songwriter and musician who was part of the burgeoning music scene in Athens, Georgia, during the 1980s before gaining commercial success in the 1990 ...

for the BBC 4 documentary ''Truly, Madly, Cheaply: British B Movies''. She died at

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Chelsea and Westminster Hospital is a 430-bed teaching hospital located in Chelsea, London. Although the hospital has been at its present site since only 1993, the hospital has a rich history in that it serves as the new site for the Westminst ...

in London on 10 March 2014, just nine days short of her 95th birthday. The cause of death was given as multiple organ failure, cardiogenic shock, and myocardial infarction with secondary urinary sepsis consistent with acute kidney injury.

Filmography

* '' One Good Turn'' (1936) (first film appearance) * ''Cross Beams'' (1940) - Cast Member (possibly first credited film appearance) * '' The Dark Tower'' (1943) as Nurse (uncredited) * ''

'' (1945) as Miss Fernandez * ''

Old Mother Riley at Home ''Old Mother Riley at Home'' is a 1945 British comedy film directed by Oswald Mitchell and starring Arthur Lucan, Kitty McShane and Freddie Forbes. It is the 11th film in the long-running Old Mother Riley series. Plot summary Mother Riley's daugh ...

'' (1945) - Cast Member * '' Caravan'' (1946) as Betty (uncredited) * ''

I See a Dark Stranger ''I See a Dark Stranger'' – released as ''The Adventuress'' in the United States – is a 1946 British World War II spy film with touches of light comedy, by the team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat, and starring Deborah Kerr and T ...

'' (1946) - Cast Member (uncredited) * ''

Death in High Heels ''Death in High Heels'' is a 1947 British crime film directed by Lionel Tomlinson and starring Don Stannard, Elsa Tee and Veronica Rose. It was based on the 1941 novel of the same title by Christianna Brand. It was a very early Hammer Films ...

'' (1947) as Magda Doon * ''Who Killed Van Loon?'' (1948) as Peggy Osborn * '' Hangman's Wharf'' (1950) as Rosa Warren * ''

'' (1951) as Poppaea Sabina * '' Escape Route'' (1952) as Irma Brooks * ''

Rough Shoot ''Rough Shoot'', released in the USA as ''Shoot First'', is a 1953 British thriller film directed by Robert Parrish and written by Eric Ambler, based on the 1951 novel by Geoffrey Household. The film stars Joel McCrea, in his only postwar no ...

'' (1953) as Magda * '' Don't Blame the Stork'' (1954) as Lilian Angel * ''

'' (1954) as Nyah * ''

'' (1956) as Miss Alice MacDonald * ''

Dial 999 (TV series) ''Dial 999'' is a British television series that ran for one series of 38 episodes from 1958 to 1959. The series was a co-production between ITV contractor ABC Weekend TV, and American television producer Ziv Television Programs. It stars Robe ...

'' (1958) - ('The Killing Job') as Liz (billed as "Colleta's Girlfriend") * ''

'' (1958) - ('Illegal Entry') as Baroness von Falkan * '' Hidden Homicide'' (1959) as Jean Gilson * ''

Crooks in Cloisters ''Crooks in Cloisters'' is a 1964 British comedy film directed by Jeremy Summers and starring Ronald Fraser as 'Little Walter', the leader of a gang of forgers, including Barbara Windsor as 'Bikini', Bernard Cribbins as 'Squirts', Melvyn Hayes ...

'' (1964) as Lady Florence

Theatre

* 1937 repertory at Oxford and Worthing * 1937 ''The Beggar's Opera'' (Jenny Diver), Oxford Playhouse (first stage appearance) * 1937 ''Sweet Adversity'' (Nurse Gertrude),

Q Theatre The Q Theatre was a British theatre located near Kew Bridge in Brentford, west London, which operated between 1924 and 1958. It was built on the site of the former Kew Bridge Studios. The theatre, seating 490 in 25 rows with a central aisle, w ...

* 1938 ''Surprise Item'' (Young Girl),

Ambassadors An ambassador is an official envoy, especially a high-ranking diplomat who represents a state and is usually accredited to another sovereign state or to an international organization as the resident representative of their own government or so ...

(first London appearance) *1938 ''One Way Street'' (Nurse), Q Theatre *1939 ''Number Six'' (Stephanie),

Aldwych Theatre The Aldwych Theatre is a West End theatre, located in Aldwych in the City of Westminster, central London. It was listed Grade II on 20 July 1971. Its seating capacity is 1,200 on three levels. History Origins The theatre was constructed in th ...

*1939 ''Honeymoon for Three'' (Marjorie Saunders), Richmond *1939 ''Pericles'' (Diana), Open Air, Regent's Park *1941 ''The Women'', Q Theatre *1941 ''The First Mrs Fraser'' (Mabel), on

Marie Tempest Dame Mary Susan Etherington, (15 July 1864 – 15 October 1942), known professionally as Marie Tempest, was an English singer and actress. Tempest became a famous soprano in late Victorian light opera and Edwardian musical comedies. Later, s ...

's last tour *1942 '' Hay Fever'' (Myra), tour *1942 ''Other People's Houses'' (Annie), tour *1943 '' Androcles and the Lion'' (Lavinia), Arts Theatre *1943 ''Wuthering Heights'' (Isabella), tour *1943 ''

'' (Viola and Olivia), tour for CEMA *1944 ''How Are They at Home'' (Eileen Stokes), Apollo *1945 ''

Hidden Horizon ''Murder on the Nile'' (sometimes titled ''Hidden Horizon'') is a 1944 murder mystery play by crime writer Agatha Christie, based on her 1937 novel ''Death on the Nile''. Background The play is based on her 1937 novel ''Death on the Nile'' wh ...

'' (Kay Mostyn), Wimbledon *1948 ''Corinth House'' (Madge Donnythorpe), New Lindsey *1948 ''Frolic Wind'' (Miss Vulliamy), Boltons *1949 ''Primrose and the Peanuts'' (Primrose Mallet), Playhouse *1950 ''New England Night'' (Helen Wetherell), New Lindsey *1951 ''Mary Had a Little. . .'' (the Princess), Strand *1960 ''The Golden Touch'' (Comtesse de St Marigny–Marbeaux), Piccadilly *1960 ''Innocent as Hell'' (Lady Parsley), Lyric, Hammersmith

Bibliography

''MGM presents Quo Vadis'' (original film brochure • 20 pages, including covers) 1951 ''Picture Show Who's Who on the Screen'' (The Amalgamated Press • London • 1956) p86 McFarlane, Brian (Ed): ''The Encyclopedia of British Film'' (BFI/Methuen • London • 2003/2005) pp395-396

References

External links

*
German Patricia Laffan Homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laffan, Patricia 1919 births 2014 deaths 20th-century English actresses Actresses from London English film actresses English people of Irish descent English stage actresses English television actresses