Elizabeth Anne Seal (born 28 August 1933) is a British actress. In 1961, she won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance in the title role of '' Irma La Douce''.

Career

Elizabeth Seal made her professional debut, as a dancer, at the age of 17 in Ivor Novello's musical '' Gay's the Word'' (1951) at the Saville Theatre. She then appeared in '' The Glorious Days'' (1953) with

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in British cinema for 2 ...

, and the revue ''Cockles and Champagne'' (1954). Seal then shot to fame as 'Gladys' in the West End transfer of ''

The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his chor ...

'' by

Richard Adler Richard Adler (August 3, 1921 – June 21, 2012) was an American lyricist, writer, composer and producer of several Broadway shows. He is best known for his work with Jerry Ross (composer), Jerry Ross on the musicals ''The Pajama Game'' (1954) a ...

and Jerry Ross at the

London Coliseum The London Coliseum (also known as the Coliseum Theatre) is a theatre in St Martin's Lane, City of Westminster, Westminster, built as one of London's largest and most luxurious "family" variety theatres. Opened on 24 December 1904 as the Lond ...

in 1955. For her performance Seal won the award for Most Promising Newcomer by the

Variety Club of Great Britain Variety, the Children's Charity is a charitable organization founded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1927. History On October 10, 1927, a group of eleven men involved in show business set up a social club which they named the "Variety Club". On ...

. Whilst appearing in the show she made her film debut opposite

John Mills Sir John Mills (born Lewis Ernest Watts Mills; 22 February 190823 April 2005) was an English actor who appeared in more than 120 films in a career spanning seven decades. He excelled on camera as an appealing British everyman who often portray ...

Alec McCowen Alexander Duncan McCowen, (26 May 1925 – 6 February 2017) was an English actor. He was known for his work in numerous film and stage productions. Early life McCowen was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, the son of Mary (née Walkden), a dancer ...

and Charles Coburn in '' Town on Trial'' (1957), playing the role of 'Fiona'. She made her debut in straight theatre when Peter Hall chose her to play the role of 'Esmeralda' in

Tennessee Williams Thomas Lanier Williams III (March 26, 1911 – February 25, 1983), known by his pen name Tennessee Williams, was an American playwright and screenwriter. Along with contemporaries Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller, he is considered among the three ...

' play '' Camino Real'', alongside Denholm Elliott,

Diana Wynyard Diana Wynyard (born Dorothy Isobel Cox; 16 January 1906 – 13 May 1964) was an English stage and film actress. Life and career Born in Lewisham, South London, Wynyard began her career on the stage. After performing in Liverpool and London wi ...

, and

Harry Andrews Henry Stewart Fleetwood Andrews, CBE (10 November 1911 – 6 March 1989) was a British actor often known for his film portrayals of tough military officers. His performance as Regimental Sergeant Major Wilson in '' The Hill'' (1965) earned And ...

. Seal then took over the role of Lola in ''

Damn Yankees ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., d ...

'' from

Belita Belita Gladys Lyne Jepson-Turner (21 October 1923 – 18 December 2005), known professionally as Belita, was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer, and film actress. Early years Belita was born at the Garlogs house in Nether Wallop, Hampshir ...

at the London Coliseum. This brought her another award from the Variety Club of Great Britain as Best Actress. During the run she made the film '' Cone of Silence'' (1960) with

George Sanders George Henry Sanders (3 July 1906 – 25 April 1972) was a British actor and singer whose career spanned over 40 years. His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth bass voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous charac ...

Bernard Lee John Bernard Lee (10 January 190816 January 1981) was an English actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven Eon-produced James Bond films. Lee's film career spanned the years 1934 to 1979, though he had appeared on stage from ...

, and Michael Craig. Having seen Seal's performance in ''

'' theatre impresario

Binkie Beaumont Hugh "Binkie" Beaumont (27 March 1908 - 22 March 1973) was a British theatre manager and producer, sometimes referred to as the " éminence grise" of the West End theatre. Though he shunned the spotlight so that his name was not known widely am ...

wanted to find a starring vehicle for Seal and found it in Marguerite Monnot's French musical '' Irma La Douce''. The show was directed in London by

Peter Brook Peter Stephen Paul Brook (21 March 1925 – 2 July 2022) was an English theatre and film director. He worked first in England, from 1945 at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre, from 1947 at the Royal Opera House, and from 1962 for the Royal Shak ...

, and Seal played the title role opposite Keith Michell at the Lyric Theatre. Seal stayed with the show for two years, during which time she was seen by

David Merrick David Merrick (born David Lee Margulois; November 27, 1911 – April 25, 2000) was an American theatrical producer who won a number of Tony Awards. Life and career Born David Lee Margulois to Jewish parents in St. Louis, Missouri, Merrick grad ...

, who waited for her to become available when he produced the Broadway production of the musical in 1960. During the Broadway run, she won the 1961

Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical The Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical is an honor presented at the Tony Awards, a ceremony established in 1947 as the Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, to actresses for quality leading roles in a m ...

. After some further American shows including ''A Shot In The Dark'', ''Exiles'' by James Joyce, and several cabaret appearances, Seal left the stage for a number of years to raise a family. She returned to London in 1969 to appear in Beaumont's production of ''Cat Among The Pigeons'' directed by Jacques Charron of the

Comédie-Française The Comédie-Française () or Théâtre-Français () is one of the few state theatres in France. Founded in 1680, it is the oldest active theatre company in the world. Established as a French state-controlled entity in 1995, it is the only state ...

. A revival of Julian Slade and Dorothy Reynolds' musical '' Salad Days'' at the Duke of York's Theatre followed, and Seal later took over the role of 'Roxie Hart' in ''

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

'' in the original London production, alongside Jenny Logan (who played Velma Kelly) in 1979. She returned once again to the Broadway stage in 1983 opposite Cicely Tyson in the revival of ''The Corn Is Green'' directed by ex brother-in-law, Vivian Matalon. To devote more time to her private life Seal turned to teaching. She devised and choreographed shows for the Guildford School of Acting and Central School of Speech and Drama, and choreographed '' La Traviata'' for Welsh National Opera. During this time she also completed her master's degree. After the death of her husband Michael Ward she returned to the stage in Ivor Novello's ''Gay's the Word'' in its first professional revival at the

Finborough Theatre The Finborough Theatre is a fifty-seat theatre in the West Brompton area of London (part of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea) under artistic director Neil McPherson. The theatre presents new British writing, as well as UK and world p ...

, and stayed with the show for its transfer to Jermyn Street Theatre in 2013. She continues an active schedule as archivist to Michael Ward's photographic estate and library.

Personal life

Seal has been married three times. Her first husband was advertising copywriter Peter Townsend, and second was actor, singer, writer and director Zack Matalon, with whom she had three children. Their eldest son Adam Matalon, based in Los Angeles, is a showrunner/creator and writes, directs and produces for TV; Writer, poet and songwriter Sarah Matalon-Levy is married and lives in Paris; their youngest son, Noah Matalon, lives and works in New York as a capital projects consultant and in property development. She married photographer/former actor Michael Ward in 1976, and is stepmother to his two daughters Sam Ward and Tasha Clavel. Since Ward's death in 2011 Seal has promoted his work for exhibitions and publishing.

Selected filmography

* '' Radio Cab Murder'' (1954) * '' Town on Trial'' (1957) * '' Cone of Silence'' (1960) * '' Vampire Circus'' (1972) * ''

Mack the Knife "Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" () is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama ''The Threepenny Opera'' (). The song tells of a knife-wielding criminal of the London underworld n ...

'' (1989) * '' Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life'' (2003)

Television

* March 9, 1962 -

Route 66 U.S. Route 66 or U.S. Highway 66 (US 66 or Route 66) is one of the original highways in the United States Numbered Highway System. It was established on November 11, 1926, with road signs erected the following year. The high ...

Second season (1961-1962) "Blues for the Left Foot" ''Route 66, Episode 52''. As dancer Rosemarie; Seal's second husband, Zack Matalon, played Pete. * In the Softly, Softly: Task Force, Series Two, episode 15, Seal played gangster's sister, Mollie Frankitt, broadcast December 23rd 1970.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Seal, Elizabeth British film actresses British musical theatre actresses Tony Award winners 1933 births Living people 20th-century British actresses