Paddie O'Neil
OBE
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
(born Adalena Lillian Nail, 1 May 1926 – 31 January 2010) was a British actress and singer.
[Obituary ''The Guardian'', 26 March 2010]
/ref>[Obituary '' London Independent'', 27 April 2010.]
The daughter of circus and fairground performers and herself born on a caravan at Leominster, Herefordshire, O'Neil spent her childhood travelling and performing at fairgrounds.[ While at stage school in London she was spotted and signed up by the BBC. She was a singer on the radio during the ]Second World War
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
years, and presented the variety show ''Navy Mixture''. Paddie met the actor Alfred Marks
Alfred Edward Marks (born Alfred Edward Touchinsky; 28 January 19211 July 1996) was a British actor and comedian. In his 60-year career, he played dramatic and comedy roles in numerous television programmes, stage shows and films. His self-title ...
while performing in Brighton
Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
, and they were married in 1952. They had two children. Also a writer of comedy material, Paddie was the first female writer-producer to be hired by Independent Television at its inception in 1954.
She was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...
(OBE) in 1976.[
]
Filmography
* '' Penny Points to Paradise'' (1951)
* ''The Early Bird
''The Early Bird'' is a 1965 British comedy film directed by Robert Asher (director), Robert Asher and starring Norman Wisdom, Edward Chapman (actor), Edward Chapman, Bryan Pringle, Richard Vernon, John Le Mesurier and Jerry Desmonde. It was t ...
'' (1965)
* '' The Adding Machine'' (1969)
* ''Fanny Hill
''Memoirs of a Woman of Pleasure'' – popularly known as ''Fanny Hill'' – is an erotic novel by the English novelist John Cleland first published in London in 1748 and 1749. Written while the author was in debtors' prison in London,Wagne ...
'' (1983)
References
External links
*
Obituary in ''The Telegraph''Obituary in ''The Stage''
1926 births
2010 deaths
English film actresses
English women singers
Officers of the Order of the British Empire
People from Leominster
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