British actresses died at age 74

Here are 13 famous actresses from United Kingdom died at 74:

Elizabeth Whitlock

Elizabeth Whitlock (April 2, 1761 Warrington-February 27, 1836) was a British playwright and actor.

She began writing plays at a young age, and her first production premiered at Drury Lane Theatre in London when she was only 17 years old. Whitlock continued to write and perform in plays throughout her life, garnering critical acclaim for her works. Her plays often centered on social issues of the time, including the struggles of the working class and women's rights. In addition to her writing and acting, she was also known for her work as a theater manager. Whitlock paved the way for other women in the male-dominated theater industry and is remembered as a pioneer of British drama.

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Kay Deslys

Kay Deslys (September 28, 1899 London-August 15, 1974 West Covina) a.k.a. Kathleen M. Herbert, Kay de Lys or Kathleen Herbert was a British actor.

She died as a result of heart failure.

During her career, Kay Deslys appeared in more than 50 films. She started acting in the silent film era and continued to act in films until the 1940s. One of her notable performances was in the film "The Lodger" (1927), directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Kay Deslys also appeared in the 1931 film "Frankenstein" as the mother of the young girl who is killed by the monster. In addition to her work in film, she also appeared on stage in the West End productions of "And So to Bed" and "The Gipsy Princess". After retiring from acting, Kay Deslys moved to the United States where she lived until her death.

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Madge Titheradge

Madge Titheradge (July 2, 1887 Melbourne-November 14, 1961 Fetcham) was a British actor.

She was best known for her work on stage, particularly in productions of Shakespearean plays. Titheradge began her acting career in 1908 with a role in "The Bauble Shop". She went on to perform in the West End and on Broadway, and became a leading lady in her own right. Some of her more notable roles included Lady Macbeth, Rosalind in "As You Like It", Viola in "Twelfth Night", and Portia in "The Merchant of Venice". Titheradge was also a playwright and director, and was known for her strong personality and no-nonsense approach to her work.

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Ann Casson

Ann Casson (November 6, 1915 London-May 2, 1990 Hampstead) was a British actor. She had five children, Benedict Campbell, Dirk Campbell, Tom Campbell, Teresa Taylor and Torquil Campbell.

Ann Casson grew up in a theatrical family; her father, Sir Lewis Casson, was a well-known actor and director, and her mother, Dame Sybil Thorndike, was a renowned stage performer. Casson made her stage debut in 1934 and went on to become a prominent actress on the London stage, performing in a wide variety of plays, from Shakespearean dramas to contemporary works. She was particularly well-regarded for her performances in the plays of Noël Coward, and she appeared in several of his productions over the years.

In addition to her work on stage, Casson also appeared in a number of films and television shows, including the 1967 film version of Half a Sixpence and the BBC series The Forsyte Saga. She was also known for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and she performed in productions of several of Shakespeare's plays, including A Midsummer Night's Dream, Macbeth, and The Tempest.

Casson was also an accomplished writer, and she published a number of books during her lifetime, including a memoir of her childhood entitled The Phoenix Nest, as well as several works of fiction. She died in 1990 at the age of 74.

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Virginia Field

Virginia Field (November 4, 1917 London-January 2, 1992 Palm Desert) also known as Margaret Cynthia Field or Katherine Burke was a British actor. She had two children, Margaret Field Douglas and Johnnie Douglas.

She died as a result of cancer.

Virginia Field began her career as a child actor and made her film debut in 1934 with the film "The Private Life of Don Juan". She moved to Hollywood in the 1940s, where she appeared in over 40 films including "Waterloo Bridge", "The Corsican Brothers", and "Kiss Me Kate". Field was also a regular on television, appearing in popular shows such as "Perry Mason" and "The Twilight Zone".

Aside from her acting career, Field was an accomplished painter and sculptor. She studied art at the Académie Julian in Paris and had several exhibitions of her work in California. In her later years, she was actively involved in various charitable organizations and volunteered at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Palm Springs.

Despite her success in Hollywood, Field remained a private person and rarely gave interviews. She was married twice, first to Willard Mack and then to Paul Douglas. Her daughter Margaret Field Douglas also became an actor and starred in films such as "The Man From Planet X" and "The Night of the Hunter".

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Jessie Matthews

Jessie Matthews (March 11, 1907 Soho-August 19, 1981 Eastcote) a.k.a. Jessie Margaret Matthews, The Dancing Divinity, The English Ginger Rogers, Jessie Matthews, OBE or Matthews, Jessie was a British actor, dancer and singer. She had one child, Catherine Hale-Monro.

Jessie Matthews was born in Soho, London and began her career in show business at a young age, performing in vaudeville shows and music hall acts. She rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s as a star of stage and screen, known for her beautiful singing voice and graceful dancing. Matthews appeared in numerous films, including "Evergreen" (1934) and "First a Girl" (1935), and also starred in several successful stage productions.

Her success in the entertainment industry made her a popular and sought-after performer of her time. Known for her charm and captivating performances, she often drew comparisons to American actress and dancer Ginger Rogers. Matthews was also a trailblazer, breaking barriers by becoming one of the first female entertainers to be awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire).

Throughout her career, Matthews had a number of romantic relationships and ultimately married her second husband, the director and choreographer Sonnie Hale. They had one daughter together, Catherine Hale-Monro. Despite her success, Matthews struggled with personal demons, including alcoholism, and retired from performing in the 1950s. She lived out her later years in relative obscurity, until her death in Eastcote in 1981. Despite this, she remains a beloved icon of British entertainment history.

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Dilys Hamlett

Dilys Hamlett (March 31, 1928 Tidworth-November 7, 2002 Kirkcaldy) was a British actor. Her child is called David Wrede.

Dilys Hamlett started her career in show business as a dancer, but soon transitioned into acting. She worked in theater, film, and television throughout her career, earning critical acclaim for her performances. Some of her most notable roles include Mrs. Bentley in the television series "To the Manor Born," Mrs. Seaton in the film "The Elephant Man," and Mrs. Poulteney in the television adaptation of "The Mayor of Casterbridge."

In addition to her acting career, Dilys Hamlett was also a mother to her son David Wrede. She was married to German actor Walter Gotell, who was best known for his role as General Gogol in the James Bond films. Dilys Hamlett and Walter Gotell were married until his death in 1997.

Dilys Hamlett passed away in 2002 at the age of 74 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. She will always be remembered for her contributions to the entertainment industry and her memorable performances on screen and stage.

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Jan Holden

Jan Holden (May 9, 1931 Southport-October 11, 2005 London) a.k.a. Valerie Jeanne Wilkerson, Jack Holden or Jeanne Wilkinson was a British actor.

Holden began her acting career on the West End stage in the 1950s, appearing in productions such as "The Boy Friend" and "The Sound of Music." She also appeared in numerous television shows, including "Coronation Street" and "EastEnders."

In the 1970s, Holden became a noted voiceover artist, lending her voice to dozens of documentaries and commercials. She was also a lecturer and teacher, sharing her knowledge of acting with aspiring performers.

Holden continued to work in the entertainment industry until her death in 2005, at the age of 74. She was remembered by colleagues and fans alike for her talent, dedication, and passion for the craft of acting.

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Jennifer Jayne

Jennifer Jayne (November 14, 1931 Yorkshire-April 23, 2006 London) also known as Jay Fairbank, Jennifer Jane, Jennifer Jones or Jennifer Jayne Jones was a British actor.

She began her acting career in the 1950s and went on to appear in numerous television shows and films throughout her career, including "The Crawling Eye," "The Flesh and the Fiends," and "Village of the Damned." She also appeared on stage in productions such as "The Sound of Music" and "The Importance of Being Earnest." In addition to her acting work, Jayne was also a skilled singer and dancer. She retired from acting in the 1980s and went on to work as a cruise instructor. She passed away in 2006 at the age of 74.

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Edna Best

Edna Best (March 3, 1900 Hove-September 18, 1974 Geneva) a.k.a. Edna Hove, Edna Best Marshall or Edna Clare Best was a British actor. Her child is called Sarah Marshall.

Edna Best began her acting career in the early 1920s and gained success in the London theatre scene. She then made a transition to films, and her breakthrough role was in the 1932 film "The Rise of Catherine the Great". She went on to have a successful career in both British and American films, including starring alongside Cary Grant in "The Awful Truth" (1937). In addition to her screen work, Best continued to act on stage throughout her career. She was also a pioneering female broadcaster, becoming one of the first women to present a regular radio show on the BBC. Best passed away in Geneva, Switzerland at the age of 74.

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Dilys Laye

Dilys Laye (March 11, 1934 Muswell Hill-February 13, 2009 London) a.k.a. Dilys Lay was a British screenwriter and actor. She had one child, Andrew Downer.

She died in lung cancer.

Dilys Laye began her career as an actor in the 1950s and starred in various British television series and films including "Lilli Palmer Theatre" and "Danger Man". She also appeared in American productions such as "That's Your Funeral." Laye also wrote for television, penning episodes for "Beryl's Lot" and "Kate". Later in her career, she started working as a voice actor, providing her voice for animated characters in notable films such as "Charlotte’s Web" and "The Magic Roundabout". She was also an accomplished stage actress, appearing in various productions in London's West End. Throughout her career, Dilys Laye was praised for her versatility and her ability to bring a unique energy to her performances.

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Lesley Wareing

Lesley Wareing (October 16, 1913 Hampstead-April 13, 1988 Faversham) also known as Lesley Hyldyn Shona Wareing or Lesley Waring was a British actor.

She was born in Hampstead, London on October 16, 1913, and grew up in a theatrical family. She began her acting career in the 1930s and went on to have a successful stage and screen career, appearing in many TV series and films throughout the 1950s and 1960s.

In the 1970s, Wareing became a drama teacher and founded the Lesley Waring Drama School in London. She was also a founding member of the British Actors' Equity Association and was an advocate for the rights of actors throughout her life.

Wareing continued to act on stage and screen until her death in Faversham, Kent, on April 13, 1988, at the age of 74. Her contributions to British theatre and film are remembered as a testament to her talent and dedication to the craft.

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Sarah Booth

Sarah Booth (April 5, 1793 Birmingham-December 30, 1867) also known as Sally Booth was a British actor.

She began her acting career in 1814 and became known for her dramatic performances on stage. Booth performed in a variety of plays, including Shakespearean productions, and was praised for her exceptional talent and versatility as an actor. In addition to her work on stage, she was also involved in theatrical management and production. Booth was a popular performer in London's West End theaters during the 19th century and her legacy continues to be celebrated in the world of theater today.

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