Beryl Measor

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middle-aged white woman in extravagant costume, posturing
As Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, 1944

Beryl Measor (22 April 1908 – 8 February 1965) was a British actress. She created roles in plays by Noël Coward and Terence Rattigan. In addition to her stage career she broadcast frequently on BBC radio and television, and appeared in several cinema films.

Life and career

Measor was born in

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.[2] She was a star pupil, winning the RADA Silver Medal in 1931.[3]

She made her first professional appearance on the stage at the

wartime provincial tour and then in the West End. She took over from Margaret Rutherford as Madame Arcati in the original production of Coward's Blithe Spirit during its record-breaking London run,[4] and played the part on tour, with the author as Charles Condomine.[5] In 1945 she married the actor Terence De Marney.[6]

From 1941 to 1961 Measor was a frequent broadcaster on BBC radio and television. In addition to playing Madame Arcati in the first televised version of Blithe Spirit (performed live, 1948), her roles included Lady Fallowfield in Eric Maschwitz's 13-part series Family Affairs (1950) and Mrs Proudie in a six-part adaptation of Barchester Towers (1959). On radio she was a regular member of the cast of Navy Mixture (1946–47), with Jimmy Jewel and Ben Warriss.[7]

Between 1946 and 1954, Measor played in the West End in eight new plays, mostly box-office successes, though not subsequently revived.

Clarence Derwent Award for her performance in this production in London and made her first appearance on Broadway début in the same role in October 1956, receiving a Tony nomination.[1][8]

Her final West End roles were Cornelia Scott in

Edinburgh Festival.[1]

Measor died in London on 8 February 1965 at the age of 56;[9] her husband survived her. They had no children.[6]

Film and television roles

  • Almost a Honeymoon – Mabel, the barmaid (1938)
  • Richard of Bordeaux – Countess of Derby (1938)
  • English Without Tears – Miss Faljambe (1944)
  • Dual Alibi – Gwen (1947)
  • Odd Man Out – Maudie (1947)
  • The Mark of Cain – Nurse Brand (1947)
  • While the Sun Shines – Woman in train (1947)
  • Blithe Spirit – Madame Arcati (1948)
  • Esther Waters – Mrs Spires (1948)
  • Morning Star – Amarilla Arbuthnot (1956)
  • Please Murder Me – cast member (1958)
  • Uncle Harry – Hester Quincey (1958)
  • Barchester Towers – Mrs Proudie (1959)
  • No Wreath for the General Episode 3 – middle-aged woman (1960)[9]

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Parker, Gaye and Herbert, pg. 1669.
  2. ^ "Royal Academy of Dramatic Art", The Times, 31 July 1930, p. 12
  3. ^ "Royal Academy of Dramatic Art", The Times, 8 August 1931, p. 8
  4. ^ "Theatres", The Times, 29 June 1942, p. 6
  5. ^ Payn, p. 361
  6. ^ a b "Terence Arthur De Marney", Ancestry UK. Retrieved 28 August 2021 (subscription required)
  7. ^ "Beryl Measor", BBC Genome. Retrieved 28 August 2021
  8. ^ "Beryl Measor search" Archived 2016-08-31 at the Wayback Machine, Tony Awards, retrieved 19 March 2014
  9. ^ a b "Beryl Measor", British Film Institute
    retrieved 19 March 2014.

Sources

  • Parker, John; Freda Gaye; Ian Herbert (1978). Who Was Who in the Theatre. Detroit: Gale Research.
    OCLC 310466458
    .
  • Payn, Graham (1994). My Life with Noël Coward. New York: Applause Books.
    ISBN 978-1-55783-190-3
    .

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Beryl_Measor&oldid=1180283416"