Charlotte Mitchell (born Edna Winifred Mitchell; 23 July 1926 – 2 May 2012) was an English actress and poet.

Biography

In the 1950s she provided lyrics, sketches, and occasionally acted in revues on London's West End. She was especially successful in her ventures providing lyrics for Madeleine Dring in ''

Airs on a Shoestring ''Airs on a Shoestring'' was a British musical revue, first staged at the Royal Court Theatre in London on 22 April 1953. Described as "an intimate revue", the show was devised and directed by Laurier Lister. Cast members included Max Adrian, Madel ...

'' (1953), ''Pay the Piper'' (1954), and '' Fresh Airs'' (1956), all productions of

Laurier Lister George Laurier Lister, OBE (22 April 1907 – 30 September 1986) was an English theatre writer, actor, director and producer, best known for a series of revues presented in London in the late 1940s and 1950s. He was later associated with Laurence ...

. She was once (allegedly) the girlfriend of

Peter Sellers Peter Sellers (born Richard Henry Sellers; 8 September 1925 – 24 July 1980) was an English actor and comedian. He first came to prominence performing in the BBC Radio comedy series ''The Goon Show''. Sellers featured on a number of hit comi ...

, and appeared in ''

The Goon Show ''The Goon Show'' is a British radio comedy programme, originally produced and broadcast by the BBC Home Service from 1951 to 1960, with occasional repeats on the BBC Light Programme. The first series, broadcast from 28 May to 20 September ...

'' episodes ''Ye Bandit of Sherwood Forest'' (1954) as Maid Marian and ''Tales of Montmartre'' (1956) as Seagoon's love interest, Fifi. Charlotte Mitchell was married to the actor

Philip Guard Philip John Guard (29 November 1928 – May 2024) was an English stage actor who occasionally appeared in film and television. Life and career Philip John Guard was born in Rochford, Essex, on 29 November 1928. Guard appeared occasionally in fil ...

, from whom she separated in 1968, and was the mother of three children: actors Christopher Guard and Dominic Guard and animator and novelist Candy Guard. Charlotte lived in West London during the later part of her life and continued to be active as a poet. She appeared on

BBC Radio BBC Radio is an operational business division and service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a royal charter since 1927. The service provides national radio stations cove ...

with

Ian Carmichael Ian Gillett Carmichael, (18 June 1920 – 5 February 2010) was an English actor who Ian Carmichael on stage, screen and radio, worked prolifically on stage, screen and radio in a career that spanned seventy years. Born in Kingston upon ...

in ''The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C. Potter''. Carmichael played Gerald C. Potter, mystery writer, while she played Diana, his wife, who, under the pseudonym of Miss Magnolia Badminton, wrote romantic novels. She also played, on radio, the Dowager Duchess (

Lord Peter Wimsey Lord Peter Death Bredon Wimsey (later 17th Duke of Denver) is the fictional protagonist in a series of detective novels and short stories by Dorothy L. Sayers (and their continuation by Jill Paton Walsh). A amateur, dilettante who solves myst ...

's mother) in the radio adaption of ''Strong Poison'' that starred Ian Carmichael as Wimsey, and the character of Kath Miller in the

BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It is the List of most-listened-to radio programs, most popular station in the United Kingdom with over 14 million weekly listeners. Since launching in 1967, the sta ...

daily serial '' Waggoners' Walk''. On television, she played Amy Winthrop the housekeeper in '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'' (1972–74), and Monica Spencer in '' And Mother Makes Five''. Her poetry was published in collections such as ''Twelve Burnt Saucepans'', ''Looking Round Dangerously'', ''I Want to Go Home'' and ''Just in Case''. These provided the basis of a series of popular programmes on BBC Radio 4 in which she read her own work. Her poetry is often requested and read on

BBC Radio 4 BBC Radio 4 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. The station replaced the BBC Home Service on 30 September 1967 and broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes from the BBC's headquarters at Broadcasti ...

's '' Poetry Please'', and one of her poems was chosen by

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actors, she is noted for her versatility, having appeared in films and television, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage ...

and Michael Williams in their joint BBC Radio 4 programme ''With Great Pleasure''.

Death

Mitchell died in Chiswick, London, on 2 May 2012, aged 85, from pneumonia. She had previously battled

breast cancer Breast cancer is a cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a Breast lump, lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, Milk-rejection sign, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipp ...

and

myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, a ...

Filmography

Films

* '' The Romantic Age'' (1949, ''Naughty Arlette'' 1950 in the US) – Charlotte (uncredited) * '' The Happiest Days of Your Life'' (1950) – Ethel (uncredited) * ''

Laughter in Paradise ''Laughter in Paradise'' is a 1951 British comedy film directed by Mario Zampi, starring Alastair Sim, Fay Compton, George Cole, and Guy Middleton. It was written by Jack Davies and Michael Pertwee. The film was remade as '' Some Will, S ...

'' (1951) – Ethel * ''

The Man in the White Suit ''The Man in the White Suit'' is a 1951 British satirical science fiction comedy film made by Ealing Studios. It stars Alec Guinness, Joan Greenwood and Cecil Parker and was directed by Alexander Mackendrick. The film was nominated for an ...

'' (1951) – Mill Girl * '' Lady Godiva Rides Again'' (1951) – Lucille * '' Curtain Up'' (1952) – Daphne Ray * ''

Time Bomb A time bomb (or a timebomb, time-bomb) is a bomb whose detonation is triggered by a timer. The use or attempted use of time bombs has been for various purposes including insurance fraud, terrorism, assassination, sabotage and warfare. They are a ...

'' (1953) – Buffet Waitress (uncredited) * '' The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan'' (1953) (or ''The Great Gilbert and Sullivan'' in the US) – Charlotte * '' Street Corner'' (1953, ''Both Sides of the Law'' 1954 in the US) – Lily Propert (uncredited) * '' Lost'' (1955, ''Tears for Simon'' 1957 in the US) – Farmer's Wife (uncredited) * '' The Bridal Path'' (1959) – Mrs. Mavis Bruce (uncredited) * '' Village of the Damned'' (1960) – Janet Pawle * '' Dentist in the Chair'' (1960) – Woman in Surgery * '' Nearly a Nasty Accident'' (1961) – Miss Chamberlain * '' Dentist on the Job'' (1961, ''Get on with It!'' 1963 in the US) – Mrs. Burke * '' The Blood on Satan's Claw'' (1970) – Ellen * '' Jim, the World's Greatest'' (1975) – School Secretary * ''

The French Lieutenant's Woman ''The French Lieutenant's Woman'' is a 1969 Postmodern literature, postmodern historical fiction novel by John Fowles. The plot explores the fraught relationship of gentleman and amateur naturalist Charles Smithson and Sarah Woodruff, the for ...

'' (1981) – Mrs. Tranter * ''Out of the Darkness'' (1985) – Mrs. Barrow * '' The First Kangaroos'' (1988) – Mrs. Oaks

Television

* '' Not in Front of the Children'' (1967–1970) – Mary * '' Dombey and Son'' (1969) - Polly "Richards" Toodle * ''

Persuasion Persuasion or persuasion arts is an umbrella term for influence. Persuasion can influence a person's beliefs, attitudes, intentions, motivations, or behaviours. Persuasion is studied in many disciplines. Rhetoric studies modes of persuasi ...

'' (1971) – Mrs. Clay * '' The Adventures of Black Beauty'' (1972–1974) – Amy Winthrop * '' The Kids from 47A'' (1973, Writer) * '' ...And Mother Makes Five'' (1974–1976) – Monica Spencer * '' In This House of Brede'' (1975, TV Movie) – Mrs. Fraser * '' Miss Jones and Son'' (1977) – Mum * ''Shades of Darkness'' (1983) – Mrs. Blinder * '' Return to Treasure Island'' (1986) – Mrs. Hawkins * '' The Woman He Loved'' (1988, TV Movie) – Lady Chatfield * '' Selling Hitler'' (1991) – Lady Katherine Giles * '' Pond Life'' (1996) – Ivy * '' Heartbeat'' (1997–1999) – Granny Bellamy (final appearance)

References

External links

Obituary – The Guardian
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Charlotte 1926 births 2012 deaths Deaths from pneumonia in England Deaths from multiple myeloma in England English film actresses English television actresses English radio actresses Actresses from Ipswich 20th-century English businesspeople