Thora Janette Scott (born 14 December 1938) is a British retired actress.

Life and career

Scott was born on 14 December 1938 in Morecambe,

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

, England. She is the daughter of actors Jimmy Scott and Thora Hird and began her career as a child actress known as Janette Scott. Scott was briefly (with Jennifer Gay) one of the so-called "Children's Announcers" providing continuity links for the BBC's children's TV programmes from the Lime Grove Studios in the early 1950s. She became a popular leading lady, appearing as a daughter in ''As Long As They're Happy''. One of her best-known roles was April Smith in the film '' School for Scoundrels'' (1960), based on the "one-upmanship" books by Stephen Potter, in which Ian Carmichael and Terry-Thomas vie for her attention. Some scenes for ''School for Scoundrels'' were shot at a private members club before its current incarnation as a hotel. The hotel hosted a screening in 2016 with Janette Scott attending and answering questions about filming ''School for Scoundrels''. Scott's highest profile as a leading lady in British films was from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, with more than a dozen leading roles during this period. She was the female lead opposite some stars including Terry-Thomas, Ian Carmichael, Ronald Lewis, Ian Hendry and George Chakiris. She proved adept in genres including comedy, romantic drama, sci-fi thriller and period adventure. She gave up her career on marrying second husband,

Mel Tormé Melvin Howard Tormé (September 13, 1925 – June 5, 1999), nicknamed "the Velvet Fog", was an American musician, singer, composer, arrangement, arranger, drummer, actor, and author. He composed the music for "The Christmas Song" ("Chestnuts Roa ...

. She is known to American audiences for her role as the parson's wife in '' The Devil's Disciple'' (1959), starring

Burt Lancaster Burton Stephen Lancaster (November 2, 1913 – October 20, 1994) was an American actor. Initially known for playing tough characters with tender hearts, he went on to achieve success with more complex and challenging roles over a 45-year caree ...

, Kirk Douglas and Laurence Olivier. She is named in the song Science Fiction/Double Feature", the opening number of '' The Rocky Horror Show'' and its film version, '' The Rocky Horror Picture Show'' (performed over the opening credits), for her participation in the 1962 film ''The Day of the Triffids''. Scott wrote her autobiography ''Act One'' at the age of 14.Act one: an autobiography with portraits

Marriages

She has been married three times: * Jackie Rae (27 June 1959 – 1965), divorced *

(20 May 1966 – 1977), divorced; 2 children, including son James Tormé *William Rademaekers (1981–2018), died

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Scott, Janette 1938 births Living people 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses Actresses from Lancashire British child actresses English film actresses English television actresses Actors from Morecambe