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
*
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 ...
(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