Merle Tottenham (22 January 1901 – 18 July 1958) was a British

stage Stage, stages, or staging may refer to: Arts and media Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly Brit ...

and film actress. Her stage work included the original West End production of

Noël Coward Sir Noël Peirce Coward (16 December 189926 March 1973) was an English playwright, composer, director, actor, and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what ''Time (magazine), Time'' called "a sense of personal style, a combination of c ...

's ''

Cavalcade A cavalcade is a procession or parade on horseback, or a mass distance ride by a company of riders. Sometimes the focus of a cavalcade is participation rather than display and the participants do not wear costumes or ride in formation. ...

'' in 1931; and she reprised her role as Annie the servant in the subsequent

Hollywood film The cinema of the United States, primarily associated with major film studios collectively referred to as Hollywood, has significantly influenced the global film industry since the early 20th century. Classical Hollywood cinema, a filmmakin ...

, in 1933. She also appeared as Dora, the maid in '' Night Must Fall'' (1937) with Robert Montgomery and

Rosalind Russell Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, model, comedian, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in ...

, and the film version of Coward's ''

This Happy Breed ''This Happy Breed'' is a play by Noël Coward. It was written in 1939 but, because of the outbreak of World War II, it was not staged until 1942, when it was performed on alternating nights with another Coward play, '' Present Laughter''. The ...

'' (1944), as Edie, the maid.

Partial filmography

* ''Immediate Possession'' (1931, Short) - Polly Baxter * '' Down Our Street'' (1932) - Rose * '' Here's George'' (1932) - Perkins * ''

'' (1933) - Annie * '' Bondage'' (1933) - Ruth * '' Paddy the Next Best Thing'' (1933) - Maid * ''

The Invisible Man ''The Invisible Man'' is an 1897 science fiction novel by British writer H. G. Wells. Originally serialised in '' Pearson's Weekly'' in 1897, it was published as a novel the same year. The Invisible Man to whom the title refers is Griffin, a s ...

'' (1933) - Millie * '' The Night Club Queen'' (1934) - Alice Lamont * '' Borrowed Clothes'' (1934) - Minor Role (uncredited) * ''

Youthful Folly ''Youthful Folly'' is a 1934 British drama film directed by Miles Mander and starring Irene Vanbrugh, Jane Carr and Mary Lawson. It was a quota quickie made at Shepperton Studios for release by Columbia Pictures.Chibnall p.281 It portrays ...

'' (1934) * '' Sporting Love'' (1936) - Maid * '' Chick'' (1936) - Maid * '' The Man in the Mirror'' (1936) - Mary (uncredited) * '' Night Must Fall'' (1937) - Dora * '' Bank Holiday'' (1938) - Milly * '' Over the Moon'' (1939) - Maid (uncredited) * '' Dead Men Are Dangerous'' (1939) - Gladys * '' A Girl Must Live'' (1939) - College inmate * ''

Goodbye, Mr. Chips ''Goodbye, Mr. Chips'' is a novella about the life of a school teacher, Mr. Chipping, written by English writer James Hilton (novelist), James Hilton and first published by Hodder & Stoughton in October 1934. It has been adapted into two featu ...

'' (1939) - Nellie, maid to Mr & Mrs Chipping (uncredited) * '' Poison Pen'' (1939) - Mrs. Kemp * '' The Young Mr. Pitt'' (1942) - Maid at Lord Auckland's (uncredited) * ''

We Dive at Dawn ''We Dive at Dawn'' is a 1943 war film directed by Anthony Asquith and starring John Mills and Eric Portman as Royal Navy submariners in the Second World War. It was written by Val Valentine and J. B. Williams with uncredited assistance from F ...

'' (1943) - (uncredited) * ''

Headline The headline is the text indicating the content or nature of the article below it, typically by providing a form of brief summary of its contents. The large type ''front page headline'' did not come into use until the late 19th century when incre ...

'' (1943) - Mrs. Deans * ''

'' (1944) - Edie * '' Love Story'' (1944) - Bus Conductoress (uncredited) * '' I Didn't Do It'' (1945) - Tessie * ''

Caravan Caravan or caravans may refer to: Transport and travel *Campervan, a type of vehicle also known as a motor caravan *Caravan (travellers), a group of travellers journeying together **Caravanserai, a place where a caravan could stop *Caravan (trail ...

'' (1946) - Tweeny (uncredited) * '' My Brother Jonathan'' (1948) - Alice Rudge * '' Calling Paul Temple'' (1948) - Millie * '' The Weaker Sex'' (1948) - Woman in Fish Queue (uncredited) * ''

Sleeping Car to Trieste ''Sleeping Car to Trieste'' is a 1948 British comedy thriller film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Jean Kent, Albert Lieven, Derrick De Marney and Rona Anderson. It was written by Allan MacKinnon and is a remake of the 1932 fil ...

'' (1948) - Miss Smith (uncredited) * ''

It's Hard to Be Good ''It's Hard to Be Good'' is a 1948 British comedy film directed by Jeffrey Dell and starring Jimmy Hanley, Anne Crawford and Raymond Huntley. In the film, an ex-army officer finds his altruistic attempts to improve the world are unsuccessful. ...

'' (1948) - Mrs. Hobson (uncredited) * '' The Twenty Questions Murder Mystery'' (1950) - Mrs. Tavy's Neighbour (uncredited) * '' Room to Let'' (1950) - Alice * '' The Woman in Question'' (1950) - Neighbour (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* * 1901 births 1958 deaths British stage actresses British film actresses 20th-century British actresses People from Quetta Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players {{UK-film-actor-stub