Just enough time to wish many happy returns to the fabulous not-yet-Dame Prunella Scales, 80 years old today.
In her 60-year acting career, Pru has played just about everything - from costume dramas to the plays of the "angry young men", Bennett to Shakespeare, comedy, tragedy and melodrama, and no less than two Queens (Elizabeth II and Victoria).
On the way, she managed to bring to life two of the greatest ever comedic on-screen monsters - Mistress Mapp in the magnificent Mapp and Lucia, and of course, Sybil Fawlty.
I have met Miss Scales (when she was supporting a fundraiser for the charity I worked for; she was pissed before she even got to the hospitality room), and a couple of years ago at Wilton's Music Hall we were privileged to sit immediately in front of a gathering of "national treasures" that not only included Prunella and hubby Timothy West, but also June Whitfield!
We loved eavesdropping on their conversation...
Happy birthday, ma'am!
Prunella Scales on IMDB
i saw her on stage in a question of attribution when in town years ago. (you'd think i'd recall if there was a corgi on stage, but i don't.)
ReplyDeleteshe also helps to make the lonley passion of judith hearn on of my favorites.
She is indeed a remarkably talented actress! Jx
DeletePS I think Alan Bennett probably wrote out the corgi roles...
I didn't know she was also my birthday twin!
ReplyDeleteOther June 22nders are Meryl Streep, Green from Scritti Politti, Jimmi Somerville and Alan from the Osmonds!
It's also the anniversary of Saint Judy Garland who died on my 1st birthday ... There's a comment in there somewhere!! Maybe it's Over the Rainbow?! ;-)
Xxx
Other birthdays include Billy Wilder (director of "Some Like It Hot"), Mike Todd (the late Mr Liz Taylor), operatic poof Peter Pears, Kris Kristofferson, Cyndi Lauper, Ruby Turner, Esther Rantzen and Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner! Such esteemed company... Jx
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