Thea Holme

Thea Holme(nee Johnston, 1904–1980) was a British actress and writer.

Holme was born Thea Johnston in 1904. Her father was the architectPhilip Mainwaring Johnston.She studied art atThe Sladeand then theatre at theCentral School of Drama.She made her professional stage debut in 1924 asHippolytainA Midsummer Night's Dream,at theRichmond Theatre.

She was in repertory at theOxford Playhouse,where her husbandStanford Holmewas producer, in the 1930s.She performed for both theCouncil for the Encouragement of Music and the Artsand theBBC Repertory Companyduring World War II, as well as directing at theOpen Air TheatreinRegent's Park.Holme also appeared forBBCtelevision in several adaptations of classic novels includingThe Warden,Emma,PersuasionandNicholas Nickleby.She was also a dramatist, adapting works for stage and radio, including Jane Austen'sMansfield ParkandNorthanger Abbey.She subsequently moved with her husband toCarlyle's HouseinCheyne Row,Chelsea,London, when he became its curator, working for theNational Trust.She took up writing, beginning with a book about the lives ofThomas Carlyleand his wifeJane Welsh Carlyleat the house,The Carlyles at Home(1965).

She appeared as a castaway on theBBC RadioprogrammeDesert Island Discson 4 October 1969,and was made aFellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

She died in 1980.An obituary was published inThe Timeson 9 December.Her husband survived her, as did their son,Timothy Holme,an author of fiction.

Bibliography

• —— (1965).The Carlyles at Home.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0192121592.
• —— (1972).Chelsea.Hamish Hamilton.ISBN978-0241016923.
• —— (1976).Prinny's Daughter: Biography of Princess Charlotte of Wales.Hamish Hamilton.
• —— (1979).Caroline: Biography of Caroline of Brunswick.Hamish Hamilton.ISBN978-0241101629.

External links

• Thea HolmeatIMDb