Jill Bennett (British actress)
Jill Bennett | |
|---|---|
 Jill Bennett in trailer forThe Charge of the Light Brigade(1968) | |
| Born | Nora Noel Jill Bennett 24 December 1926 |
| Died | 4 October 1990(aged 63) Kensington,London,England |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1947–1990 |
| Spouses | |
Nora Noel Jill Bennett(24 December 1926 – 4 October 1990)[a][1]was a British actress.
Early life and education
[edit]Jill Bennett was born inPenang,theStraits Settlements,to "wealthy Scottish parents" who owned a rubber plantation.[1][2]She was educated atPrior's Field School,an independent girls boarding school inGodalming,from which she was expelled when she was fourteen. She attendedRADAfrom 1944 to 1946.[1]
Career
[edit]Bennett made her West End debut inNow Barabbasin March 1947, was a company member during the 1949 season at theShakespeare Memorial TheatreinStratford upon Avon,and made her first film,The Long Dark HallwithRex Harrison,in 1950.[citation needed]
She made many appearances in British films, includingLust for Life(1956),The Criminal(1960),The Nanny(1965),The Skull(1965),Inadmissible Evidence(1968),The Charge of the Light Brigade(1968),Julius Caesar(1970),I Want What I Want(1972),Mister Quilp(1975),Full Circle(1977) andBritannia Hospital(1982). She also appeared in the Bond filmFor Your Eyes Only(1981),Lady Jane(1986) andHawks(1988). Her final film performance was inThe Sheltering Sky(1990).[citation needed]
She made forays into television, such as roles inPlay for Today(Country,1981), withWendy Hiller,and as the colourful Lady Grace Fanner inJohn Mortimer's adaptation of his own novel,Paradise Postponed(1985). In 1984 she co-wrote and starred in the sitcomPoor Little Rich GirlsalongsideMaria Aitken.Among several roles, Osborne wrote the character of Annie in his playThe Hotel in Amsterdam(1968) for her. But Bennett's busy schedule prevented her from playing the role until it was screened on television in 1971.[3]
She co-starred withRachel Robertsin theAlan Bennetttelevision playThe Old Crowd(1979), directed byLindsay Anderson.[citation needed]
Personal life
[edit]Bennett was the live-in companion of actorGodfrey Tearlein the late 1940s and early 1950s. She was married to screenwriterWillis Halland later toJohn Osborne.Bennett and Osborne divorced, acrimoniously, in 1978. She had no children.
Death
[edit]Bennett died bysuicideon 4 October 1990, aged 63,[b]having long suffered from depression and the brutalising effects of her marriage to Osborne (according to Osborne's biographer).[4]She did this by taking an overdose[5]ofQuinalbarbitone.[6]Her death took place at home, 23 Gloucester Walk,Kensington,London W8, and she left an estate valued at £596,978.[7]
Osborne, who was subject during her life to a restraining order regarding written comments about her, immediately wrote a vituperative chapter about her to be added to the second volume of his autobiography. The chapter, in which he rejoiced at her death, caused great controversy.[6]
In 1992, Bennett's ashes, along with those of her friend, the actressRachel Roberts(who also died by suicide, in 1980), were scattered by their friendLindsay Andersonon the waters of theRiver ThamesinLondon.Anderson, with several of the two actresses' professional colleagues and friends, took a boat trip down the Thames, and the ashes were scattered while musicianAlan Pricesang the song "Is That All There Is?"The event was included in Anderson's autobiographical BBC documentaryIs That All There Is?(1992).[citation needed]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | The Long Dark Hall | First Murdered Girl | |
| 1952 | Moulin Rouge | Sarah | |
| 1953 | The Nine Days' Wonder | Miss Smith | TV film |
| The Pleasure Garden | Miss Kellerman | Short | |
| 1954 | Hell Below Zero | Gerda Petersen | |
| Aunt Clara | Julie Mason | ||
| 1955 | Murder Anonymous | Mrs. Sheldon | Short |
| 1956 | The Anatomist | Mary Belle | TV film |
| The Extra Day | Susan | ||
| Lust for Life | Willemien | ||
| 1957 | Peace and Quiet | Josephine Elliott | TV film |
| 1959 | A Glimpse of the Sea | Penelope Belford | TV film |
| 1960 | Return to the Sea | TV film | |
| The Criminal | Maggie | ||
| 1965 | The Skull | Jane Maitland | |
| The Nanny | Aunt Pen | ||
| 1968 | The Charge of the Light Brigade | Mrs. Duberly | |
| Inadmissible Evidence | Liz Eaves | ||
| 1969 | Rembrandt | Geertje | TV film |
| 1970 | Julius Caesar | Calpurnia | |
| 1971 | Speaking of Murder | Annabelle Logan | TV film |
| 1972 | I Want What I Want | Margaret Stevenson | |
| 1974 | Intent to Murder | Janet Preston | TV film |
| 1975 | Mister Quilp | Sally Brass | |
| 1976 | Almost a Vision | Isobel | TV film |
| 1977 | Full Circle | Lily Lofting | |
| 1979 | The Old Crowd | Stella | TV film |
| 1981 | For Your Eyes Only | Brink | |
| 1982 | Britannia Hospital | Dr. MacMillan | |
| 1983 | The Aerodrome | Eustasia | TV film |
| 1986 | Lady Jane | Mrs. Ellen | |
| 1988 | Hawks | Vivian Bancroft | |
| 1989 | A Day in Summer | Miss Prosser | TV film |
| 1990 | The Sheltering Sky | Mrs. Lyle |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1954 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Polly Eccles | Episode: "Caste" |
| Lady Ariadne Crofield | Episode: "Job for the Boy" | ||
| 1955 | Valerie Fergusson | Episode: "A Dream of Treason" | |
| Sally Raynor | Episode: "Night Was Our Friend" | ||
| 1956 | ITV Play of the Week | Mary Belle | Episode: "The Anatomist" |
| Masha | Episode: "The Seagull" | ||
| Armchair Theatre | Isa | Episode: "Ring Out the Old" | |
| 1957 | BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Grette Brinson | Episode: "Do It Yourself" |
| Villette | Lucy Snowe | Mini-series | |
| Do it Yourself | Assistant | ||
| 1958 | Armchair Theatre | Agnes Madinier | Episode: "The Web of Lace" |
| BBC Sunday-Night Theatre | Barbara Shearer | Episode: "Statue of David" | |
| Catherine Sloper | Episode: "The Heiress" | ||
| 1959 | Anne-Marie | Episode: "Figure of Fun" | |
| Saturday Playhouse | Trilby O'Ferral | Episode: "Trilby" | |
| Armchair Theatre | Lily | Episode: "Hand in Glove" | |
| 1960 | Stella | Episode: "Thunder on the Snowy" | |
| ITV Playhouse | Rena | Episode: "Other People's House" | |
| Emily Forsyth | Episode: "Independent Means" | ||
| Somerset Maugham Hour | Annette | Episode: "The Unconquered" | |
| Millicent | Episode: "Before the Party" | ||
| 1961 | ITV Play of the Week | Emma Gore | Episode: "Ring of Truth" |
| Harriet | Episode: "Harriet" | ||
| 1962 | Somerset Maugham Hour | Olive Hardy | Episode: "The Book Bag" |
| The Cheaters | Ferba Martinez | Episode: "Time to Kill" | |
| BBC Sunday-Night Play | Victoria Thomson | Episode: "Storm in Teacup" | |
| 1963 | Hilary | Episode: "The Sponge Room" | |
| Maupassant | Episode: "Foolish Wives" | ||
| ITV Play of the Week | Lizzie | Episode: "The Rainmaker" | |
| Masha | Episode: "Three Sisters" | ||
| 1964 | Espionage | Mistress Patience Wright | Episode: "The Frantick Rebel" |
| First Night | Libby Beeston | Episode: "How Many Angels" | |
| ITV Play of the Week | Helena | Episode: "A Midsummer's Night Dream" | |
| Gilda | Episode: "A Choice of Coward #4: Design for Living" | ||
| 1965 | Marjorie Wilton | Episode: "We Thought You'd Like to Be Caesar" | |
| 1966 | ABC Stage 67 | Frida Holmeier | Episode: "Dare I Weep, Dare I Mourn?" |
| Thirty-Minute Theatre | Mary Hass | Episode: "Brainscrew" | |
| 1968 | BBC Play of the Month | Anna | Episode: "The Parachute" |
| Half Hour Story | Penelope | Episode: "Its Only Us" | |
| 1971 | ITV Sunday Night Theatre | Episode: "The Hotel in Amsterdam" | |
| 1974 | Late Night Drama | Jill | Episode: "Ms or Jill and Jack" |
| 1975 | Aquarius | Maria | Episode: "The Three Marias" |
| 1976 | Murder | Lola | Episode: "Hello Lola" |
| 1980 | Orient-Express | Jane | Episode: "Jane" |
| 1981 | Play for Today | Alice Carlion | Episode: "Country" |
| 1984 | Poor Little Rich Girls | Daisy Troop | Series regular |
| 1985 | Time for Murder | Sonia Barrington | Episode: "The Murders at Lynch Cross" |
| 1986 | Paradise Postponed | Lady Grace Fanner | Series regular |
| 1987 | Worlds Beyond | Elizabeth Berrington | Episode: "The Barrington Case" |
Theatre career
[edit]- Shakespeare Memorial Theatre, Stratford upon Avon, 1949 season
- Titania inA Midsummer Night's Dream,St Martin's Theatre, December 1949
- Anni inCaptain Carvallo,St. James' Theatre, August 1950
- Iras inCaesar and CleopatraandAntony and Cleopatra,St. James' Theatre, May 1951 (oppositeLaurence OlivierandVivien Leigh)
- Helen Eliot inThe Night of the Ball,New Theatre, January 1955
- Masha inThe Seagull,Saville Theatre, August 1956
- Mrs. Martin inThe Bald Prima Donna,Arts Theatre, November 1956
- Sarah Stanham inThe Touch of Fear,Aldwych Theatre, December 1956
- Isabelle inDinner With the Family,New Theatre, December 1957
- Penelope inLast Day in DreamlandandA Glimpse of the Sea,Lyric Hammersmith, November 1959
- Susan Roper inBreakfast for One,Arts Theatre, April 1961
- Feemy Evans inThe Showing Up of Blanco Posnet,and Lavinia inAndrocles and the Lion,Mermaid Theatre, October 1961
- Estelle inIn Camera(Huis Clos), Oxford Playhouse, February 1962
- Ophelia inCastle in Sweden,Piccadilly Theatre, May 1962
- Hilary inThe Sponge Room,and Elizabeth Mintey inSquat Betty,Royal Court, December 1962
- Isabelle inThe Love Game,New Arts Theatre, October 1964
- Countess Sophia Delyanoff inA Patriot for Me,Royal Court, June 1965
- Anna Bowers inA Lily in Little India,Hampstead Theatre Club, November 1965
- Imogen Parrott inTrelawney of the Wells,National Theatre at the Old Vic, August 1966
- Katerina inThe Storm,National Theatre at the Old Vic, October 1966
- Pamela inTime Present,Royal Court, May 1968 at the Duke of York's Theatre, July 1968 (for which she won theVariety ClubandEvening Standard Awardsfor Best Actress)
- Anna Bowers inThree Months Goneat the Royal Court in January 1970; at the Duchess Theatre in March 1970,
- Frederica inWest of Suez,Royal Court, August 1971; Cambridge Theatre, October 1971
- Hedda inHedda Gabler,Royal Court, June 1972
- Amanda inPrivate Lives(briefly taking over forMaggie Smith), Queen's Theatre, June 1973
- Leslie Crosbie inThe Letter,Palace Theatre, Watford, July 1973
- Isobel Sands inThe End of Me Old Cigar,Greenwich Theatre, January 1975
- Fay inLoot,Royal Court, June 1975
- Sally Prosser inWatch It Come Down,National Theatre at the Old Vic, February 1976 at the National Theatre at the Old Vic; March 1976 at the Lyttelton Theatre
- Mrs. Shankland and Miss Railton-Bell inSeparate Tables,Apollo Theatre, January 1977
- Mrs. Tina inThe Aspern Papers(1978); The Queen inThe Eagle Has Two Heads(1979); and Maggie Cutler inThe Man Who Came to Dinner(1979); all at the Chichester Festival Theatre
- Gertrude inHamlet,Royal Court, April 1980
- Alice inThe Dance of Death,Royal Exchange Manchester,October 1983
- Janine inInfidelities,at theEdinburgh Festival Fringein August 1985; at the Donmar Warehouse in October 1985; and revived at the Boulevard Theatre in June 1986
- Queen Elizabeth I inMary Stuart,Edinburgh Festival,August 1987
- Miss Singer inExceptions,New End Theatre, Hampstead, July 1988
- Anne inPoor Nanny,King's Head Theatre, March 1989
Radio theatre
[edit]Nora inA Doll's House,BBC Third Programme 1959. Directed by Frederick Bradnum. Cast includedJack Mayand John Gabriel.
Masha inThe Three Sisters/TRI SESTRY,BBC Home Service Radio 1965. Directed by John Tydeman. Cast includedPaul Scofield,Ian McKellen,Lynn RedgraveandWilfrid Lawson.
Notes
[edit]- ^Bennett's death certificate records her as having been born on 24 December 1931. But herOxford Dictionary of National Biographyentry claims that passenger lists from Penang confirm she was actually born in 1926. Bennett was, theDNBgoes on, "reticent about her date of birth" while she was alive.
- ^Her death certificate recorded her age as 58, but this was on the basis of an erroneous birth date. See note a.
References
[edit]- ^abcGray, Dulcie(rev.),"Bennett, (Nora Noel) Jill (1926–1990)",Oxford Dictionary of National Biography,Oxford University Press, 2004; online edition, September 2004. Revised edition, 8 October 2020. Retrieved 27 December 2023.(subscription required)
- ^"Obituaries: Jill Bennett",The Times,6 October 1990, p. 16.
- ^Heilpern, John(2006).John Osborne: a patriot for us.Chatto & Windus/Internet Archive.p.357.ISBN0701167807.
- ^Heilpern, pp. 412–3, 443–4
- ^Upton, Julian (2004).Fallen Stars: Tragic Lives and Lost Careers.Headpress/Critical Vision. p. 117.ISBN978-1900486385.
- ^abHeilpern, p. 444
- ^"OSBORNE Nora Noel Jill otherwise Jill of 23 Gloucester Walk London W8" inWills and Administrations 1991 (England and Wales)(1992), p. 6350
Theatre sources
[edit]- Who’s Who in the Theatre, 17th Edition, Vol. 1.(Gale Research, 1981.)
- 25 Years of the English Stage Company at the Royal Court,Richard Findlater,ed. (Amber Lane Press, 1981.)
- Theatre Record(periodical indexes)
External links
[edit]
- Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
- British film actresses
- British stage actresses
- 1926 births
- 1990 suicides
- People educated at Prior's Field School
- Drug-related suicides in England
- Suicides in Kensington
- Barbiturates-related deaths
- 20th-century British actresses
- Actresses from Penang
- British television actresses
- 1990 deaths