Polly Perkins
Polly Perkins | |
|---|---|
| Born | Gillian Nessie Arnold 31 May 1943 London, England |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer, writer |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Children | Tim Arnold,Toby Tobias |
Polly Perkins(bornGillian Nessie Arnold,31 May 1943) is a British actress, singer and writer. Perkins rose to fame in the 1960s as a popstar, going on to regularly appear in theatre andcabaretthroughout the UK. She is known for playingRose Cotton,the half-sister ofDot Cotton(June Brown), in theBBCsoap operaEastEndersbetween 2011 and 2012.
Early and personal life
[edit]Perkins was bornGillian Nessie Arnoldto theatrical parents Dickie and Mitzi, who both had a successful career performing a cabaret/vaudeville act. Dickie's second wife, Dottie Arnold, was also a successful variety performer.[1]Perkins has two children, singer songwriterTim Arnoldand film producer/director Toby Tobias.[2]She now identifies as a lesbian. In 1985, Perkins moved to Spain and continues to live there with her long-term partner.
Career
[edit]Perkins started her career performing at theWindmill TheatreinSoho,[3]when still in her teens, she first appeared nude aged 15.[citation needed]
During the 1960s, Perkins was a teen pop star, aBBCthespian and the first compere of the cult TV showReady Steady Go!.She starred in stage musicals as diverse asSalad DaysandLet My People Come,and appeared in episodes ofMinder,The Sweeney,Rules of Justice andNanny.[4]Perkins was the leading lady in many West End cabaret clubs including The Latin Quarter, Blue Angel, The Celebrite, The Gaslight, The Directors Lodge, The Gargoyle, The Piano Bar and Madame Jojo's.
She also ran and performed in her own club "Polly's Candlelight" in Mayfair throughout 1977/78.
Perkins was cast as Trish Valentine, a washed-upnightclub singer,in the BBC soap operaEldoradofrom 1992 to 1993.[5]In 2011, she returned to the stage in the debut performance of songs from her son's new musicalSecrets of SohoatThe Phoenix Artist Club.[6]
In May 2011, it was announced by that Perkins would be joining the cast of BBC soap operaEastEndersasRose,the estranged half-sister ofDot Branning.Speaking of her casting, Perkins said "I am thrilled to be joining the cast ofEastEnders,the show is a real British institution with an extraordinary creative team. I'm really looking forward to working with June again, who I have been friends with for over 30 years. "[7]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]- BBC Sunday Night Play-She's A Free Country
- The Colony
- Menace
- The Sweeney
- Flickers
- Rules of Justice
- Nanny
- Play For Today-Wayne And Albert
- Eldorado
- EastEnders(2011–12)
Stage
[edit]- Salad Days
- Let My People Come
- Blood Brothers (Salon Varietés Production)
Film
[edit]- Take It or Leave It
- The Mumbo Jumbo
Discography
[edit]Albums
[edit]- Pop Lore According to the Academy(1969) - Reissued on CD and is available digitally.
- Liberated Woman(1973)
- Polly(1977)
Singles
[edit]- I Reckon You(1963)
- Sweet As Honey(1963)
- Young Lover(1964)
- I Went By Your House Today(1964)
- Munching The Candy(1969)
- Coochie Coo(1973)
Bibliography
[edit]- Songs for the Liberated Woman(1973)
- Far Too Dainty(2003)
References
[edit]- ^"Rothwell's Dottie Arnold".Rothwell Today. 3 December 2008.Retrieved27 May2011.[permanent dead link]
- ^"Risque Secrets of Soho with a bit of Britpop".Camden New Journal.11 February 2011.Retrieved27 May2011.
- ^"Polly Perkins, 25 years on – 'Brechtian' musical role for former Windmill Girl Gillian Arnold".Camden New Journal.1 April 2011.Retrieved27 May2011.
- ^"My Kind of Day".Gay Times.October 1985. Archived fromthe originalon 23 October 2009.Retrieved27 May2011.
- ^Drama Faces.BBC. Accessed 6 April 2012.Archived9 July 2011 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Polly Perkins-25 years on".Camden New Journal.1 April 2011.
- ^Kilkelly, Daniel (27 May 2011)."EastEnders casts Dot Branning's sister".Digital Spy.Hachette Filipacchi UK.Retrieved27 May2011.
External links
[edit]| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
