Beryl Reid

Beryl Reid (17 June 1920 - 13 October 1996) was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in industrial Manchester, England.

Related Topics:
17 June - 1920 - 13 October - 1996 - Scottish - Manchester, England

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She left home at the age of 16 to go and work in a shop. She lasted 6 weeks.

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She applied for and was accepted in a revue in the Summer season in Bridlington. She had no formal training but joined the Royal National Theatre in London as a comedy actress.

Related Topics:
Bridlington - Royal National Theatre - London

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Her first big success came in the BBC radio show Educating Archie (a ventriloquist - on the radio). She played the naughty schoolgirl, Monica, and later, the Brummie Marlene.

Related Topics:
Educating Archie - Ventriloquist

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Her film roles were few and far between, but always well received. She transferred her Tony award winning performance of the lesbian radio star to the screen in The Killing of Sister George (1968). But she was best known and loved for her (slightly tipsy) older ladies such as in The Beiderbecke Tapes (1987) and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979). She also played Captain Briggs in the Doctor Who story Earthshock.

Related Topics:
The Killing of Sister George - 1968 - The Beiderbecke Tapes - Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - Doctor Who - Earthshock

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