Beryl Reid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beryl Reid OBE
Reid in 1974
Born	(1919-06-17)17 June 1919 Hereford, Herefordshire, England
Died	13 October 1996(1996-10-13) (aged 77) Wexham, Buckinghamshire, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1936–1994
Spouse(s)	Bill Worsley ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1953)​ Derek Franklin ​ ​ (m. 1954; div. 1966)​

Beryl Elizabeth Reid (17 June 1919 – 13 October 1996) was a talented British actress. She was known for her amazing performances on stage, in films, and on television. Beryl won many important awards during her career. These included the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play in 1967 for her role in The Killing of Sister George, the Olivier Award for Best Comedy Performance in 1980 for Born in the Gardens, and the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1982 for Smiley's People. Some of her well-known films include The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954) and The Killing of Sister George (1968).

Early life

Beryl Elizabeth Reid was born on 17 June 1919 in Hereford, England. Her father, Leonard Reid, worked as an estate agent. Her mother was Anne Burton. Beryl's parents were from Scotland. She grew up in Manchester, where she went to Withington and Levenshulme High Schools.

As a child, Beryl became very good friends with Nancy Wrigley. Nancy's mother was a famous singer named Dame Isobel Baillie. Beryl remembered how Dame Isobel would tell them exciting stories. She once said, "you can imagine nine-year-old girls goggle-eyed at six princes serenading her in Hawaii!"

Career highlights

Beryl left school when she was 16. She started her acting career in 1936 as a performer in music halls in Bridlington. Before and during World War II, she performed in many different variety shows and pantomimes. Even though she didn't have formal acting training, she later worked at famous theatres like the National Theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Her first big success came on a BBC radio show called Educating Archie. On the show, she played two popular characters: a mischievous schoolgirl named Monica and a character from Birmingham called "Marlene."

Beryl was known for playing many different types of characters in films and on television. Her performances were usually very well-liked.

• She played a challenging role in the play The Killing of Sister George, which won her a Tony Award. She later acted in the film version of the play in 1968. Her performance in the film was so good that she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award. The play sometimes faced difficulties during its tour, but Beryl's acting was always praised.
• In 1976, Beryl was featured on the TV show This Is Your Life. On the show, famous people are surprised and celebrated for their achievements.
• She played the character Connie Sachs in two TV series: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979) and Smiley's People (1982). For her role in Smiley's People, she won a BAFTA award for Best Actress on Television.
• From 1981 to 1983, Beryl helped present a children's TV show called Get up and Go for Yorkshire Television. Her co-presenter was a green, talking puppet cat named "Mooncat."
• In 1982, she appeared in the popular science fiction show Doctor Who. She played Captain Briggs in three episodes where the Doctor first met the Cybermen.
• Beryl wrote a book about her life called So Much Love in 1984.
• She also appeared in many TV comedies and variety shows, including the BBC's long-running music hall show, The Good Old Days.

Personal life and passing

Beryl Reid was married twice, but she did not have any children. Her second husband, Derek Franklin, was a member of a music group called the Hedley Ward Trio. A book about her life, called Roll Out the Beryl, was published in 2016. It was the first biography written about her.

Beryl passed away on 13 October 1996, at the age of 77. She had severe osteoarthritis and kidney failure. She died in a hospital in Wexham, England, after having complications from knee replacement surgery for her arthritis.

Film and television roles

Beryl Reid had many roles in films and TV shows. Here are some of them:

Films

Television

Images for kids

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  Beryl Reid in 1974

See also

In Spanish: Beryl Reid para niños