Elizabeth Varley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elizabeth Varley
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Varley in 1930
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| Born |
Elizabeth Susan Douglas-Scott-Montagu
September 26, 1909 |
| Education | St. Margaret's School, Bushey Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1937–1948 |
| Spouse(s) | Arthur Noel Claude Varley |
| Parent(s) | John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu Lady Cecil Kerr |
The Honourable Elizabeth Susan Varley (born Douglas-Scott-Montagu; September 26, 1909 – May 6, 2002) was a talented actress. She was also the daughter of an important person, John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. Elizabeth Varley had a varied career. She worked in acting, writing, and even advertising.
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Early Life and Education
Elizabeth Montagu was born on September 26, 1909, in Beaulieu Abbey, Hampshire, England. She was the second daughter of John Douglas-Scott-Montagu, 2nd Baron Montagu of Beaulieu. Her mother, Lady Cecil Kerr, passed away during the 1918 flu pandemic.
Elizabeth went to St Margaret's School, Bushey. She also attended a finishing school in Lausanne, Switzerland. However, she was not interested in typical high society life. Instead, she chose to become an actress. From 1932, she trained at the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Acting and Creative Work
Elizabeth Varley started her acting career at the Newcastle Repertory Company. She performed in several plays in London's West End theatre district. She also acted in dramas on BBC Radio.
Later, she worked as a personal assistant to the famous conductor Arturo Toscanini. This was when he conducted at the BBC's London Music Festivals in 1937–1938. She also helped Walter Legge create the Philharmonia Orchestra. After World War II, she worked on movie scripts. She helped directors like Alexander Korda.
In 1948, Elizabeth met the writer Graham Greene in Vienna. She showed him parts of the city while he wrote the script for The Third Man. She also introduced Greene to a journalist named Peter Smolka. Smolka shared stories about the black market in Vienna. Elizabeth was also part of the committee for Benjamin Britten's English Opera Group. She even wrote stories for operas by composers like Rolf Liebermann.
Adventures in Europe
Elizabeth traveled a lot across Europe between 1935 and 1939. She also studied at a piano school in Switzerland. Once, at the German consulate in St. Gallen, she was asked about her background. She became angry and swept items off a desk, including a picture of Hitler. Her passport was taken away.
At the start of World War II, Elizabeth Montagu went to France. She worked as an ambulance driver. When her group had to leave Bordeaux, she refused to go. She hid at a friend's house for several months. On a train to Switzerland, she realized she was being watched. She asked two salesmen for help at the next station. She managed to escape by hiding under boxes in their car.
While working at the British Embassy in Berne, Elizabeth translated important information. This information came from inside Germany during the war. Her work helped the British understand what was happening.
Career in Advertising
In the 1960s, Elizabeth Varley started her own company called Francis-Montagu. This company created advertisements for television. They worked with well-known brands like Ryvita and Black Magic chocolates.
Involvement in Politics
Elizabeth's experiences made her care deeply about fairness for everyone. She became involved with the women's committee of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. This group worked to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.
Personal Life
On August 29, 1962, Elizabeth became the fourth wife of Colonel Arthur Noel Claude Varley. He was the founder of an advertising agency. They did not have any children together.
Elizabeth wrote a book about her life called Honourable Rebel: The Memoirs of Elizabeth Montagu (later Elizabeth Varley). It was published in 2003. A movie about her life, also called Honourable Rebel, was released in 2015.
