Emily Perry (English actress) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Emily Perry
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| Born |
Patricia Emily Perry
28 June 1907 Torquay, Devon, England
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| Died | 19 February 2008 (aged 100) Twickenham, London, England
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| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1987–2004 |
Emily Perry was an English actress and dancer. She was born on June 28, 1907, in Torquay, England. Emily Perry was famous for playing Madge Allsop. Madge was the quiet "bridesmaid" to Dame Edna Everage. She was from Palmerston North, New Zealand. Emily Perry passed away on February 19, 2008.
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Emily Perry's Early Life and Career
Emily Perry first performed on stage when she was only four years old. This happened at the Theatre Royal in Birmingham. Her father was an accountant. He was surprised that she wanted to be an actress. But he still paid for her dance lessons. He even let her use their home for her first audition.
Perry later worked as a singer, dancer, and actress. She performed in pantomimes and music halls. She played the role of Susan in The Desert Song for twelve years. She also toured with shows like The Student Prince and The Belle of New York.
Performing During Wartime
During World War II, Emily Perry performed for soldiers. She worked with the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA). This group provided entertainment for British armed forces.
Around 1960, she started her own dance school. It was called The Patricia Perry Academy of Dancing. The school was in Crystal Palace, South London. She ran the school for 25 years. In 1984, she decided to return to acting. There was another actress named Patricia Perry. So, she started using her middle name, Emily, as her stage name.
Becoming Madge Allsop
The character of Madge Allsop was created in the 1960s. This was done by Barry Humphries, who played Dame Edna. At first, Madge was only mentioned by Dame Edna. She did not appear on stage until the late 1970s. Another actress, Madeleine Orr, played Madge then.
Orr passed away in 1979. So, for the 1987 film Les Patterson Saves the World, Connie Hobbs played Madge. Later that year, Barry Humphries wanted to find the perfect Madge. He auditioned many older actresses for his new TV show. This show was called The Dame Edna Experience.
Finding the Perfect Madge
Humphries said that many actresses tried too hard. They were too dramatic or silly. He wanted someone who seemed quiet and overlooked. Emily Perry later said about her audition, "I did nothing at the audition, and I've done nothing since." Humphries praised Perry for her special talent. He said she could "do nothing in the face of overwhelming provocation." This meant she was great at staying silent and still.
Emily Perry's Madge Allsop was very popular. She played Madge in many of Humphries' TV specials. These included One more Audience with Dame Edna Everage (1988) and A Night on Mount Edna (1990). She also appeared in Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch (1992) and Dame Edna's Hollywood (1993). Madge became a fan favorite. She even appeared in a coffee commercial in the late 1980s.
Madge's Special Moments
In 1997, Emily Perry made a memorable appearance as Madge. This was for a Comic Relief TV special. She danced and sang "Today I Feel So Happy." The famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber was supposed to play the piano. But he didn't know the music. So, someone from the audience played instead. Webber just turned the pages of the music. This was the only time Madge Allsop spoke on camera. The audience loved it!
Perry's last TV appearance as Madge was in 2003. It was a small role in Dame Edna: Live at the Palace. Emily Perry was 96 years old then. In the show, Madge was 'caught' in bed with rock star Ozzy Osbourne.
Other Acting Roles
Besides her work with Dame Edna, Emily Perry had few other roles. She appeared in an episode of Last of the Summer Wine in 1995. She played a character named "Mrs. Broadbent." She also appeared as herself in a show called Night of a Thousand Faces (2001).
Later Life and Passing
Emily Perry stopped acting in 2004. She moved to Brinsworth House in Twickenham. This is a home for entertainers. She passed away there on February 19, 2008. Emily Perry was 100 years old.
