Patricia Roc facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Patricia Roc
Born	Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold (1915-06-07)7 June 1915 Hampstead, London, England
Died	30 December 2003(2003-12-30) (aged 88) Locarno, Switzerland
Other names	Felicia Riese
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1938 – 1962
Spouse(s)	Dr. Murray Laing ​ ​ (m. 1939; div. 1944)​ André Thomas ​ ​ (m. 1949; died 1954)​ Walter Reif ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 1986)​
Children	1

Patricia Roc was a famous English film actress. She was born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold on June 7, 1915. She became very popular in British movies, especially during World War II. People loved her in exciting films called Gainsborough melodramas.

Some of her most well-known movies include Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945) and The Wicked Lady (1945). She also starred in Millions Like Us (1943). A movie studio boss, J. Arthur Rank, even called her "the perfect British beauty." Patricia Roc mostly acted in British films. She made only one movie in Hollywood, called Canyon Passage (1946). She stopped acting much after 1954, but she did appear in the first episode of the TV show The Saint. She passed away on December 30, 2003.

Early Life and Name Change

Patricia Roc was born in Hampstead, London. Her birth name was Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold. When she was young, her mother married André Magnus Riese. He adopted Felicia and her sister. So, Felicia became known as Felicia Riese. She did not find out she was adopted until she was much older.

She went to private schools in London and Paris. Later, she was accepted into the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1937. This is a famous school for actors.

A theatre producer named Sydney Carroll helped her start her acting career. He thought "Felicia Riese" sounded too foreign for the stage. He suggested she change her name to something short and easy to remember. He suggested "Rock" because of a film studio. Patricia liked the idea but wanted to drop the "k" to make it even shorter. She chose "Patricia" because it was similar to her first name, Felicia.

Becoming a Film Star

Patricia Roc started acting on stage in London in 1938. A famous film producer, Alexander Korda, saw her. He gave her a small part in a movie called The Divorce of Lady X (1938). Soon after, she got a bigger role as a princess in The Rebel Son.

She appeared in many films in the late 1930s and early 1940s. These included The Gaunt Stranger (1939) and A Window in London (1940). Her roles slowly became more important. She even starred with singer Vera Lynn in We'll Meet Again (1943).

Rising to Fame

Patricia Roc became a top star in Millions Like Us (1943). This movie was made by Gainsborough Studios. It was a big success! Gainsborough then gave her another main role in Two Thousand Women (1944). In this film, she played a nun held captive by Germans. These movies helped her become a symbol of how women's roles changed during the war.

She also acted with other big stars from Gainsborough, like Margaret Lockwood and Stewart Granger. They were in Love Story (1944), which was very popular. Patricia played a jealous rival in the film. She later said that even though their characters fought, she and Margaret Lockwood were good friends. Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945) was another hit for her.

Her most successful film was The Wicked Lady (1945). In this movie, Patricia played the best friend of Margaret Lockwood's character. It was the biggest movie in British cinemas in 1946.

Patricia Roc also went to Hollywood for a short time. She filmed a Western movie called Canyon Passage (1946). This was part of an agreement between British and American film studios. While filming, she was linked to actor Ronald Reagan. Even her co-star, Susan Hayward, said Patricia was "a helluva dame." Even though she got good reviews, American audiences didn't connect with her as much.

After Hollywood, Patricia returned to Britain. She made The Brothers (1947) and So Well Remembered (1947). She also starred in Jassy (1947) with Margaret Lockwood, which was a huge success. Another film, When the Bough Breaks (1947), also did well.

In 1947, British movie fans voted Patricia Roc the sixth most popular British star. The next year, she was still in the top ten.

Later Career

Patricia Roc made two films in France: Return to Life (1949) and The Man on the Eiffel Tower. She then came back to Britain for a comedy called The Perfect Woman (1949).

In August 1949, she married French cameraman André Thomas. She continued to make films, including Black Jack (1950) and Fugitive from Montreal (1951). She also starred with Ray Milland in Circle of Danger (1951) and in Something Money Can't Buy (1952).

Her later films included The Widow (1955) and The Hypnotist (1957). After her second husband, André Thomas, passed away, she made only a few more films and TV appearances. Her last acting role was in The Saint in 1962.

Later Life

In 1964, Patricia Roc married a businessman named Walter Reif. She then retired from acting. She mostly stayed out of the public eye. In 1975, she was in the news for a small incident at a store in London. It is thought she might have done this to get public attention again.

Soon after, she and her husband moved to Switzerland. Walter Reif passed away in 1986. Patricia Roc died 17 years later in 2003.

Filmography