Rita Tushingham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Rita Tushingham
Tushingham in 2008
Born	(1942-03-14) 14 March 1942 (age 83) Garston, Liverpool, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1961–present
Spouse(s)	Terry Bicknell (m. 1962; div. 1976) Ousama Rawi ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 1996)​
Partner(s)	Hans-Heinrich Ziemann (1994–present)
Children	2

Rita Tushingham (born on March 14, 1942) is a famous English actress. She is well-known for her main roles in movies like A Taste of Honey (1961), The Leather Boys (1964), The Knack ...and How to Get It (1965), and Doctor Zhivago (1965).

For her role in A Taste of Honey, she won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress. She also won awards for being a promising new actress at the BAFTA Awards and Golden Globe Awards. Her more recent film appearances include An Awfully Big Adventure (1995) and Last Night in Soho (2021).

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Rita Tushingham was born in Garston, a part of Liverpool, England, on March 14, 1942. Her father owned three grocery shops. She grew up in the Hunt's Cross area of the city.

Rita went to Heatherlea School and La Sagesse School. She also studied shorthand and typing at a secretarial school. From a young age, she dreamed of becoming an actress. She trained at the Shelagh Elliott-Clarke School. Before becoming a film star, she worked as an assistant stage manager at the Liverpool Playhouse.

A Career in Film and TV

Rita Tushingham's first movie role was in A Taste of Honey in 1961. She later shared that the movie surprised audiences. It showed the first interracial kiss on screen. The film was even banned in some countries because it showed different kinds of people and relationships.

Rita has acted in many other movies. These include Girl with Green Eyes (1964), The Leather Boys (1964), The Knack ...and How to Get It (1965), and Doctor Zhivago (1965). She also appeared in The Trap (1966) and Smashing Time (1967). In 1977, she co-starred in the TV movie Green Eyes.

In the 1960s, Rita also performed in several plays. She acted at the Royal Court Theatre for the English Stage Company. Some of these plays included The Changeling and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

Rita has won a Golden Globe award and a BAFTA Award. She was also a judge at the 22nd Berlin International Film Festival in 1972. She was a judge again at the 40th Berlin International Film Festival in 1990.

Her more recent roles include the movie Being Julia (2004). She also appeared in the TV show Marple in 2006. In 2014, she was in the zombie drama In The Flesh. In 2020, she appeared in the BBC One show The Pale Horse, based on a book by Agatha Christie.

Mentions in Pop Culture

Rita Tushingham has been featured in popular culture. In 1984, the band The Smiths used her image on their single "Hand In Glove". Clips from her movie The Leather Boys were used in The Smiths' music video for "Girlfriend in a Coma" in 1987.

She is also mentioned in songs by other bands. These include "L. Wells" by Franz Ferdinand. She was also featured on the TV show This Is Your Life in 1999.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Tushingham in London (2006)

Rita Tushingham married photographer Terry Bicknell in 1962. They had two daughters, Dodonna and Aisha. They later divorced in 1976. In 1981, she married cinematographer Ousama Rawi. They lived in Canada for eight years before separating.

Since 1994, Rita has been with German writer Hans-Heinrich Ziemann. She divides her time between Germany and London. As of 2020, she lives in London near her daughter Aisha and her grandchildren.

In 2005, Rita's daughter Aisha was diagnosed with breast cancer. Aisha recovered and later had a son. After this, Rita became very active in supporting breast cancer awareness. She is a strong supporter of Cancer Research UK's Relay For Life. She has given many interviews to help people learn more about breast cancer.

In July 2009, Rita received an award from Liverpool John Moores University. This was for her amazing contributions to acting. She has also said she is a "lifelong football fan" and supports Liverpool F.C..

In June 2022, Rita was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 show Desert Island Discs. She chose songs like "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Bridge over Troubled Water". Her book choice was Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable.

Awards and Recognitions

Rita Tushingham was also made an Honorary Associate of London Film School.

Images for kids

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  Tushingham in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Rita Tushingham para niños