Charlotte Mitchell


Charlotte Mitchell was an English actress and poet.

Biography

In the 1950s she provided lyrics, sketches, and occasionally acted in revues on London's West End. She was especially successful in her ventures providing lyrics for Madeleine Dring in Airs on a Shoestring, Pay the Piper, and Fresh Airs, all productions of Laurier Lister.
She was once the girlfriend of Peter Sellers, and appeared in The Goon Show episodes Ye Bandit of Sherwood Forest as Maid Marian and Tales of Montmartre as Seagoon's love interest, Fifi. Charlotte Mitchell was married to the actor Philip Guard, from whom she separated in 1968, and was the mother of three children: actors Christopher Guard and Dominic Guard and animator and novelist Candy Guard. Charlotte lived in West London during the later part of her life and continued to be active as a poet.
She appeared on BBC Radio with Ian Carmichael in The Small, Intricate Life of Gerald C. Potter. Carmichael played Gerald C. Potter, mystery writer, while she played Diana, his wife, who, under the pseudonym of Miss Magnolia Badminton, wrote romantic novels. She also played, on radio, the Dowager Duchess in the radio adaption of Strong Poison that starred Ian Carmichael as Wimsey, and the character of Kath Miller in the BBC Radio 2 daily serial Waggoners' Walk. On television, she played Amy Winthrop the housekeeper in The Adventures of Black Beauty, and Monica Spencer in And Mother Makes Five.
Her poetry was published in collections such as Twelve Burnt Saucepans, Looking Round Dangerously, I Want to Go Home and Just in Case. These provided the basis of a series of popular programmes on BBC Radio 4 in which she read her own work. Her poetry is often requested and read on BBC Radio 4's Poetry Please, and one of her poems was chosen by Judi Dench and Michael Williams in their joint BBC Radio 4 programme With Great Pleasure.

Death

Mitchell died in Chiswick, London, on 2 May 2012, aged 85, from pneumonia. She had previously battled breast cancer and myeloma.

Filmography

Films

The Romantic Age – Charlotte The Happiest Days of Your Life – Ethel Laughter in Paradise – EthelThe Man in the White Suit – Mill GirlLady Godiva Rides Again – LucilleCurtain Up – Daphne RayTime Bomb – Buffet Waitress The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan – CharlotteStreet Corner – Lily Propert Lost – Farmer's Wife The Bridal Path – Mrs. Mavis Bruce Village of the Damned – Janet PawleDentist in the Chair – Woman in SurgeryNearly a Nasty Accident – Miss ChamberlainDentist on the Job – Mrs. BurkeThe Blood on Satan's Claw – EllenJim, the World's Greatest – School SecretaryThe French Lieutenant's Woman – Mrs. TranterOut of the Darkness – Mrs. BarrowThe First Kangaroos – Mrs. Oaks

Television

Not in Front of the Children – MaryDombey and Son - Polly "Richards" ToodlePersuasion – Mrs. ClayThe Adventures of Black Beauty – Amy WinthropThe Kids from 47A ...And Mother Makes Five – Monica SpencerIn This House of Brede – Mrs. FraserMiss Jones and Son – MumShades of Darkness – Mrs. BlinderReturn to Treasure Island – Mrs. HawkinsThe Woman He Loved – Lady ChatfieldSelling Hitler – Lady Katherine GilesPond Life – IvyHeartbeat – Granny Bellamy