Annette Mills
Encyclopedia
Annette Mills was an English
actress, dancer and broadcaster
.
She was born Edith Mabel Mills in Wandsworth
, London
. She had originally intended to become a concert pianist and organist, before becoming a dancer, subsequently finding fame as an international exhibition dancer. However, fate struck her a cruel blow when she was forced to retire from professional dancing after breaking a leg. That career over, she turned her hand to songwriting and penned the two popular tunes "Boomps-a-Daisy" and "Home, Sweet Home Again", amongst many others. Some time later, Mills returned to the work of cabaret and revues, and it was while she was on her way to entertain the troops during the Second World War that she was involved in a horrific car accident, which left her hospitalised for the next three years.
Mills is best remembered for being the partner of the puppet "Muffin", in the successful BBC Television
children's series Muffin the Mule
between 1946 and 1955. She wrote the songs and the music, while puppeteer Ann Hogarth wrote the scripts. She made her TV debut in June 1946, when she first appeared with Muffin the Mule, who used to clip-clop around on top of a piano, whilst Mills played a tune. She wrote several Muffin the Mule songbooks and an adventure tale about him, as well as making records.
Later, Mills and Muffin were joined in the BBC's 'For the Children' spot by Prudence the kitten, Mr Peregrine the penguin, Sally the sea-lion and Louise the lamb. Although all of the puppets captured the hearts of millions of young viewers, it was Muffin that stole the show. The press commented how he had fired children's imaginations - paving the way for other puppet characters, such as Sooty
and Sweep.
Muffin's last TV appearance was on 2 January 1955. She died eight days later, at the age of 60, after an operation. She had suffered a heart attack
.
Her younger brother Sir John Mills became a successful actor and her granddaughter is the actress Susie Blake
. She was the aunt of Hayley Mills
and Juliet Mills. Annette Mills was married twice, with a daughter by her first husband and her second marriage, to Robert Sielle, ending in divorce.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress, dancer and broadcaster
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
.
She was born Edith Mabel Mills in Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She had originally intended to become a concert pianist and organist, before becoming a dancer, subsequently finding fame as an international exhibition dancer. However, fate struck her a cruel blow when she was forced to retire from professional dancing after breaking a leg. That career over, she turned her hand to songwriting and penned the two popular tunes "Boomps-a-Daisy" and "Home, Sweet Home Again", amongst many others. Some time later, Mills returned to the work of cabaret and revues, and it was while she was on her way to entertain the troops during the Second World War that she was involved in a horrific car accident, which left her hospitalised for the next three years.
Mills is best remembered for being the partner of the puppet "Muffin", in the successful BBC Television
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
children's series Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule
Muffin the Mule is a puppet character in British television programmes for children. The original programmes featuring the character were presented by Annette Mills, sister of John Mills, & aunt to Hayley Mills, and broadcast live by the BBC from their studios at Alexandra Palace from 1946 to 1952...
between 1946 and 1955. She wrote the songs and the music, while puppeteer Ann Hogarth wrote the scripts. She made her TV debut in June 1946, when she first appeared with Muffin the Mule, who used to clip-clop around on top of a piano, whilst Mills played a tune. She wrote several Muffin the Mule songbooks and an adventure tale about him, as well as making records.
Later, Mills and Muffin were joined in the BBC's 'For the Children' spot by Prudence the kitten, Mr Peregrine the penguin, Sally the sea-lion and Louise the lamb. Although all of the puppets captured the hearts of millions of young viewers, it was Muffin that stole the show. The press commented how he had fired children's imaginations - paving the way for other puppet characters, such as Sooty
Sooty
Sooty is a British glove puppet bear and TV character popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. The children's television show which bears his name has continued in various forms since the 1950s and, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the...
and Sweep.
Muffin's last TV appearance was on 2 January 1955. She died eight days later, at the age of 60, after an operation. She had suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.
Her younger brother Sir John Mills became a successful actor and her granddaughter is the actress Susie Blake
Susie Blake
Susie Blake is a British actress.-Personal life:Blake trained at the Arts Educational School and LAMDA in London. She is the granddaughter of the actress Annette Mills and a great - niece of the actor Sir John Mills...
. She was the aunt of Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills
Hayley Mills is an English actress. The daughter of John Mills and Mary Hayley Bell, and sister of actress Juliet Mills, Mills began her acting career as a child and was hailed as a promising newcomer, winning the BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer for Tiger Bay , the Academy Juvenile Award...
and Juliet Mills. Annette Mills was married twice, with a daughter by her first husband and her second marriage, to Robert Sielle, ending in divorce.
External links
- Annette Mills at the National Portrait Gallery
- Muffin the Mule at H2G2
- Anne Pimlott Baker, "Mills, Annette (1894–1955)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 28 Oct 2006