Conny Stuart
Encyclopedia
Conny Stuart pseudonym
of Cornelia van Meijgaard, was a Dutch actress, singer, and cabaretière.
and grew up in The Hague
, near the Vredespaleis. Her father was the administrator of the baron
.
During her education at the HBS
Bleyenburg she took on the name "Stuart" and took piano lessons. In this period, she got the nickname "Puck". Stuart started her career as chansonnière and performed with the band of Freddy Johnson
. On July 25, 1939, she made her radio debut.
In the Second World War, she met Wim Sonneveld
, and began to perform in his ensemble. Sonneveld stimulated her comic qualities, for instance by letting his stage writer Hella Haasse
write a farcical song like "Yvonne de spionne" for her. In the 1950s she became the leading lady of the show. Annie M.G. Schmidt, who wrote for the shows in those days, made sure she at least had one solo per show. She also could be heard in popular comical radio shows like Mimosa and Koek en ei.
In those years she was married to Henri Hofman. They had two sons. In 1957 she divorced and married fellow actor Joop Doderer
. They divorced in 1960.
From the 1960s on, she became one of The Netherlands' greatest musical stars. She mainly acted in the musicals of Annie M.G. Schmidt and Harry Bannink
, including their first, Heerlijk duurt het langst from 1965. The show was an incredible success, and Schmidt and Bannink wrote four more musicals for her. She ended her career in 1985 with her stage show De Stuart Story, accompanied by Louis van Dijk
, where she performed old success songs and new songs written for her by Schmidt.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Cornelia van Meijgaard, was a Dutch actress, singer, and cabaretière.
Biography
Stuart was born in WijheWijhe
Wijhe is a village in the Dutch province of Overijssel. It is located in the municipality of Olst-Wijhe, about 12 km south of Zwolle on the banks of the river IJssel.Wijhe was a separate municipality until 2001, when it merged with Olst....
and grew up in The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, near the Vredespaleis. Her father was the administrator of the baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
.
During her education at the HBS
Hogere burgerschool
The Hogere burgerschool or HBS was a secondary school type in the Netherlands, existing between 1863 and 1974. The school, with a five or sometimes six year program, was continued in 1968 as havo and vwo. The last hbs diplomas were given out in 1974.-External links:*...
Bleyenburg she took on the name "Stuart" and took piano lessons. In this period, she got the nickname "Puck". Stuart started her career as chansonnière and performed with the band of Freddy Johnson
Freddy Johnson
Freddy Johnson was an American jazz pianist and singer who gained popularity in the 1930s playing mostly swing style....
. On July 25, 1939, she made her radio debut.
In the Second World War, she met Wim Sonneveld
Wim Sonneveld
Willem 'Wim' Sonneveld was a Dutch cabaret artist and singer. Together with Toon Hermans and Wim Kan, he is considered to be one of the 'Great Three' of Dutch cabaret. Sonneveld is generally viewed as a Dutch cultural icon for his work and legacy in theatre, musicals and music...
, and began to perform in his ensemble. Sonneveld stimulated her comic qualities, for instance by letting his stage writer Hella Haasse
Hella Haasse
Hélène "Hella" Serafia Haasse was a Dutch writer, often referred to as "the Grand Old Lady" of Dutch literature, and whose novel Oeroeg was a staple for generations of Dutch schoolchildren. Her internationally acclaimed Magnus opus is "Heren van de Thee", translated to "The Tea Lords"...
write a farcical song like "Yvonne de spionne" for her. In the 1950s she became the leading lady of the show. Annie M.G. Schmidt, who wrote for the shows in those days, made sure she at least had one solo per show. She also could be heard in popular comical radio shows like Mimosa and Koek en ei.
In those years she was married to Henri Hofman. They had two sons. In 1957 she divorced and married fellow actor Joop Doderer
Joop Doderer
Johan Heinrich Doderer was a Dutch actor, well known for his role as the tramp Swiebertje in the eponymous television series. The series ran for 17 seasons between 1955 and 1975, and was broadcast by the NCRV...
. They divorced in 1960.
From the 1960s on, she became one of The Netherlands' greatest musical stars. She mainly acted in the musicals of Annie M.G. Schmidt and Harry Bannink
Harry Bannink
Harry Bannink was a Dutch composer, arranger and pianist. He wrote over 3,000 songs....
, including their first, Heerlijk duurt het langst from 1965. The show was an incredible success, and Schmidt and Bannink wrote four more musicals for her. She ended her career in 1985 with her stage show De Stuart Story, accompanied by Louis van Dijk
Louis van Dijk
Louis van Dijk is a Dutch pianist. He studied solo piano at the Amsterdam Conservatorium....
, where she performed old success songs and new songs written for her by Schmidt.