Elisabeth Croft
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Croft was an English
actress. Her best known role was playing postmistress Miss Edith Tatum in the ITV
soap opera
Crossroads between 1966 and 1983.
. Withdrawn as a child, she nonetheless chose to be an actress. In the 1930s she landed roles in repertory theatre and co-starred with Seymour Hicks
in Vintage Wine
in the Daly's Theatre
, 1934. She was married and had a son and a daughter. Croft died on 13 January 2003; on that day a new version of Crossroads was released.
soap opera
Crossroads, playing Miss Tatum. The soap originally featured actress Beryl Johnstone as postmistress Kitty Jarvis, sister of the series lead, motel owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon
). Following Johnstone's death in 1969, the role of Miss Tatum was increased and she was coaxed from her life as a recluse and took over the running of the shop from Kitty, becoming one of the show's leading peripheral characters as the location increasingly became a focal point in stories. Croft later summed up her character: "Miss Tatum didn't suffer fools gladly and was a bit sharp at times, but she was a wonderful character". The role of Miss Tatum was quietly phased out following producer Reg Watson's departure and Croft had left the series by 1979. Although critics disliked the show for the show, viewers enjoyed it. Croft said of it: "I suppose you would call it a quiet, humdrum show". A Crossroads DVD was published, which showed some of the best moments from the soap, some of which were Croft's scenes.
, Stratford-upon-Avon
. She apepared in many plays whilst there, such as Romeo and Juliet
and The Merry Wives of Windsor
. She apepeared in the Armchair Thriller
production The Limbo Connection. Her last appearance in television was in the BAFTA winning The Dress in 1984 and after this she had a long retirement.
.
Film
Stage/Theatre
TV commercials
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. Her best known role was playing postmistress Miss Edith Tatum in the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Crossroads between 1966 and 1983.
Early and personal life
Croft was born on 22 September 1907 in WindermereWindermere
Windermere is the largest natural lake of England. It is also a name used in a number of places, including:-Australia:* Lake Windermere , a reservoir, Australian Capital Territory * Lake Windermere...
. Withdrawn as a child, she nonetheless chose to be an actress. In the 1930s she landed roles in repertory theatre and co-starred with Seymour Hicks
Seymour Hicks
Sir Arthur Seymour Hicks , better known as Seymour Hicks, was a British actor, music hall performer, playwright, screenwriter, theatre manager and producer. He married the actress Ellaline Terriss in 1893...
in Vintage Wine
Vintage Wine
Vintage Wine is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Seymour Hicks, Claire Luce, Eva Moore and Judy Gunn.-Cast:* Seymour Hicks - Charles Popinot* Claire Luce - Nina Popinot* Eva Moore - Josephine Popinot...
in the Daly's Theatre
Daly's Theatre
Daly's Theatre was a theatre in the City of Westminster. It was located at 2 Cranbourn Street, just off Leicester Square. It opened on 27 June 1893, and was demolished in 1937.-Early years:...
, 1934. She was married and had a son and a daughter. Croft died on 13 January 2003; on that day a new version of Crossroads was released.
Crossroads
In 1964, Croft landed her first television role, a part in the ITVITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
Crossroads, playing Miss Tatum. The soap originally featured actress Beryl Johnstone as postmistress Kitty Jarvis, sister of the series lead, motel owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon
Noele Gordon
Noele Gordon was an English film and television actress.- Early life :Gordon's father was an engineer in the Merchant Navy and she was born in East Ham, London. After attending convent school at Forest Gate, she was taught to dance by the late Maude Wells and later spent several years living in...
). Following Johnstone's death in 1969, the role of Miss Tatum was increased and she was coaxed from her life as a recluse and took over the running of the shop from Kitty, becoming one of the show's leading peripheral characters as the location increasingly became a focal point in stories. Croft later summed up her character: "Miss Tatum didn't suffer fools gladly and was a bit sharp at times, but she was a wonderful character". The role of Miss Tatum was quietly phased out following producer Reg Watson's departure and Croft had left the series by 1979. Although critics disliked the show for the show, viewers enjoyed it. Croft said of it: "I suppose you would call it a quiet, humdrum show". A Crossroads DVD was published, which showed some of the best moments from the soap, some of which were Croft's scenes.
Other work
In 1940, Croft began working for Royal Shakespeare CompanyRoyal Shakespeare Company
The Royal Shakespeare Company is a major British theatre company, based in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England. The company employs 700 staff and produces around 20 productions a year from its home in Stratford-upon-Avon and plays regularly in London, Newcastle-upon-Tyne and on tour across...
, Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. She apepared in many plays whilst there, such as Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
and The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life...
. She apepeared in the Armchair Thriller
Armchair Thriller
Armchair Thriller is a British television programme, broadcast on ITV in two series in 1978 and 1980. Owing something to some of the off-shoots of the earlier Armchair Theatre, the new series used scripts adapted from published novels and stories. Although not properly a horror series it included...
production The Limbo Connection. Her last appearance in television was in the BAFTA winning The Dress in 1984 and after this she had a long retirement.
Awards and nominations
She played the 'Old Lady' whilst in the cast of The Dress which won a BAFTA award in 1984 alongside Michael PalinMichael Palin
Michael Edward Palin, CBE FRGS is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries....
.
Filmography
Television| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Wars of the Roses Wars of the Roses (disambiguation) The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars fought in Medieval England.The War or Wars of the Roses may also refer to:*The War of the Roses , a novel by Warren Adler... |
Richard III Richard III of England Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty... , Edward IV, Henry VI Henry VI of England Henry VI was King of England from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. Until 1437, his realm was governed by regents. Contemporaneous accounts described him as peaceful and pious, not suited for the violent dynastic civil wars, known as the Wars... |
3 Episodes |
| 1966–79, 1983 | Crossroads | Miss Tatum | Series regular |
| 1971 | Crossroads: A Celebration | ||
| 1976 | Within These Walls Within These Walls Within These Walls is a British television drama programme made by London Weekend Television for ITV and shown between 1974 and 1978. It portrayed life in HMP Stone Park, a fictional women's prison... |
Agatha Mason | 1 Episode |
| 1978 | Armchair Thriller Armchair Thriller Armchair Thriller is a British television programme, broadcast on ITV in two series in 1978 and 1980. Owing something to some of the off-shoots of the earlier Armchair Theatre, the new series used scripts adapted from published novels and stories. Although not properly a horror series it included... |
Mrs. Sangster | |
| 1981 | BBC2 Playhouse | Neighbour | |
| 1985 | Crossroads Revisited | Herself | TV Documentary |
| 1994 | Crossroads: 30 Years On |
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Dress | Old Lady |
Stage/Theatre
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Vintage Wine Vintage Wine Vintage Wine is a 1935 British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards and starring Seymour Hicks, Claire Luce, Eva Moore and Judy Gunn.-Cast:* Seymour Hicks - Charles Popinot* Claire Luce - Nina Popinot* Eva Moore - Josephine Popinot... |
Minor Role |
| 1940 | Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a... |
Nurse Nurse (Romeo and Juliet) The Nurse is a major character in William Shakespeare's classic drama Romeo and Juliet. It is revealed later in the play by Lord Capulet that the Nurse's real name might be Angelica . She is the personal servant, guardian of Juliet Capulet, and has been since Juliet was born... |
| The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merry Wives of Windsor The Merry Wives of Windsor is a comedy by William Shakespeare, first published in 1602, though believed to have been written prior to 1597. It features the fat knight Sir John Falstaff, and is Shakespeare's only play to deal exclusively with contemporary Elizabethan era English middle class life... |
Mistress Quickly | |
| 1964 | Henry IV Part 1 | Various Roles |
TV commercials
| Title |
|---|
| After Eight mints After Eight After Eight Thin Mints are a confectionery product described as "mint enrobed in dark chocolate" and are intended, as the name suggests, to be used as after-dinner mints. They were created in 1962 by Rowntree & Company Limited... |
| Spiller's Memory Lane Cakes |