Evelyn Laye
Encyclopedia
Evelyn Laye, CBE was an English theatre and film actress.
, London, Laye made her first stage appearance in August 1915 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton
as Nang-Ping in Mr. Wu
, and her first London appearance at the East Ham Palace
on 24 April 1916, aged 15, in the revue Honi Soit, in which she subsequently toured.
For the first few years of her career she mainly played in musical comedy and operetta
, including Going Up
in 1918. Among her successes during the 1920s were Phi-Phi
(1922), Madame Pompadour
(1923), The Dollar Princess
, Blue Eyes (1928) and Lilac Time
. She made her Broadway
debut in 1929 in the American première of Noel Coward
's Bitter Sweet
and appeared in several early Hollywood film musicals. She continued acting in pantomimes such as The Sleeping Beauty
and Cinderella
. After the Second World War, her star faded, but she made a triumphant return to the West End stage in 1954, in the musical Wedding in Paris. She also acted several times opposite her second husband, actor Frank Lawton
, including in the 1956 sitcom My Husband and I
. Other stage successes included Silver Wedding (1957; with Lawton), The Amorous Prawn (1959) and Phil the Fluter (1969).
in 1926, Laye received widespread public sympathy when Hale left her for the actress Jessie Matthews
in 1928. She was initially very reluctant to abandon the marriage, but, despite a trial reconciliation, a divorce case eventually followed in 1930, with the judge labeling Matthews an "odious person". She subsequently wed actor Frank Lawton, with whom she remained married until his death.
had petitioned the then prime minister
John Major
for Laye to be awarded the DBE
(damehood).The Daily Mail, 14 August 2009 by Michael Thornton: "The other woman in the Queen Mother's marriage."
, Central London
from respiratory failure
in 1996, aged 95.
Early years and career
Born as Elsie Evelyn Lay in BloomsburyBloomsbury
-Places:* Bloomsbury is an area in central London.* Bloomsbury , related local government unit* Bloomsbury, New Jersey, New Jersey, USA* Bloomsbury , listed on the NRHP in Maryland...
, London, Laye made her first stage appearance in August 1915 at the Theatre Royal, Brighton
Theatre Royal, Brighton
The Theatre Royal, Brighton is a theatre in Brighton, England, United Kingdom presenting a range of West End and touring musicals and plays, along with performances of opera and ballet and a Christmas pantomime.-History:...
as Nang-Ping in Mr. Wu
Mr. Wu
Mr. Wu is a 1927 silent movie about a Chinese patriarch who tries to exact revenge on the Englishman who seduced his daughter.-Cast:*Lon Chaney - Mr. Wu/Grandfather Wu*Louise Dresser - Mrs. Gregory*Renee Adoree - Wu Nang Ping...
, and her first London appearance at the East Ham Palace
East Ham
East Ham is a suburban district of London, England, and part of the London Borough of Newham. It is a built-up district located 8 miles east-northeast of Charing Cross...
on 24 April 1916, aged 15, in the revue Honi Soit, in which she subsequently toured.
For the first few years of her career she mainly played in musical comedy and operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
, including Going Up
Going Up (musical)
Going Up is a musical comedy in three acts with music by Louis Hirsch and book and lyrics by Otto Harbach and James Montgomery. Set in Lenox, Massachusetts, United States at the end of World War I, the musical tells the story of a writer turned aviator who wins the hand of the high society girl...
in 1918. Among her successes during the 1920s were Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi
Phi-Phi is an opérette légère in three acts with music by Henri Christiné and a French libretto by Albert Willemetz and Fabien Solar. The piece was one which founded the new style of French comédie musicale, the first to really use the latest rhythms of jazz along with a plot which emphasised...
(1922), Madame Pompadour
Madame Pompadour (operetta)
Madame Pompadour is an operetta in three acts, composed by Leo Fall with a libretto by Rudolf Schanzer and Ernst Friedrich Wilhelm Welisch. Conducted by the composer, It opened at the Berliner Theater in Berlin on September 9, 1922 and then at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna on March 2,...
(1923), The Dollar Princess
The Dollar Princess
The Dollar Princess is a musical in three acts by A.M. Willner and Fritz Grünbaum , adapted into English by Basil Hood , with music by Leo Fall and lyrics by Adrian Ross. It opened in London at Daly's Theatre on 25 September 1909, running for 428 performances...
, Blue Eyes (1928) and Lilac Time
Das Dreimäderlhaus
Das Dreimäderlhaus , adapted into English language versions as Blossom Time and Lilac Time, is a Viennese pastiche 'operetta' with music by Franz Schubert, rearranged by Hungarian Heinrich Berté , and a libretto by Alfred Maria Willner and Heinz Reichert...
. She made her Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
debut in 1929 in the American première of Noel Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
's Bitter Sweet
Bitter Sweet
Bitter Sweet is an operetta in three acts written by Noël Coward and first produced in 1929 at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. It ran for a very successful 967 performances....
and appeared in several early Hollywood film musicals. She continued acting in pantomimes such as The Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty
Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault or Little Briar Rose by the Brothers Grimm is a classic fairytale involving a beautiful princess, enchantment, and a handsome prince...
and Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
. After the Second World War, her star faded, but she made a triumphant return to the West End stage in 1954, in the musical Wedding in Paris. She also acted several times opposite her second husband, actor Frank Lawton
Frank Lawton
Frank Lawton was an English actor, born Frank Lawton Mokeley. He was married to Evelyn Laye, with whom he acted several times including in My Husband and I .His parents were stage players Daisy May Collier and Frank Mokeley...
, including in the 1956 sitcom My Husband and I
My Husband and I (1956 TV series)
My Husband and I was a short-lived black-and-white British sitcom starring Evelyn Laye and her husband Frank Lawton, who played themselves. It ran for seven episodes in 1956. My Husband and I was written by Geoffrey Kerr and James Leasor...
. Other stage successes included Silver Wedding (1957; with Lawton), The Amorous Prawn (1959) and Phil the Fluter (1969).
Personal life
Married to the actor Sonnie HaleSonnie Hale
Sonnie Hale was an English theatre and cinema actor and director.John Robert Hale-Monro was born in London, the son of Robert Hale and Belle Reynolds. His father and sister, Binnie Hale were actors. He worked chiefly in musical and revue theatre, but also acted in several films with occasional...
in 1926, Laye received widespread public sympathy when Hale left her for the actress Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews
Jessie Matthews, OBE was an English actress, dancer and singer of the 1930s, whose career continued into the post-war period.-Early life:...
in 1928. She was initially very reluctant to abandon the marriage, but, despite a trial reconciliation, a divorce case eventually followed in 1930, with the judge labeling Matthews an "odious person". She subsequently wed actor Frank Lawton, with whom she remained married until his death.
Honours
Awarded a CBE in 1973, Laye continued acting well into her nineties. It was reported after Laye's death that the Queen MotherElizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
had petitioned the then prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
for Laye to be awarded the DBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(damehood).The Daily Mail, 14 August 2009 by Michael Thornton: "The other woman in the Queen Mother's marriage."
Death
Laye died in a nursing home in PimlicoPimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, Central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
from respiratory failure
Respiratory failure
The term respiratory failure, in medicine, is used to describe inadequate gas exchange by the respiratory system, with the result that arterial oxygen and/or carbon dioxide levels cannot be maintained within their normal ranges. A drop in blood oxygenation is known as hypoxemia; a rise in arterial...
in 1996, aged 95.
Filmography
- The Luck of the NavyThe Luck of the Navy (film)The Luck of the Navy is a 1927 British silent comedy thriller film directed by Fred Paul and starring Evelyn Laye, Henry Victor and Hayford Hobbs...
(1927) - One Heavenly Night (1931)
- Waltz TimeWaltz Time (1933 film)Waltz Time is a 1933 British musical film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and starring Evelyn Laye, Fritz Schulz and Gina Malo.-Cast:* Evelyn Laye - Rosalinde Eisenstein* Fritz Schulz - Fritz Eisenstein* Gina Malo - Adele* Jay Laurier - Frosch...
(1933) - Princess CharmingPrincess CharmingPrincess Charming is a Filipino television drama series aired on GMA Network from January 29, 2007 to April 27, 2007 and was part of GMA’s afternoon programming block called Drama Rama sa Hapon.. The series was directed by Argel Joseph...
(1934) - EvensongEvensong (film)Evensong is a 1934 British musical film directed by Victor Saville and starring Evelyn Laye, Fritz Kortner and Emlyn Williams. It is loosely based on the story of the singer Nellie Melba. It was also the first film of Alec Guinness.-Cast:...
(1934) - The Night Is Young (1935)
- Theatre of Death (1967)
- Love, I Think (1970)
- Say Hello to YesterdaySay Hello to YesterdaySay Hello to Yesterday is a 1970 British drama film directed by the Canadian born Alvin Rakoff, on whose original story the film is based. Starring Jean Simmons and Leonard Whiting, it is ' a fast moving account of ten hours in the life of a suburban housewife' and was made at Twickenham Studios...
(1970) - Never Never Land (1980)