Madeline Smith
Encyclopedia
Madeline Smith is an English
actress and comedienne. She was a model in the 1960s, and appeared in many comedy films (e.g. Carry On Matron
), television series, and Hammer horror
films during the 1960s and the 1970s.
Her father owned an antiques shop near Kew Gardens, while she had a temporary job working at Biba
's boutique, a fashion house in Kensington High Street
, London, during the 1960s.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Smith was frequently the subject of cartoons by J Edward Oliver, which made constant admiring reference to her disproportionately large bust.
Her television acting credits included The Two Ronnies
(appearance in the comic serial "Hampton Wick"), Clochemerle
, Doctor at Large (5 episodes), The Steam Video Company
, His and Hers (1970) with Tim Brooke-Taylor
and Casanova '73
with Leslie Phillips
. She was a member of the regular cast for the BBC2 series The End of the Pier Show (1974) and In The Looking Glass
(1978), along with John Wells
, John Fortune
, and Carl Davis
.
Madeline Smith first worked for Hammer films in Taste the Blood of Dracula
(1969), as an East End prostitute, a non-speaking role. Her "Hammer Heroine" cult status derives primarily from The Vampire Lovers
(1970) and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
(1974); although she appears partially nude in the former, her character was the target of Ingrid Pitt
's vampiric appetites. In 1973 she played the Bond girl Miss Caruso in the post titles sequence of Live and Let Die
, the first James Bond film starring Roger Moore
.
Smith made her last film in 1984. Then she gave birth to a daughter and stopped accepting work. She was married to fellow actor David Buck
until his death of cancer in 1989. She appeared at Manchester's Festival of Fantastic Films
in 2004. She contributed her production remembrances to an audio commentary track for the 2003 DVD edition of Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, along side co-star David Prowse
. During that session, she likewise touched upon various experiences of having worked on the stage, and her memories of having appeared in The Vampire Lovers and Theater Of Blood. She has also auctioned on eBay a dinner party with herself as guest host and speaker.
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 and comedienne. She was a model in the 1960s, and appeared in many comedy films (e.g. Carry On Matron
Carry On Matron
Carry On Matron is the twenty-third Carry On film. It was released in 1972. It features series regulars Sid James, Kenneth Williams, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims, Hattie Jacques, Bernard Bresslaw, Barbara Windsor and Kenneth Connor. This was the last Carry on... film for Terry Scott after appearing...
), television series, and Hammer horror
Hammer Film Productions
Hammer Film Productions is a film production company based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1934, the company is best known for a series of Gothic "Hammer Horror" films made from the mid-1950s until the 1970s. Hammer also produced science fiction, thrillers, film noir and comedies and in later...
films during the 1960s and the 1970s.
Her father owned an antiques shop near Kew Gardens, while she had a temporary job working at Biba
Biba
Biba was an iconic and popular London fashion store of the 1960s and 1970s. It was started and primarily run by the Polish-born Barbara Hulanicki with help of her husband Stephen Fitz-Simon.-Early years:...
's boutique, a fashion house in Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street
Kensington High Street is the main shopping street in Kensington, west London. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
, London, during the 1960s.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Smith was frequently the subject of cartoons by J Edward Oliver, which made constant admiring reference to her disproportionately large bust.
Her television acting credits included The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies
The Two Ronnies is a British sketch show that aired on BBC1 from 1971 to 1987. It featured the double act of Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett, the "Two Ronnies" of the title.-Origins:...
(appearance in the comic serial "Hampton Wick"), Clochemerle
Clochemerle
Clochemerle is a 1934 French satirical novel by Gabriel Chevallier. It is set in a French village in Beaujolais inspired by Vaux-en-Beaujolais and deals with the ramifications over plans to install a new urinal in the village square.-Adaptation:...
, Doctor at Large (5 episodes), The Steam Video Company
The Steam Video Company
The Steam Video Company was a 1984 comedy series produced by Thames Television for ITV written by Andrew Marshall and David Renwick.The six episode series was a low budget spoof of the horror genre, intermingled with spoofs on contemporary television programmes, such as Nationwide. The programmes...
, His and Hers (1970) with Tim Brooke-Taylor
Tim Brooke-Taylor
Timothy Julian Brooke-Taylor OBE is an English comic actor. He became active in performing in comedy sketches while at Cambridge University, and became President of the Footlights club, touring internationally with the Footlights revue in 1964...
and Casanova '73
Casanova '73
Casanova '73 was a short-lived British sitcom broadcast on BBC1 in 1973. It was written by Ray Galton and Alan Simpson and starred Leslie Phillips as Henry Newhouse...
with Leslie Phillips
Leslie Phillips
Leslie Samuel Phillips, CBE is an English actor with a highly recognisable upper class accent. Originally known for his work as a comedy actor, Phillips subsequently made the transition to character roles.-Early life:...
. She was a member of the regular cast for the BBC2 series The End of the Pier Show (1974) and In The Looking Glass
In the Looking Glass
In the Looking Glass is a surreal television series, broadcast on BBC2 in 1978. It starred John Wells, John Fortune, Carl Davis, and Madeline Smith, was directed by Andrew Gosling and produced by Ian Keill. The same team had previously created 1974's The End of the Pier Show...
(1978), along with John Wells
John Wells (satirist)
John Wells was an English actor, writer and satirist, educated at Eastbourne College and St Edmund Hall, Oxford...
, John Fortune
John Fortune
John Fortune is a British satirist, comedian writer and actor, best known for his work with John Bird and Rory Bremner on the TV series Bremner, Bird and Fortune. He was educated at Bristol Cathedral School and King's College, Cambridge, where he was to meet and form a lasting friendship with John...
, and Carl Davis
Carl Davis
Carl Davis CBE is an American born conductor and composer who has made his home in the UK since 1961. In 1970 he married the English actress Jean Boht....
.
Madeline Smith first worked for Hammer films in Taste the Blood of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula
Taste the Blood of Dracula is a British horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions and released in 1970. It stars Christopher Lee as Count Dracula, and was directed by Peter Sasdy...
(1969), as an East End prostitute, a non-speaking role. Her "Hammer Heroine" cult status derives primarily from The Vampire Lovers
The Vampire Lovers
The Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British Hammer Horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith, Kate O'Mara, and Jon Finch. It is based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla and is part of the so-called Karnstein Trilogy of films. The other films in...
(1970) and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell
Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell is a 1974 British horror film from Hammer Film Productions. It was directed by Terence Fisher and starred Peter Cushing, Shane Briant, and David Prowse...
(1974); although she appears partially nude in the former, her character was the target of Ingrid Pitt
Ingrid Pitt
Ingrid Pitt was an actress best known for her work in horror films of the 1960s and 1970s.-Background:Pitt was born Ingoushka Petrov in Warsaw, Poland to a German father of Russian descent and a Polish Jewish mother. During World War II she and her family were imprisoned in a concentration camp...
's vampiric appetites. In 1973 she played the Bond girl Miss Caruso in the post titles sequence of Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die
Live and Let Die may refer to:*Live and Let Die , a James Bond novel by Ian Fleming**Live and Let Die , a 1973 film starring Roger Moore loosely based upon the novel...
, the first James Bond film starring Roger Moore
Roger Moore
Sir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
.
Smith made her last film in 1984. Then she gave birth to a daughter and stopped accepting work. She was married to fellow actor David Buck
David Buck
David Buck was an English actor. His most famous role was in the animated film The Lord of the Rings , for which he provided the voice of Gimli...
until his death of cancer in 1989. She appeared at Manchester's Festival of Fantastic Films
Festival of Fantastic Films (UK)
The Festival of Fantastic Films is an annual non-profit celebration of cinema fantastique, held annually in central Manchester, England. It was created by Tony Edwards and the late Harry Nadler , together with their fellow enthusiast Gil Lane-Young.Past...
in 2004. She contributed her production remembrances to an audio commentary track for the 2003 DVD edition of Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, along side co-star David Prowse
David Prowse
David Prowse, MBE is an English former bodybuilder, weightlifter and actor, most widely known for playing the role of Darth Vader in physical form. In Britain, he is also remembered as having played the Green Cross Code man...
. During that session, she likewise touched upon various experiences of having worked on the stage, and her memories of having appeared in The Vampire Lovers and Theater Of Blood. She has also auctioned on eBay a dinner party with herself as guest host and speaker.
Filmography
- The Vampire LoversThe Vampire LoversThe Vampire Lovers is a 1970 British Hammer Horror film directed by Roy Ward Baker and starring Peter Cushing, Ingrid Pitt, Madeline Smith, Kate O'Mara, and Jon Finch. It is based on the J. Sheridan Le Fanu novella Carmilla and is part of the so-called Karnstein Trilogy of films. The other films in...
- The Mini Mob
- Tam-LinTam-Lin (film)Tam-Lin, also known as The Ballad of Tam-Lin, The Devil's Widow and The Devil's Woman, is a 1970 British film made by Commonwealth United Entertainment, Winkast Film Productions Ltd. and distributed by American International Pictures . It was directed by Roddy McDowall and produced by Alan Ladd, Jr...
- Up PompeiiUp Pompeii (film)Up Pompeii is a 1971 British comedy film directed by Bob Kellett and starring Frankie Howerd and Michael Hordern. The film was shot at Elstree Film Studios, Borehamwood, England...
- Up the FrontUp the FrontUp the Front is a 1972 British comedy film. It is the third film spin-off from the TV series Up Pompeii! , directed by Bob Kellett, it stars Frankie Howerd as Lurk , a coward who is hypnotised into...
- The Amazing Mr BlundenThe Amazing Mr BlundenThe Amazing Mr. Blunden is a 1972 family mystery film directed by Lionel Jeffries, based on the novel The Ghosts by Antonia Barber.-Plot:...
- Live and Let DieLive and Let Die (film)Live and Let Die is the eighth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Roger Moore as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman...
, Roger MooreRoger MooreSir Roger George Moore KBE , is an English actor, perhaps best known for portraying British secret agent James Bond in seven films from 1973 to 1985. He also portrayed Simon Templar in the long-running British television series The Saint.-Early life:Moore was born in Stockwell, London...
's first James BondJames BondJames Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film (as Miss Caruso). - Theatre of BloodTheatre of BloodTheatre of Blood is a horror film starring Vincent Price as vengeful actor Edward Lionheart and Diana Rigg as his daughter Edwina Lionheart. The cast includes such distinguished actors as Harry Andrews, Coral Browne, Robert Coote, Jack Hawkins, Michael Hordern, Arthur Lowe, Joan Hickson, Robert...
External links
- Madeline Smith at HorrorStars
- Madeline Smith article from Bite Me horror magazine
- Madeline Smith biography
- Madeline Smith page on the SCIFIpedia
- Madeline Smith Retrospective at Den Of Geek
- BBC: Actress recalls glamour of Hammer - 2009 interview with Madeline Smith