Posy Fossil
Encyclopedia
Posy Fossil is a character in the book Ballet Shoes
and its two television adaptations. She was adopted by Professor Matthew Brown, called Gum, who took her from her mother, the dancer. She is portrayed by Sarah Prince (in 1975 adaption
) and by Lucy Boynton
(in 2007 adaptation
). She was created by Noel Streatfeild
in 1936.
, England
. As the youngest, she is boisterous and often self-centred; Pauline and Petrova often feel they have to 'sit' on her in order to teach her a little bit of humility but this only has a limited effect. Although headstrong, Posy also has a great talent for mimicry that often helps in times of stress. Posy is also the inheritor of the titular ballet shoes, a parting gift from her birth mother.
She was only six when she became a student at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. Posy was in the first class, but due to her talent for dance, she became a student of Madame Fidolia, the headmistress of the school. Under her teachings, Posy's talent increases and soon became the best dancer in the school, destined be a prima ballerina when she grew up. Unlike Pauline and Petrova, she was rarely concerned about their lack of funds, convinced there would always be enough money to allow her to continue dancing. Her drive to dance often made her insensitive to other people's problems. For instance, when Madame Fidolia had a stroke Posy stated that she wasn't worried about the well being of her teacher but about who was going to teach her now. No longer being under the instruction of the accomplished professor she went to Manov, a famous ballet dancer, and asked to take her on as a pupil. At first he laughed and was not convinced of her capabilities but soon changed his mind when he saw her perform.
At the end of the book, Posy is accepted as a pupil by Manov and moves to Prague in (what was then known as) Czechoslovakia in order to study with him, accompanied by Nana.
Ballet Shoes (novel)
Ballet Shoes is a classic 1936 children's novel by Noel Streatfeild.Ballet Shoes and the other "Shoes books" have been popular worldwide, since their initial publications from 1936 to 1962.-Plot summary:...
and its two television adaptations. She was adopted by Professor Matthew Brown, called Gum, who took her from her mother, the dancer. She is portrayed by Sarah Prince (in 1975 adaption
Ballet Shoes (TV serial)
Ballet Shoes is an adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's novel Ballet Shoes. A second adaptation of Ballet Shoes, also made by the BBC , was released in December 2007.- Awards :...
) and by Lucy Boynton
Lucy Boynton
Lucy Boynton is an English actress. She attended Blackheath High School, and now attends James Allen's Girls' School. She is the daughter of Graham Boynton, the Group Travel Editor of the Telegraph Media Group and Adriaane Pielou, a travel writer.-Career:Her first professional role was as the...
(in 2007 adaptation
Ballet Shoes (film)
Ballet Shoes is a 2007 British television film, adapted by Heidi Thomas from Noel Streatfeild's 1936 novel Ballet Shoes. It was produced by Granada Productions and premiered on BBC One on 26 December 2007...
). She was created by Noel Streatfeild
Noel Streatfeild
Mary Noel Streatfeild OBE , known as Noel Streatfeild, was an author, most famous for her children's books including Ballet Shoes . Several of her novels have been adapted for film or television.-Biography:...
in 1936.
Posy's story
Posy's father died shortly after her birth, and her young mother, who was a dancer, didn't have time for a baby. So she was adopted by Professor Matthew Brown, called Gum. Posy grew up in LondonLondon
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...
, England
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...
. As the youngest, she is boisterous and often self-centred; Pauline and Petrova often feel they have to 'sit' on her in order to teach her a little bit of humility but this only has a limited effect. Although headstrong, Posy also has a great talent for mimicry that often helps in times of stress. Posy is also the inheritor of the titular ballet shoes, a parting gift from her birth mother.
She was only six when she became a student at the Children's Academy of Dancing and Stage Training. Posy was in the first class, but due to her talent for dance, she became a student of Madame Fidolia, the headmistress of the school. Under her teachings, Posy's talent increases and soon became the best dancer in the school, destined be a prima ballerina when she grew up. Unlike Pauline and Petrova, she was rarely concerned about their lack of funds, convinced there would always be enough money to allow her to continue dancing. Her drive to dance often made her insensitive to other people's problems. For instance, when Madame Fidolia had a stroke Posy stated that she wasn't worried about the well being of her teacher but about who was going to teach her now. No longer being under the instruction of the accomplished professor she went to Manov, a famous ballet dancer, and asked to take her on as a pupil. At first he laughed and was not convinced of her capabilities but soon changed his mind when he saw her perform.
At the end of the book, Posy is accepted as a pupil by Manov and moves to Prague in (what was then known as) Czechoslovakia in order to study with him, accompanied by Nana.
Portrayals
- In Ballet ShoesBallet Shoes (TV serial)Ballet Shoes is an adaptation of Noel Streatfeild's novel Ballet Shoes. A second adaptation of Ballet Shoes, also made by the BBC , was released in December 2007.- Awards :...
, a TV serial from 1975, was portrayed by Sarah Prince. - In 2007 adaptation, Ballet ShoesBallet Shoes (film)Ballet Shoes is a 2007 British television film, adapted by Heidi Thomas from Noel Streatfeild's 1936 novel Ballet Shoes. It was produced by Granada Productions and premiered on BBC One on 26 December 2007...
, she was portrayed by Lucy BoyntonLucy BoyntonLucy Boynton is an English actress. She attended Blackheath High School, and now attends James Allen's Girls' School. She is the daughter of Graham Boynton, the Group Travel Editor of the Telegraph Media Group and Adriaane Pielou, a travel writer.-Career:Her first professional role was as the...
.