Yvonne Romain
Encyclopedia
Yvonne Romain is a British
film and television actress of the late 1950s and 1960s.
and from the age of twelve appeared in children's shows and repertory. She started appearing in British films in her late teens. Her exotic, dark looks and 38-22-36 figure saw her often cast in supporting roles as Italian or Spanish maidens in war films and comedies. However, it is for her roles in numerous British horror films that she is perhaps most remembered. She enjoyed parts in Corridors of Blood
(1958), where she starred alongside Boris Karloff
and Christopher Lee
, and also in Circus of Horrors
(1960). She was also to star in the later Devil Doll
(1964), about a malevolent ventriloquist's dummy.
However, Romain is probably best known for The Curse of the Werewolf
(1961) where she starred with Oliver Reed
in his first major role. In the movie, Romain plays a mute servant girl who spurns the advances of the sadistic Marques. She is thrown into a prison cell with a deranged beggar, who proceeds to rape her. As a result, she later gives birth on Christmas Day to future lycanthrope Leon (Reed), though the effort kills her.
Hammer studio's publicity stills for 'Werewolf' capitalised on Romain's obvious charms by having her photographed in typical 'scream queen' poses alongside a made-up Reed. This is despite the fact that she and Reed share no actual screen time.
Perhaps her biggest role was in another Hammer production, Captain Clegg, aka Night Creatures (US title), playing alongside Peter Cushing
and Oliver Reed again, this time as his fiancée. She also appeared alongside Sean Connery
twice, in Action of the Tiger
(1957), and the gangster film The Frightened City
(1961), where she shared equal billing with the pre-Bond star. Romain also costarred in the Danger Man
ep[isode titled Sabotage in 1961.
Oliver Reed would be Romain's most frequent co-star, though. The two appeared together again in an episode of The Saint
, and for a fourth and final time in The Brigand of Kandahar (1965).
in The Swinger (1966), and Elvis Presley
in Double Trouble (1967), which she herself calls a 'dreadful movie', though she enjoyed the experience.
After a break from the screen, Romain emerged from semi-retirement as the title character in the Anthony Perkins
/Stephen Sondheim
-scripted mystery thriller The Last of Sheila
(1973). This is her last screen role to date.
She married the film composer Leslie Bricusse
, who provided the lyrics for the classic James Bond
themes Goldfinger
and You Only Live Twice
, and later turned down a seven-year contract with Federico Fellini
because it meant working away from her Hollywood-based husband and young son.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
film and television actress of the late 1950s and 1960s.
Early career
This raven-haired former photographic model was a graduate of the Italia Conti AcademyItalia Conti Academy
The Italia Conti Academy is a theatre arts training school based in London. It was founded in 1911 by actress Italia Conti...
and from the age of twelve appeared in children's shows and repertory. She started appearing in British films in her late teens. Her exotic, dark looks and 38-22-36 figure saw her often cast in supporting roles as Italian or Spanish maidens in war films and comedies. However, it is for her roles in numerous British horror films that she is perhaps most remembered. She enjoyed parts in Corridors of Blood
Corridors of Blood
Corridors of Blood is a 1958 horror film directed by Robert Day. The original music score was composed by Buxton Orr. The film was marketed with the tagline "Tops in terror!" in the US where MGM released it as a double feature with Werewolf in a Girls' Dormitory.-Plot:An 1840s British surgeon, Dr...
(1958), where she starred alongside Boris Karloff
Boris Karloff
William Henry Pratt , better known by his stage name Boris Karloff, was an English actor.Karloff is best remembered for his roles in horror films and his portrayal of Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein , Bride of Frankenstein , and Son of Frankenstein...
and Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee, CBE, CStJ is an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films...
, and also in Circus of Horrors
Circus of Horrors
Circus of Horrors is a 1960 British horror film directed by Sidney Hayers. It starred Anton Diffring, Yvonne Monlaur, Erika Remberg, Kenneth Griffith, Jane Hylton, Conrad Phillips, Yvonne Romain and Donald Pleasence....
(1960). She was also to star in the later Devil Doll
Devil Doll (film)
Devil Doll is a horror film about an evil ventriloquist, "The Great Vorelli", and his dummy Hugo. Decades after its initial release, it was featured on a 1997 episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000.-Plot:...
(1964), about a malevolent ventriloquist's dummy.
However, Romain is probably best known for The Curse of the Werewolf
The Curse of the Werewolf
The Curse of the Werewolf is a British film based on the novel The Werewolf of Paris by Guy Endore. The film was made by the British film studio Hammer Film Productions and was shot at Bray Studios.-Plot:...
(1961) where she starred with Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed
Oliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
in his first major role. In the movie, Romain plays a mute servant girl who spurns the advances of the sadistic Marques. She is thrown into a prison cell with a deranged beggar, who proceeds to rape her. As a result, she later gives birth on Christmas Day to future lycanthrope Leon (Reed), though the effort kills her.
Hammer studio's publicity stills for 'Werewolf' capitalised on Romain's obvious charms by having her photographed in typical 'scream queen' poses alongside a made-up Reed. This is despite the fact that she and Reed share no actual screen time.
Perhaps her biggest role was in another Hammer production, Captain Clegg, aka Night Creatures (US title), playing alongside Peter Cushing
Peter Cushing
Peter Wilton Cushing, OBE was an English actor, known for his many appearances in Hammer Films, in which he played the handsome but sinister scientist Baron Frankenstein and the vampire hunter Dr. Van Helsing, amongst many other roles, often appearing opposite Christopher Lee, and occasionally...
and Oliver Reed again, this time as his fiancée. She also appeared alongside Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
twice, in Action of the Tiger
Action of the Tiger
Action of the Tiger is a 1957 British-American action film distributed by MGM, directed by Terence Young, and starring Van Johnson and Martine Carol....
(1957), and the gangster film The Frightened City
The Frightened City
The Frightened City is a 1961 British film about extortion rackets and gang warfare in the West End of London. It stars Sean Connery, who plays a burglar called Paddy Damion. He is lured into a protection racket by oily mobster Harry Foulcher , in order to support his partner in crime , who is...
(1961), where she shared equal billing with the pre-Bond star. Romain also costarred in the Danger Man
Danger Man
Danger Man is a British television series that was broadcast between 1960 and 1962, and again between 1964 and 1968. The series featured Patrick McGoohan as secret agent John Drake. Ralph Smart created the program and wrote many of the scripts...
ep[isode titled Sabotage in 1961.
Oliver Reed would be Romain's most frequent co-star, though. The two appeared together again in an episode of The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
, and for a fourth and final time in The Brigand of Kandahar (1965).
Later career
Soon after, Romain relocated to Los Angeles and starred alongside Ann-MargretAnn-Margret
Ann-Margret Olsson is a Swedish-American actress, singer and dancer whose professional name is Ann-Margret. She became famous for her starring roles in Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, The Cincinnati Kid, Carnal Knowledge, and Tommy...
in The Swinger (1966), and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
in Double Trouble (1967), which she herself calls a 'dreadful movie', though she enjoyed the experience.
After a break from the screen, Romain emerged from semi-retirement as the title character in the Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins
Anthony Perkins was an American actor, best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Friendly Persuasion and as Norman Bates in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho , and its three sequels.-Early life:...
/Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
-scripted mystery thriller The Last of Sheila
The Last of Sheila
The Last of Sheila is a 1973 mystery film directed by Herbert Ross, written by Anthony Perkins and Stephen Sondheim, It stars Richard Benjamin, Dyan Cannon, James Coburn, James Mason, Ian McShane, Joan Hackett, and Raquel Welch....
(1973). This is her last screen role to date.
She married the film composer Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse
Leslie Bricusse is an English composer, lyricist, and playwright.Although best known for his partnership with Anthony Newley, Bricusse has worked with many other composers. He was educated at University College School in London and Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge...
, who provided the lyrics for the classic James Bond
James Bond
James 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,...
themes Goldfinger
Goldfinger (soundtrack)
Goldfinger is the soundtrack for the 3rd James Bond film of the same name.This is the first of three James Bond films with a theme song sung by Shirley Bassey, whose forceful, dramatic style became a trademark of the series...
and You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice (film)
You Only Live Twice is the fifth spy film in the James Bond series, and the fifth to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film's screenplay was written by Roald Dahl, and loosely based on Ian Fleming's 1964 novel of the same name...
, and later turned down a seven-year contract with Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini
Federico Fellini, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI , was an Italian film director and scriptwriter. Known for a distinct style that blends fantasy and baroque images, he is considered one of the most influential and widely revered filmmakers of the 20th century...
because it meant working away from her Hollywood-based husband and young son.
Selected filmography
- SmokescreenSmokescreen (film)Smokescreen is a 1964 British crime thriller, written and directed by Jim O'Connolly, and starring Peter Vaughan.-Cast:* Peter Vaughan as Roper* John Carson as Trevor Bayliss* Yvonne Romain as Janet Dexter* Gerald Flood as Graham Turner...
(1964) - The Brigand of KandaharThe Brigand of KandaharThe Brigand of Kandahar is a 1965 British action film directed by John Gilling and starring Ronald Lewis, Oliver Reed and Duncan Lamont. A mixed-race British officer is thrown out of his regiment when he is accused of cowardice in action. He then joins some tribesmen rebelling against the British...
(1965)