Kay Walsh

'Kay Walsh' (qv) graced the British Cinema of the 1930s and 1940s as a leading lady, before maturing into character roles. She was born Kathleen Walsh in London, England of Irish parentage. She and her sister Peggy were raised in Pimlico by their grandmother. She began her career as a dancer in the chorus of several Andre Charlot revues, before performing solo in New York and Berlin.Kay made her screen debut in _Get Your Man (1934)_ (qv) and later appeared in _The Luck of the Irish (1936)_ (qv). After appearing as a dancer in the West End show "The Melody that Got Lost", the producer 'Basil Dean' (qv) signed her to a contract with Ealing Studios. She starred opposite 'George Formby' (qv) in the comedies _Keep Fit (1937)_ (qv) and _I See Ice! (1938)_ (qv). She met an aspiring film editor 'David Lean' (qv) in 1936 and they were married in 1940. She collaborated on several of his films by writing additional dialogue and advising on production and casting.She made an impression in _In Which We Serve (1942)_ (qv), as Queenie Gibbons in _This Happy Breed (1944)_ (qv), as Nancy in _Oliver Twist (1948)_ (qv), _Vice Versa (1948)_ (qv), _Stage Fright (1950)_ (qv), _The Magnet (1950)_ (qv), _Last Holiday (1950)_ (qv), _Encore (1951)_ (qv), _Young Bess (1953)_ (qv), _Lease of Life (1954)_ (qv), _Tunes of Glory (1960)_ (qv) and _Scrooge (1970)_ (qv). She won a BAFTA nomination and a National Board of Review award for Best Actress for "The Horse's Mouth" (1958). She retired from acting after appearing in _Night Crossing (1982)_ (qv).She was twice married. Following her divorce from 'David Lean' (qv) in 1949, she married the Canadian psychologist Elliott Jaques (1917-2003). They adopted a daughter Gemma in 1956, but the marriage was later dissolved. 'Kay Walsh' (qv) died at age 93 on April 16, 2005 at the Chelsea and Westminister Hospital from multiple burns, days after being injured in a fire at her London residence.::Huw Nathan