In Remembrance: Kay Walsh

     Kay Walsh, the character actress who appeared in several British film of the 1940’s and 50’s, has passed away April 16, 2005 in London, England. She was 94.

     Born on August 27, 1911 in London, Walsh was raised with her sister in the small town of Pimlico, England by her grandmother. She worked as a chorus girl in London’s West End music halls before moving on to acting roles.

     Walsh’s first role was in Get Your Man (1934). She continued to act in films and appear on stage. It was while performing in the West End show The Melody Got Lost that Walsh was spotted by Ealing Studios producer Basil Dean, who signed her to a contract with the studio. Her first role at Ealing was opposite comedian George Formby in Keep Fit (1937).

     Throughout the 1940s, she appeared in the lead roles of many films including All At Sea (1940), In Which We Serve (1942), The October Man (1947) and Oliver Twist (1948). In the 1950s and 60s, Walsh began taking more character roles in films such as Stage Fright (1950), Young Bess (1953), Now And Forever (1955), Cast A Dark Shadow (1957), Reach For Glory (1962), the Sherlock Holmes adventure A Study In Terror (1965) and Scrooge (1970).

     Walsh also worked as a writer, contributing material to the 1938 film version of George Bernard Shaw’s play Pygmalion. She so captured Shaw’s literary voice that the playwright didn’t recognize the additions to his own work. She also contributed the memorable opening scene for Oliver Twist, in which Oliver is born amidst gathering storm clouds.

     Walsh’s last film appearance was a small role in the 1981 family drama Night Crossing.