PATSY ROWLANDSPatsy Rowlands, who died on 22 January,2005, at the age of 71, was a popular English actress famous for her roles in‘Bless This House’ and the ‘Carry On’ films.It was her role of feckless neighbour Bettyin the popular 1970s sitcom ‘Bless This House’ which particularly endeared herto viewers but she also found success on the stage in popular revivals of ‘MyFair Lady’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast’.The popular ‘Carry On’ films, of which shecompleted 10, saw her become a cult comedy figure.“I was frightened to death of him,” sheonce remarked of her infamous ‘Carry On’ co-star Kenneth Williams. “He could bequite intimidating.”Born Patricia Rowlands on 19 January, 1934,in Palmers Green, London, she spent most of her childhood in a succession ofconvent schools. It was while at one of these that an elocution teacherrecognised her potential and urged her to pursue a career in acting.Encouraged, she applied for the GuildhallSchool of Music and Drama where she won a scholarship aged 15 and later dulybegan her career in London as a regular member of the Players’ Theatre.She soon made a name for herself, appearingalongside notable stage stars such as Laurence Olivier and Tony Richardson.Indeed, it would be her superb stage work which brought her a series of filmroles, the first being ‘Tom Jones’ in 1963. While filming Tom Jones shepurportedly fell off a horse with co-star Susannah York.Her first ‘Carry On’ appearance, as MissFosdick in ‘Carry on Again Doctor’, came just six years later and it was notlong before she had carved a niche for herself among the star-studded castwhich featured household names such as Barbara Windsor and Sid James.With a remarkable gift for timing,Ms Rowlands’ comic skills were put to good use again in 1971 with a leading rolein the hit television series ‘Bless This House’.Her final ‘Carry On’ appearance came fouryears later in 1975’s ‘Carry on Behind’ and she instead turned to televisionand the stage for work, with roles in ‘The Squirrels’, ‘The Nesbitt’s Are Coming’and ‘Hallelujah!’.In 2003, along with other members of thecast, she completed several audio commentaries for the launch of the Carltondistributed ‘Carry On’ DVD collection.Towards the end of her life, Ms Rowlands wasdiagnosed with breast cancer and, forced to retire from acting, spent her finalyears teaching her craft to others.She finally died after a long battle withthe illness on 22 January, 2005, in a Sussex hospice.The ‘Carry On’ stalwart often stated thather favourite instalment was ‘Carry On at Your Convenience’.
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