Dilys Laye - Revision history

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External links

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	*[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868 Article about Dilys in ''The Stage'']		*[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868 Article about Dilys in ''The Stage'']
	*[https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary Obituary in ''The Guardian'']		*[https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary Obituary in ''The Guardian'']

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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Laye, Dilys}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Laye, Dilys}}
	[[Category:1934 births]]		[[Category:1934 births]]
	[[Category:2009 deaths]]		[[Category:2009 deaths]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]~~
	[[Category:English film actresses]]		[[Category:English film actresses]]
	[[Category:English soap opera actresses]]		[[Category:English soap opera actresses]]

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Filmography

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Personal life and death

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	==Personal life and death==		==Personal life and death==
	She was married first, briefly, to stuntman [[Frank Maher (stuntman)\|Frank Maher]] and secondly in 1963, to actor [[Garfield Morgan]]; they were subsequently divorced. In 1972, she married her third husband, Alan Downer, who wrote scripts for ''[[Coronation Street]]'' and ''[[Emmerdale\|Emmerdale Farm]]'' on television and ''[[Waggoners' Walk]]'' on radio. He died in 1995 after years of ill health following a stroke. They had a son, Andrew, who was an agent for film crews.		She was married first, briefly, to stuntman [[w:Frank Maher (stuntman)\|Frank Maher]] and secondly in 1963, to actor [[w:Garfield Morgan\|Garfield Morgan]]; they were subsequently divorced. In 1972, she married her third husband, Alan Downer, who wrote scripts for ''[[w:Coronation Street\|Coronation Street]]'' and ''[[w:Emmerdale\|Emmerdale Farm]]'' on television and ''[[w:Waggoners' Walk\|Waggoners' Walk]]'' on radio. He died in 1995 after years of ill health following a stroke. They had a son, Andrew, who was an agent for film crews.

	Laye died of [[lung cancer]] aged 74. She outlived her doctors' predictions by six months, and was able to see her son get married.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/><ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name\|id=0493513\|name=Dilys Laye}}</ref>		Laye died of [[w:lung cancer\|lung cancer]] aged 74. She outlived her doctors' predictions by six months, and was able to see her son get married.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/><ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name\|id=0493513\|name=Dilys Laye}}</ref>

	==Filmography==		==Filmography==

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Later years

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	== Later years ==		== Later years ==
	Her final stage work came in 2006 in the three roles of Miss La Creevy, Mrs Gudden, and Peg Sliderskew in the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]]'s revival of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company\|RSC]]'s epic ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (play)\|Nicholas Nickleby]]''. During rehearsals, she was diagnosed with cancer and kept her illness secret from the rest of the cast, but was too ill to transfer with the production to London.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/>		Her final stage work came in 2006 in the three roles of Miss La Creevy, Mrs Gudden, and Peg Sliderskew in the [[w:Chichester Festival Theatre\|Chichester Festival Theatre]]'s revival of the [[w:Royal Shakespeare Company\|RSC]]'s epic ''[[w:The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (play)\|Nicholas Nickleby]]''. During rehearsals, she was diagnosed with cancer and kept her illness secret from the rest of the cast, but was too ill to transfer with the production to London.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/>

	Her later television work included character roles in ''[[EastEnders]]'', ''[[Coronation Street]]'', ''[[Holby City]]'', ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'', ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)\|Doctors]]'', ''[[The Amazing Mrs Pritchard]]'', and ''[[The Commander (TV series)\|The Commander]]''.		Her later television work included character roles in ''[[w:EastEnders\|EastEnders]]'', ''[[w:Coronation Street\|Coronation Street]]'', ''[[w:Holby City\|Holby City]]'', ''[[w:Midsomer Murders\|Midsomer Murders]]'', ''[[w:Doctors (2000 TV series)\|Doctors]]'', ''[[w:The Amazing Mrs Pritchard\|The Amazing Mrs Pritchard]]'', and ''[[w:The Commander (TV series)\|The Commander]]''.

	==Personal life and death==		==Personal life and death==

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Early life

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	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
	Laye was born in [[w:Muswell Hill\|Muswell Hill]], [[w:London\|London]], the daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (''{{née}}'' Hewitt).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/40/Dilys-Laye.html\|title=Dilys Laye Biography (1934-)\|website=Filmreference.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="obit-times">{{cite news\|title=Dilys Laye: actress known for comic roles in the Carry On films\|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5768247.ece\|work=The Times\|date=20 February 2009\|access-date=2009-02-22 \| location=London}}</ref> Her father left the family when she was aged eight to work as a musician in [[w:South Africa\|South Africa]] and never came back.<ref name="thestage.co.uk">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|title=The Stage / Features / Bewitched by the stage - Dilys Laye \|access-date=12 July 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141152/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|archive-date=11 June 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dilys-lay-93955\|title=Dilys Lay – Broadway Cast & Staff \|website=IBDb.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> During [[w:World War II\|World War II]] Laye and her brother were evacuated to [[w:Devon\|Devon]], where they were unhappy and endured physical abuse. Laye returned home to a new stepfather and a mother who was keen to transfer her thwarted ambitions to her daughter.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> After education at [[w:St Dominic's Sixth Form College\|St Dominic's Sixth Form College]], [[w:Middlesex\|Middlesex]] and training at the [[w:Aida Foster stage school\|Aida Foster School]], Laye made her stage debut aged 14 as a boy in a play called ''The Burning Bush'' at the New Lindsey Theatre and her film debut a year later as a younger version of [[Jean Kent]] in ''[[Trottie True]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3eedd1\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=BFI}}</ref>		Laye was born in [[w:Muswell Hill\|Muswell Hill]], [[w:London\|London]], the daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (''{{née}}'' Hewitt).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/40/Dilys-Laye.html\|title=Dilys Laye Biography (1934-)\|website=Filmreference.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="obit-times">{{cite news\|title=Dilys Laye: actress known for comic roles in the Carry On films\|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5768247.ece\|work=The Times\|date=20 February 2009\|access-date=2009-02-22 \| location=London}}</ref> Her father left the family when she was aged eight to work as a musician in [[w:South Africa\|South Africa]] and never came back.<ref name="thestage.co.uk">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|title=The Stage / Features / Bewitched by the stage - Dilys Laye \|access-date=12 July 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141152/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|archive-date=11 June 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dilys-lay-93955\|title=Dilys Lay – Broadway Cast & Staff \|website=IBDb.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> During [[w:World War II\|World War II]] Laye and her brother were evacuated to [[w:Devon\|Devon]], where they were unhappy and endured physical abuse. Laye returned home to a new stepfather and a mother who was keen to transfer her thwarted ambitions to her daughter.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> After education at [[w:St Dominic's Sixth Form College\|St Dominic's Sixth Form College]], [[w:Middlesex\|Middlesex]] and training at the [[w:Aida Foster stage school\|Aida Foster School]], Laye made her stage debut aged 14 as a boy in a play called ''The Burning Bush'' at the New Lindsey Theatre and her film debut a year later as a younger version of [[w:Jean Kent\|Jean Kent]] in ''[[w:Trottie True\|Trottie True]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3eedd1\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=BFI}}</ref>

	== Career ==		== Career ==

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	{{Short description\|English actress (1934–2009)}}		{{Short description\|English actress (1934–2009)}}
	~~{{More citations needed\|date=October 2018}}~~
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2021}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2021}}
	{{Use British English\|date=May 2012}}		{{Use British English\|date=May 2012}}
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	\|caption= Laye in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969)		\|caption= Laye in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969)
	\|birth_date={{birth date\|1934\|03\|11\|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />		\|birth_date={{birth date\|1934\|03\|11\|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />
	\|birth_place=[[Muswell Hill]], [[London]], England		\|birth_place=[[w:Muswell Hill\|Muswell Hill]], [[w:London\|London]], England
	\|death_date={{death date and age\|2009\|02\|13\|1934\|03\|11\|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />		\|death_date={{death date and age\|2009\|02\|13\|1934\|03\|11\|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />
	\|death_place= London, England		\|death_place= London, England
	\|birth_name=Dilys Lay<ref name="obit-times" />		\|birth_name=Dilys Lay<ref name="obit-times" />
	\|spouse= [[Frank Maher (stuntman)\|Frank Maher]] ~~(1957–?; divorced)~~ <~~br /~~> [[Garfield Morgan]] ~~(1963–?; divorced)~~ <~~br /~~> Alan Downer<ref name="obit-times" /> (1972~~–~~1995~~; his death)~~		\|spouse= {{Plainlist\|
			*{{marriage\|[[w:Frank Maher (stuntman)\|Frank Maher]]\|1957\|<!-- Unknown -->\|end=div}}
			*{{marriage\|[[w:Garfield Morgan\|Garfield Morgan]]\|1963\|<!-- Unknown -->\|end=div}}
			*{{marriage\|Alan Downer<ref name="obit-times" />\|1972\|1995\|end=d.}}
			}}
	\|children= 1, with Downer		\|children= 1, with Downer
	}}		}}

	'''Dilys Laye''' (born '''Dilys Lay'''; 11 March 1934 – 13 February 2009) was an English actress and [[screenwriter]], best known for her comedy roles.		'''Dilys Laye''' (born '''Dilys Lay'''; 11 March 1934 – 13 February 2009) was an English actress and [[w:screenwriter\|screenwriter]], best known for her comedy roles.

	== Early life ==		== Early life ==
	Laye was born in [[Muswell Hill]], [[London]], the daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (''[[née]]'' Hewitt).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/40/Dilys-Laye.html\|title=Dilys Laye Biography (1934-)\|website=Filmreference.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="obit-times">{{cite news\|title=Dilys Laye: actress known for comic roles in the Carry On films\|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5768247.ece\|work=The Times\|date=20 February 2009\|access-date=2009-02-22 \| location=London}}</ref> Her father left the family when she was aged eight to work as a musician in [[South Africa]] and never came back.<ref name="thestage.co.uk">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|title=The Stage / Features / Bewitched by the stage - Dilys Laye \|access-date=12 July 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141152/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|archive-date=11 June 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dilys-lay-93955\|title=Dilys Lay – Broadway Cast & Staff \|website=IBDb.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> During [[World War II]] Laye and her brother were evacuated to [[Devon]], where they were unhappy and endured physical abuse. Laye returned home to a new stepfather and a mother who was keen to transfer her thwarted ambitions to her daughter.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> After education at [[St Dominic's Sixth Form College]], [[Middlesex]] and training at the [[Aida Foster stage school\|Aida Foster School]], Laye made her stage debut aged 14 as a boy in a play called ''The Burning Bush'' at the New Lindsey Theatre and her film debut a year later as a younger version of [[Jean Kent]] in ''[[Trottie True]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3eedd1\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=BFI}}</ref>		Laye was born in [[w:Muswell Hill\|Muswell Hill]], [[w:London\|London]], the daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (''{{née}}'' Hewitt).<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/40/Dilys-Laye.html\|title=Dilys Laye Biography (1934-)\|website=Filmreference.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="obit-times">{{cite news\|title=Dilys Laye: actress known for comic roles in the Carry On films\|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5768247.ece\|work=The Times\|date=20 February 2009\|access-date=2009-02-22 \| location=London}}</ref> Her father left the family when she was aged eight to work as a musician in [[w:South Africa\|South Africa]] and never came back.<ref name="thestage.co.uk">{{Cite web \|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|title=The Stage / Features / Bewitched by the stage - Dilys Laye \|access-date=12 July 2010 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141152/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye \|archive-date=11 June 2011 \|url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dilys-lay-93955\|title=Dilys Lay – Broadway Cast & Staff \|website=IBDb.com\|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> During [[w:World War II\|World War II]] Laye and her brother were evacuated to [[w:Devon\|Devon]], where they were unhappy and endured physical abuse. Laye returned home to a new stepfather and a mother who was keen to transfer her thwarted ambitions to her daughter.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> After education at [[w:St Dominic's Sixth Form College\|St Dominic's Sixth Form College]], [[w:Middlesex\|Middlesex]] and training at the [[w:Aida Foster stage school\|Aida Foster School]], Laye made her stage debut aged 14 as a boy in a play called ''The Burning Bush'' at the New Lindsey Theatre and her film debut a year later as a younger version of [[Jean Kent]] in ''[[Trottie True]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3eedd1\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=BFI}}</ref>

	== Career ==		== Career ==
	[[File:Eric Berry in The Boy Friend 1955.jpg\|thumb\|From the original Broadway production of ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boy Friend]]''; clockwise from left: Stella Claire, Lyn Connorty, [[Eric Berry (actor)\|Eric Berry]], Dilys Laye, [[Millicent Martin]] (1955) ]]		[[File:Eric Berry in The Boy Friend 1955.jpg\|thumb\|From the original Broadway production of ''[[w:The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boy Friend]]''; clockwise from left: Stella Claire, Lyn Connorty, [[w:Eric Berry (actor)\|Eric Berry]], Dilys Laye, [[w:Millicent Martin\|Millicent Martin]] (1955) ]]
	From 1950, Laye appeared in numerous [[West End theatre\|West End]] revues, including ''And So to Bed'', ''Intimacy at 8.30'', ''For Amusement Only'', and ''High Spirits''. In 1954, she played the first Dulcie in ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boy Friend]]'' on [[Broadway theatre\|Broadway]] alongside [[Julie Andrews]], with whom she shared a [[Manhattan]] flat during the run. At this time she dated a young actor called [[James Garner]].<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> In 1957, she began appearing in films more regularly, including one of the schoolgirls in ''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' and a married vamp trying to seduce [[Dirk Bogarde]] in ''[[Doctor at Large (film)\|Doctor at Large]]''.<ref name=bfi/> She played a girl in the park, in the [[Norman Wisdom]] film ''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959). She also appeared with [[Ian Carmichael]] in the comedy play ''The Tunnel of Love'' in the West End and was directed by [[Joan Littlewood]] in ''Make Me An Offer''.		From 1950, Laye appeared in numerous [[w:West End theatre\|West End]] revues, including ''And So to Bed'', ''Intimacy at 8.30'', ''For Amusement Only'', and ''High Spirits''. In 1954, she played the first Dulcie in ''[[w:The Boy Friend (musical)\|The Boy Friend]]'' on [[w:Broadway theatre\|Broadway]] alongside [[w:Julie Andrews\|Julie Andrews]], with whom she shared a [[w:Manhattan\|Manhattan]] [[w:Apartment\|flat]] during the run. At this time she dated a young actor called [[w:James Garner\|James Garner]].<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> In 1957, she began appearing in films more regularly, including one of the schoolgirls in ''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' and a married vamp trying to seduce [[w:Dirk Bogarde\|Dirk Bogarde]] in ''[[Doctor at Large (film)\|Doctor at Large]]''.<ref name=bfi/> She played a girl in the park, in the [[Norman Wisdom]] film ''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959). She also appeared with [[Ian Carmichael]] in the comedy play ''The Tunnel of Love'' in the West End and was directed by [[w:Joan Littlewood\|Joan Littlewood]] in ''Make Me An Offer''.

	In 1962, Laye made her first appearance in the ''[[Carry On (film series)\|Carry On]]'' films, replacing an unwell [[Joan Sims]] in ''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' at four days' notice. She returned in the [[James Bond]] parody ''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964), a hospital patient who falls in love with [[Bernard Bresslaw]] in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967), and as his permanently car-sick companion, on holiday with [[Sid James]] and Sims in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969), her fourth and last in the series.<ref name=heraldscotland>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12384479.dilys-laye/\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref> Also, in 1962, Laye appeared in the British sitcom ''[[The Rag Trade]]''. In 1965, she starred with her good friend [[Sheila Hancock]] in the sitcom ''[[The Bed-Sit Girl]]'' and appeared in the West End comedy ''Say Who You Are''.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/>		In 1962, Laye made her first appearance in the ''[[Carry On (film series)\|Carry On]]'' films, replacing an unwell [[Joan Sims]] in ''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' at four days' notice. She returned in the [[w:James Bond\|James Bond]] parody ''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964), a hospital patient who falls in love with [[Bernard Bresslaw]] in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967), and as his permanently car-sick companion, on holiday with [[Sid James]] and Sims in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969), her fourth and last in the series.<ref name=heraldscotland>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12384479.dilys-laye/\|title=Dilys Laye\|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref> Also, in 1962, Laye appeared in the British sitcom ''[[The Rag Trade]]''. In 1965, she starred with her good friend [[w:Sheila Hancock\|Sheila Hancock]] in the sitcom ''[[The Bed-Sit Girl]]'' and appeared in the West End comedy ''Say Who You Are''.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/>

	In 1975, she co-starred with [[Reg Varney]] in a failed sitcom called ''[[Down the 'Gate]]'' and, in 1981, appeared in and co-wrote, the [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b70e56710\|title=Down the 'gate (1976)\|website=BFI}}</ref><ref name=heraldscotland/> In 1986, she played the Nurse in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] and her other credits with the RSC in the mid to late-1980s included Maria in ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', First Witch in ''[[Macbeth]]'', Glinda/Aunt Em in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)\|The Wizard of Oz]]'' and Parthy Ann in an Opera North version of ''[[Show Boat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/page/2\|title=Search \| RSC Performances \| Shakespeare Birthplace Trust\|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref> In 2000 she returned to the RSC to play Mrs Medlock in its musical of ''The Secret Garden'', directed by [[Adrian Noble]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/seg200011/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/view_as/grid/page/2\|title=Search \| RSC Performances \| SEG200011 - The Secret Garden \| Shakespeare Birthplace Trust\|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref>		In 1975, she co-starred with [[Reg Varney]] in a failed sitcom called ''[[Down the 'Gate]]'' and, in 1981, appeared in and co-wrote, the [[w:ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b70e56710\|title=Down the 'gate (1976)\|website=BFI}}</ref><ref name=heraldscotland/> In 1986, she played the Nurse in ''[[w:Romeo and Juliet\|Romeo and Juliet]]'' with the [[w:Royal Shakespeare Company\|Royal Shakespeare Company]] and her other credits with the RSC in the mid to late-1980s included Maria in ''[[w:Twelfth Night\|Twelfth Night]]'', First Witch in ''[[w:Macbeth\|Macbeth]]'', Glinda/Aunt Em in ''[[w:The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)\|The Wizard of Oz]]'' and Parthy Ann in an Opera North version of ''[[w:Show Boat\|Show Boat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/page/2\|title=Search \| RSC Performances \| Shakespeare Birthplace Trust\|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref> In 2000 she returned to the RSC to play Mrs Medlock in its musical of ''The Secret Garden'', directed by [[w:Adrian Noble\|Adrian Noble]].<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/seg200011/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/view_as/grid/page/2\|title=Search \| RSC Performances \| SEG200011 - The Secret Garden \| Shakespeare Birthplace Trust\|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref>

	In the early 1990s, she toured the country in ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)\|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' and ''[[42nd Street (musical)\|42nd Street]]'', among others. Her later West End credits included the musicals ''[[Nine (musical)\|Nine]]'' in 1997 and ''[[Into the Woods]]'' in 1998 at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] and Mrs Pearce in [[Trevor Nunn]]'s revival of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] in 2002. She also starred in a revival of [[Christopher Hampton]]'s ''[[Les Liaisons Dangereuses (play)\|Les Liaisons Dangereuses]]'' at the [[Playhouse Theatre]] in 2003. The production was not admired but Laye's performance (as Madame de Rosemond) was and she received the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Female in a Supporting Role. In 2005, she toured Britain as the Grandmother in [[Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[The Witches (book)\|The Witches]]''.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary \| location=London \| newspaper=[[The Guardian]] \| title=Dilys Laye \| first=Michael \| last=Coveney \| date=3 March 2009}}</ref>		In the early 1990s, she toured the country in ''[[w:The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)\|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' and ''[[w:42nd Street (musical)\|42nd Street]]'', among others. Her later West End credits included the musicals ''[[w:Nine (musical)\|Nine]]'' in 1997 and ''[[w:Into the Woods\|Into the Woods]]'' in 1998 at the [[w:Donmar Warehouse\|Donmar Warehouse]] and Mrs Pearce in [[w:Trevor Nunn\|Trevor Nunn]]'s revival of ''[[w:My Fair Lady\|My Fair Lady]]'' at the [[w:Theatre Royal, Drury Lane\|Theatre Royal]] in 2002. She also starred in a revival of [[w:Christopher Hampton\|Christopher Hampton]]'s ''[[w:Les Liaisons Dangereuses (play)\|Les Liaisons Dangereuses]]'' at the [[w:Playhouse Theatre\|Playhouse Theatre]] in 2003. The production was not admired but Laye's performance (as Madame de Rosemond) was and she received the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Female in a Supporting Role. In 2005, she toured Britain as the Grandmother in [[w:Roald Dahl\|Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[w:The Witches (book)\|The Witches]]''.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news\| url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary \| location=London \| newspaper=[[The Guardian]] \| title=Dilys Laye \| first=Michael \| last=Coveney \| date=3 March 2009}}</ref>

	== Later years ==		== Later years ==

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{{Short description|English actress (1934–2009)}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox person
|name=Dilys Laye
|image=Dilys Laye 1969.jpg
|caption= Laye in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969)
|birth_date={{birth date|1934|03|11|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />
|birth_place=[[Muswell Hill]], [[London]], England
|death_date={{death date and age|2009|02|13|1934|03|11|df=y}}<ref name="obit-times" />
|death_place= London, England
|birth_name=Dilys Lay<ref name="obit-times" />
|spouse= [[Frank Maher (stuntman)|Frank Maher]] (1957–?; divorced) <br /> [[Garfield Morgan]] (1963–?; divorced) <br /> Alan Downer<ref name="obit-times" /> (1972–1995; his death)
|children= 1, with Downer
}}

'''Dilys Laye''' (born '''Dilys Lay'''; 11 March 1934 – 13 February 2009) was an English actress and [[screenwriter]], best known for her comedy roles.

== Early life ==
Laye was born in [[Muswell Hill]], [[London]], the daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (''[[née]]'' Hewitt).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/40/Dilys-Laye.html|title=Dilys Laye Biography (1934-)|website=Filmreference.com|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref name="obit-times">{{cite news|title=Dilys Laye: actress known for comic roles in the Carry On films|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article5768247.ece|work=The Times|date=20 February 2009|access-date=2009-02-22 | location=London}}</ref> Her father left the family when she was aged eight to work as a musician in [[South Africa]] and never came back.<ref name="thestage.co.uk">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye |title=The Stage / Features / Bewitched by the stage - Dilys Laye |access-date=12 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611141152/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868/bewitched-by-the-stage-dilys-laye |archive-date=11 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/dilys-lay-93955|title=Dilys Lay – Broadway Cast & Staff |website=IBDb.com|access-date=25 October 2018}}</ref> During [[World War II]] Laye and her brother were evacuated to [[Devon]], where they were unhappy and endured physical abuse. Laye returned home to a new stepfather and a mother who was keen to transfer her thwarted ambitions to her daughter.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> After education at [[St Dominic's Sixth Form College]], [[Middlesex]] and training at the [[Aida Foster stage school|Aida Foster School]], Laye made her stage debut aged 14 as a boy in a play called ''The Burning Bush'' at the New Lindsey Theatre and her film debut a year later as a younger version of [[Jean Kent]] in ''[[Trottie True]]''.<ref name=bfi>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f3eedd1|title=Dilys Laye|website=BFI}}</ref>

== Career ==
[[File:Eric Berry in The Boy Friend 1955.jpg|thumb|From the original Broadway production of ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)|The Boy Friend]]''; clockwise from left: Stella Claire, Lyn Connorty, [[Eric Berry (actor)|Eric Berry]], Dilys Laye, [[Millicent Martin]] (1955) ]]
From 1950, Laye appeared in numerous [[West End theatre|West End]] revues, including ''And So to Bed'', ''Intimacy at 8.30'', ''For Amusement Only'', and ''High Spirits''. In 1954, she played the first Dulcie in ''[[The Boy Friend (musical)|The Boy Friend]]'' on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] alongside [[Julie Andrews]], with whom she shared a [[Manhattan]] flat during the run. At this time she dated a young actor called [[James Garner]].<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/> In 1957, she began appearing in films more regularly, including one of the schoolgirls in ''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' and a married vamp trying to seduce [[Dirk Bogarde]] in ''[[Doctor at Large (film)|Doctor at Large]]''.<ref name=bfi/> She played a girl in the park, in the [[Norman Wisdom]] film ''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959). She also appeared with [[Ian Carmichael]] in the comedy play ''The Tunnel of Love'' in the West End and was directed by [[Joan Littlewood]] in ''Make Me An Offer''.

In 1962, Laye made her first appearance in the ''[[Carry On (film series)|Carry On]]'' films, replacing an unwell [[Joan Sims]] in ''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' at four days' notice. She returned in the [[James Bond]] parody ''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964), a hospital patient who falls in love with [[Bernard Bresslaw]] in ''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967), and as his permanently car-sick companion, on holiday with [[Sid James]] and Sims in ''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969), her fourth and last in the series.<ref name=heraldscotland>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/default_content/12384479.dilys-laye/|title=Dilys Laye|website=HeraldScotland}}</ref> Also, in 1962, Laye appeared in the British sitcom ''[[The Rag Trade]]''. In 1965, she starred with her good friend [[Sheila Hancock]] in the sitcom ''[[The Bed-Sit Girl]]'' and appeared in the West End comedy ''Say Who You Are''.<ref name="thestage.co.uk"/>

In 1975, she co-starred with [[Reg Varney]] in a failed sitcom called ''[[Down the 'Gate]]'' and, in 1981, appeared in and co-wrote, the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b70e56710|title=Down the 'gate (1976)|website=BFI}}</ref><ref name=heraldscotland/> In 1986, she played the Nurse in ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' with the [[Royal Shakespeare Company]] and her other credits with the RSC in the mid to late-1980s included Maria in ''[[Twelfth Night]]'', First Witch in ''[[Macbeth]]'', Glinda/Aunt Em in ''[[The Wizard of Oz (adaptations)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' and Parthy Ann in an Opera North version of ''[[Show Boat]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/page/2|title=Search | RSC Performances | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref> In 2000 she returned to the RSC to play Mrs Medlock in its musical of ''The Secret Garden'', directed by [[Adrian Noble]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://collections.shakespeare.org.uk/search/rsc-performances/seg200011/search/rsc_person:laye-dilys/view_as/grid/page/2|title=Search | RSC Performances | SEG200011 - The Secret Garden | Shakespeare Birthplace Trust|website=collections.shakespeare.org.uk}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, she toured the country in ''[[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|The Phantom of the Opera]]'' and ''[[42nd Street (musical)|42nd Street]]'', among others. Her later West End credits included the musicals ''[[Nine (musical)|Nine]]'' in 1997 and ''[[Into the Woods]]'' in 1998 at the [[Donmar Warehouse]] and Mrs Pearce in [[Trevor Nunn]]'s revival of ''[[My Fair Lady]]'' at the [[Theatre Royal, Drury Lane]] in 2002. She also starred in a revival of [[Christopher Hampton]]'s ''[[Les Liaisons Dangereuses (play)|Les Liaisons Dangereuses]]'' at the [[Playhouse Theatre]] in 2003. The production was not admired but Laye's performance (as Madame de Rosemond) was and she received the Clarence Derwent Award for Best Female in a Supporting Role. In 2005, she toured Britain as the Grandmother in [[Roald Dahl]]'s ''[[The Witches (book)|The Witches]]''.<ref name="guardian.co.uk">{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary | location=London | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | title=Dilys Laye | first=Michael | last=Coveney | date=3 March 2009}}</ref>

== Later years ==
Her final stage work came in 2006 in the three roles of Miss La Creevy, Mrs Gudden, and Peg Sliderskew in the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]]'s revival of the [[Royal Shakespeare Company|RSC]]'s epic ''[[The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (play)|Nicholas Nickleby]]''. During rehearsals, she was diagnosed with cancer and kept her illness secret from the rest of the cast, but was too ill to transfer with the production to London.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/>

Her later television work included character roles in ''[[EastEnders]]'', ''[[Coronation Street]]'', ''[[Holby City]]'', ''[[Midsomer Murders]]'', ''[[Doctors (2000 TV series)|Doctors]]'', ''[[The Amazing Mrs Pritchard]]'', and ''[[The Commander (TV series)|The Commander]]''.

==Personal life and death==
She was married first, briefly, to stuntman [[Frank Maher (stuntman)|Frank Maher]] and secondly in 1963, to actor [[Garfield Morgan]]; they were subsequently divorced. In 1972, she married her third husband, Alan Downer, who wrote scripts for ''[[Coronation Street]]'' and ''[[Emmerdale|Emmerdale Farm]]'' on television and ''[[Waggoners' Walk]]'' on radio. He died in 1995 after years of ill health following a stroke. They had a son, Andrew, who was an agent for film crews.

Laye died of [[lung cancer]] aged 74. She outlived her doctors' predictions by six months, and was able to see her son get married.<ref name="guardian.co.uk"/><ref name="imdb">{{IMDb name|id=0493513|name=Dilys Laye}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[Trottie True]]'' (1949) - Trottie as a young girl
*''[[Torment (1950 British film)|Torment]]'' (1950) - Violet Crier
*''[[The Belles of St. Trinian's]]'' (1954) - Sixth Former
*''[[Doctor at Large (film)|Doctor at Large]]'' (1957) - Mrs Jasmine Hatchet
*''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' (1957) - Bridget Strong
*''[[Idol on Parade]]'' (1959) - Renee
*''[[The Bridal Path (film)|The Bridal Path]]'' (1959) - Isobel
*''[[Upstairs and Downstairs]]'' (1959) - Agency girl
*''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959) - Lady with dog called Poochie-Pie
*''[[Please Turn Over]]'' (1959) - Millicent Jones
*''[[Petticoat Pirates]]'' (1961) - Sue
*''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' (1962) - Flo Castle
*''[[On the Beat (1962 film)|On the Beat]]'' (1962) - American girl
*''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964) - Lila
*''[[A Countess from Hong Kong]]'' (1967) - Saleswoman
*''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967) - Mavis Winkle
*''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969) - Anthea Meeks
*''[[EastEnders]]'' (Television) Recurring role 1994–95, Maxine Palmer
*''[[Alice in Wonderland (1999 film)|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1999) - The Governess
*''[[Dog Eat Dog (2001 film)|Dog Eat Dog]]'' (2001) - Edith Scarman<ref name="imdb"/>
* ''Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me'' (2008) - Edith Howerd
{{div col end}}

In the 1980s she appeared in, and co-wrote, the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0493513}}
*{{IBDB name|93955}}
*[http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/6868 Article about Dilys in ''The Stage'']
*[https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2009/mar/03/dilys-laye-obituary Obituary in ''The Guardian'']

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Laye, Dilys}}
[[Category:1934 births]]
[[Category:2009 deaths]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English soap opera actresses]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:People from Muswell Hill]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Aida Foster Theatre School]]
[[Category:20th-century British businesspeople]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:01, 14 September 2022
Line 46:		Line 46:
	==Filmography==		==Filmography==
	{{div col\|colwidth=30em}}		{{div col\|colwidth=30em}}
	*''[[Trottie True]]'' (1949) - Trottie as a young girl		*''[[w:Trottie True\|Trottie True]]'' (1949) - Trottie as a young girl
	*''[[Torment (1950 British film)\|Torment]]'' (1950) - Violet Crier		*''[[w:Torment (1950 British film)\|Torment]]'' (1950) - Violet Crier
	*''[[The Belles of St. Trinian's]]'' (1954) - Sixth Former		*''[[The Belles of St. Trinian's]]'' (1954) - Sixth Former
	*''[[Doctor at Large (film)\|Doctor at Large]]'' (1957) - Mrs Jasmine Hatchet		*''[[Doctor at Large (film)\|Doctor at Large]]'' (1957) - Mrs Jasmine Hatchet
	*''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' (1957) - Bridget Strong		*''[[Blue Murder at St Trinian's]]'' (1957) - Bridget Strong
	*''[[Idol on Parade]]'' (1959) - Renee		*''[[w:Idol on Parade\|Idol on Parade]]'' (1959) - Renee
	*''[[The Bridal Path (film)\|The Bridal Path]]'' (1959) - Isobel		*''[[w:The Bridal Path (film)\|The Bridal Path]]'' (1959) - Isobel
	*''[[Upstairs and Downstairs]]'' (1959) - Agency girl		*''[[w:Upstairs and Downstairs\|Upstairs and Downstairs]]'' (1959) - Agency girl
	*''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959) - Lady with dog called Poochie-Pie		*''[[Follow a Star]]'' (1959) - Lady with dog called Poochie-Pie
	*''[[Please Turn Over]]'' (1959) - Millicent Jones		*''[[w:Please Turn Over\|Please Turn Over]]'' (1959) - Millicent Jones
	*''[[Petticoat Pirates]]'' (1961) - Sue		*''[[w:Petticoat Pirates\|Petticoat Pirates]]'' (1961) - Sue
	*''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' (1962) - Flo Castle		*''[[Carry On Cruising]]'' (1962) - Flo Castle
	*''[[On the Beat (1962 film)\|On the Beat]]'' (1962) - American girl		*''[[w:On the Beat (1962 film)\|On the Beat]]'' (1962) - American girl
	*''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964) - Lila		*''[[Carry On Spying]]'' (1964) - Lila
	*''[[A Countess from Hong Kong]]'' (1967) - Saleswoman		*''[[w:A Countess from Hong Kong\|A Countess from Hong Kong]]'' (1967) - Saleswoman
	*''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967) - Mavis Winkle		*''[[Carry On Doctor]]'' (1967) - Mavis Winkle
	*''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969) - Anthea Meeks		*''[[Carry On Camping]]'' (1969) - Anthea Meeks
	*''[[EastEnders]]'' (Television) Recurring role 1994–95, Maxine Palmer		*''[[w:EastEnders\|EastEnders]]'' (Television) Recurring role 1994–95, Maxine Palmer
	*''[[Alice in Wonderland (1999 film)\|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1999) - The Governess		*''[[w:Alice in Wonderland (1999 film)\|Alice in Wonderland]]'' (1999) - The Governess
	*''[[Dog Eat Dog (2001 film)\|Dog Eat Dog]]'' (2001) - Edith Scarman<ref name="imdb"/>		*''[[w:Dog Eat Dog (2001 film)\|Dog Eat Dog]]'' (2001) - Edith Scarman<ref name="imdb"/>
	* ''Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me'' (2008) - Edith Howerd		* ''Frankie Howerd: Rather You Than Me'' (2008) - Edith Howerd
	{{div col end}}		{{div col end}}

	In the 1980s she appeared in, and co-wrote, the [[ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.		In the 1980s she appeared in, and co-wrote, the [[w:ITV (TV network)\|ITV]] comedy series ''Chintz''.

	==References==		==References==