Heather Thatcher

• Name — Heather Thatcher • Born — 3 September 1896 • Birthplace — London, England • Died — 15 January 1987 • Place of death — Hillingdon, London, England • Occupation — Actress and dancer • Years Active — 1915–1955

By 1922, Thatcher was a dancer. She was especially noted for her interpretation of an Egyptian harem dance. Her exotic clothes were designed in Russia. They featured stencil slits in the waist, trouserettes and sleeves. Her attire was billed as the boldest costume ever shown in Britain.

Thatcher made her debut on the London stage in 1916 in The Girl from Cirro's at the Garrick Theatre, before going on to play a role in The Boy at the Adelphi Theatre. In 1923, she sang and danced in another musical comedy, The Beauty Prize, at the Winter Garden Theatre. In March 1924, whilst travelling to the south of France on a short holiday with the actor and comedian Leslie Henson, Thatcher was a passenger on a Riviera Express train that derailed four miles outside of Lyon, killing three. She was trapped under the wreckage for almost an hour before being rescued but suffered only minor bruising. The sleeping berth directly above her had been empty at the time of the crash and acted as a canopy when the carriages collided, protecting her from more serious injury. In August 1926, she appeared in Thy Name Is Woman at the Q Theatre. It marked her transition from musical comedy to serious acting. She continued her London stage work, performing with June Clyde in Lucky Break. Premiering at the Strand Theatre in September 1934, the theatrical presentation was a production of Leslie Henson. In 1937, Thatcher went to the United States in Full House. The previous season, she was paired with Ivor Novello in the English rendition. Jack Buchanan, Austin Trevor and Coral Browne teamed with Thatcher in Canaries Sometimes Sing (1947). Produced by Firth Shephard, the theatrical presentation opened in Blackpool and moved to London a month later. Thatcher participated in a Salute To Ivor Novello at the London Coliseum in September 1951. The production raised funds to run his old home, Redroofs. It had been purchased by the Actors' Benevolent Fund.

Thatcher died in Hillingdon, London, in 1987. In her will, she left bequests to various charities, including the NSPCC, Help the Aged and the Royal National Institute for the Blind.

• The Prisoner of Zenda (1915) - Extra (uncredited) • Altar Chains (1916) - Alice Vaughan • The Key of the World (1918) - Dina Destin • Pallard the Punter (1919) - Gladys Callender • The First Men in the Moon (1919) - Susan • The Green Terror (1919) - Olive Crosswell • The Little Hour of Peter Wells (1920) - Camille Pablo • The Plaything (1929) - Martyn Bennett • A Warm Corner (1930) - Mimi • Comets (1930) - Himself • Stepping Stones (1931) • But the Flesh Is Weak (1932) - Lady Joan Culver • It's a Boy (1933) - Anita Gunn • Loyalties (1933) - Margaret Orme • The Private Life of Don Juan (1934) - Anna Dora, an Actress as Actresses Go • The Dictator (1935) - Lady of the Court • Mama Steps Out (1937) - Nadine Wentworth - the Poet • The Thirteenth Chair (1937) - Mary Eastwood • Tovarich (1937) - Lady Kartegann • Fools for Scandal (1938) - Lady Potter-Porter • If I Were King (1938) - The Queen • Girls' School (1938) - Miss Brackett • Beau Geste (1939) - Lady Patricia Brandon • Man Hunt (1941) - Lady Alice Risborough • Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake (1942) - Maggie Martin • We Were Dancing (1942) - Mrs. Tyler-Blane • This Above All (1942) - Nurse (uncredited) • The Moon and Sixpence (1942) - Rose Waterford (uncredited) • The Undying Monster (1942) - Christy • Journey for Margaret (1942) - Mrs. Harris • Above Suspicion (1943) - English Girl Dancing with Richard (uncredited) • Flesh and Fantasy (1943) - Lady Flora (uncredited) • Gaslight (1944) - Lady Dalroy • Anna Karenina (1948) - Countess Lydia Ivanovna • Trottie True (1949) - Angela Platt-Brown • Dear Mr. Prohack (1949) - Lady Maslam • Encore (1951) - Eva Barrett (segment "Gigolo and Gigolette") • Father's Doing Fine (1952) - Lady Buckering • The Hour of 13 (1952) - Mrs. Chumley Orr • Will Any Gentleman...? (1953) - Mrs. Whittle • Duel in the Jungle (1954) - Lady on S.S. Nigeria • The Deep Blue Sea (1955) - Lady Dawson • Josephine and Men (1955) - Aunt May Luton (final film role)

• Lima News, "Has London Gone Crazy About Clothes?", 10 December 1922, Page 38. • Lima News, "Why They Covered Up The Three Prettiest Figures in England", 1 April 1923, Page 12. • Yorkshire Evening Post, "Actress's Ordeal in Train Smash", 14 March 1924, Page 7. • Los Angeles Times, "English Star Here", 15 September 1931, Page A9. • Los Angeles Times, "Silver Wedding Bells", 4 October 1931, Page I2. • Los Angeles Times, "Society of Cinemaland", 15 November 1931, Page B19. • Los Angeles Times, "Heather Thatcher With MGM", 2 February 1932, Page A9. • Los Angeles Times, "English Play Being Screened", 21 February 1932, Page B11. • Los Angeles Times, "Feeble Follow-Up", 24 April 1932, Page B15. • New York Times, "London Stage Notes", 22 August 1926, Page X1. • New York Times, "London Film Notes", 6 October 1929, Page X9. • New York Times, "Don Juan Is To Be A Film Hero", 17 January 1934, Page X2. • New York Times, "The Cable Spies on London", 30 September 1934, Page X1. • New York Times, "News of the Stage", 18 September 1936, Page 19. • New York Times, "London Notes", 25 October 1947, Page 13. • The Times, "Actress' Action Settled", Wednesday, 13 December 1933, Page 4. • The Times, "Stage Tribute To Ivor Novello", Saturday, 8 September 1951, Page 8. • Uxbridge and Hillingdon Gazette, "Comedienne's Charity Bequests", 27 May 1987, Page 11.