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Beatrice LillieCanadian comedienne
Date of Birth: 29.05.1894
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Biography of Beatrice Lillie
Early Life and CareerBeatrice Gladys Lillie was born on May 29, 1894, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She began performing in a family trio in Toronto and other cities in Ontario, alongside her mother and older sister Muriel. Eventually, her mother brought the girls to London, England, where Bea made her West End debut in 1914. Lillie primarily performed in revues, particularly light comedies and projects by the famous André Charlot, working alongside Gertrude Lawrence, Bert Lahr, and Jack Haley. Her sketches, songs, and parodies in these revues earned her praise from the New York Times immediately after her debut in New York in 1924.
Comedic Success
In her most famous comedic numbers, Beatrice mocked the performance style of artists from previous decades, including parodies of songs like "There are Fairies at the Bottom of our Garden" and "Mother Told Me So". Her other numbers, such as "Get Yourself a Geisha" and "Snoops the Lawyer", vividly demonstrated Lillie's ability to take everything to the height of absurdity. She was even dubbed "The Funniest Woman in the World". In 1926, she returned to New York to continue her performances.
Film and Theater
During this time, Bea appeared in her first film, Sam Taylor's comedy "Exit Smiling", alongside her Canadian colleague Jack Pickford. She frequently crossed the Atlantic to perform in London and New York until the outbreak of World War I. She collaborated with Noël Coward, first performing his song "Mad Dogs and Englishmen" on June 1, 1931. She also had songs written for her by Cole Porter. Throughout her career, Beatrice appeared in only a few films, including the role of Maria Wislak in the comedy "On Approval" with Clive Brook, who served as her producer, director, and one of the screenwriters. In the family fantasy film "Around the World in Eighty Days," she made a cameo appearance, and in George Roy Hill's comedy musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie," she played Mrs. Meers.
Recognition and Personal Life
In 1935, Bea won the prestigious Tony Award for her revue "An Evening With Beatrice Lillie". British critic Ronald Barker wrote, "Other generations had their Mistinguettes and their Marie Lloyds. We have Beatrice Lillie, and seldom indeed do we see the display of a more accomplished talent." In 1954, she received the Sarah Siddons Award for her work in Chicago theaters. Lillie's last public performance was as Madame Arcati in the musical "High Spirits," the musical version of Coward's play "Blithe Spirit."
Rumors suggest that early in her career, Bea was involved in bisexual relationships with Tallulah Bankhead, Eva Le Gallienne, and Judith Anderson. She married Sir Robert Peel V on January 20, 1920, at St. Paul's Church near Tamworth, Staffordshire. Eventually, they lived separate lives but never filed for divorce. Peel passed away in 1934. Their only child, Sir Robert Peel VI, was killed in action aboard the HMS Tenedos in Colombo Harbor, Ceylon, in 1942. During World War II, Beatrice enthusiastically performed for the armed forces. Once, just before going on stage, she was informed that her son had died in battle. However, Lillie never considered postponing her performance, claiming that she would "cry tomorrow."
In 1948, the comedian met singer and actor John Philip Huck, who was nearly 30 years younger than her. Huck became her friend and companion. However, biographers and friends of Beatrice describe him as untalented and obsessed with controlling her fame. He isolated her from friends and family for years, practicing total control not only over her personal life but also her financial affairs. Due to Alzheimer's disease, Lillie retired from the stage and passed away on January 20, 1989 (her wedding anniversary), in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Just 31 hours after her death, Huck died of a heart attack and was buried alongside her. Beatrice Lillie was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for her contributions to the film industry.
