Beryl Elizabeth Reid British character actress of theater and film. Date of Birth: 17.06.1919 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Beryl Elizabeth Reid
2. Early Career
3. Film and Television
4. Accolades and Legacy
5. Later Years and Death

Biography of Beryl Elizabeth Reid

Beryl Elizabeth Reid was a British character actress of both stage and screen. Born on June 17, 1919, in Hereford, Herefordshire, she grew up in the industrial city of Manchester. At the age of 16, she left home and briefly worked in a shop before finding her passion in acting.

Early Career

Beryl was able to join a theatre company in Bridlington for the summer season, and later became a member of the Royal National Theatre in London as a comedic actress, despite her lack of formal training. Her breakthrough came with the radio show "Educating Archie" on BBC, where she played the mischievous schoolgirl Monica. Although performing with a ventriloquist dummy on the radio may seem peculiar, the show gained popularity.

Film and Television

While Beryl's film roles were few, they were consistently well-received by both critics and audiences. One of her most beloved performances was as a tipsy elderly lady in the television drama "The Beiderbecke Tapes." She also portrayed the character Connie Sachs in the spy miniseries "Smiley's People" and "Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy." Beryl was married twice, but divorced in both instances.

Accolades and Legacy

In 1967, Beryl received a Tony Award for "Best Dramatic Actress" for her performance as June Buckridge, an aging unsuccessful actress, in the play "The Killing of Sister George." She reprised the role in the film adaptation in 1968 and was nominated for a Golden Globe as "Best Actress." However, the play and film faced controversy due to its lesbian love theme, which was considered taboo at the time and offended societal morals. Beryl faced discrimination in some stores when recognized as the actress who portrayed the main character.

In recognition of her contribution to the performing arts, Beryl was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1986. In 1991, she received the Lifetime British Comedy Award for her outstanding achievements. Beryl struggled with dyslexia, which made learning scripts challenging for her.

Later Years and Death

In her later years, Beryl resided in an eccentric home called "Honeypot Cottage" on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire. The unique circular design enclosed all the rooms, and she shared the space with stray cats. Beryl passed away on October 13, 1996, at the age of 77, due to complications following knee surgery. Different sources attribute her death to either pneumonia or kidney failure.