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Googie Withers
Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers (12 March 1917 – 15 July 2011) was an English entertainer. She was a dancer and actress, with a lengthy career spanning some seventy-three years in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during and after the Second World War.
She often featured in British productions, primarily in films with actor and producer John McCallum, whom she married and, in the late 1950s, emigrated together to her husband's native Australia, where they became best known in theatre. During the 1970s, she played prison governor Faye Boswell in the TV series Within These Walls, and continued to feature in films. She won the inaugural British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 1955.
Withers was born in Karachi, British India (now Pakistan), to Edgar Withers, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Lizette Wilhelmina Katarina, of Dutch, French and German descent. She was named after her aunt Georgette Ottolina, but was fondly given the name "chota ghugi'" at a young age by her Punjabi ayah (nanny), chota ghugi' being Punjabi for "little dove", which became anglicised to "Googie". She became used to the nickname and decided to keep it as her stage name.
After her father left the Royal Navy to manage a foundry in Birmingham, England, Googie was sent to Fredville Park School, a boarding school in Nonington, and a secondary day school in London.
Withers began acting at the age of twelve, and was student at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and at the dance school of Buddy Bradley, where she learnt ballet and tap. She was a dancer in a West End production when she was offered work as a film extra in Michael Powell's The Girl in the Crowd (1935). She arrived on the set to find one of the major players in the production had been dismissed, and she was immediately asked to step into the leading role, beginning a seven year contract with Warner Brothers, after which she worked for Fox British, Ealing Studios and The Rank Organisation.
During the 1930s, Withers was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films, and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was in Windfall (1935) and The Love Test (1935), and she had the lead in All at Sea (1935).
Withers supported in Dark World (1935), King of Hearts (1936), and Accused (1936). Her Last Affaire (1935) was her third film with Powell.
She followed it with She Knew What She Wanted (1936), Crown v. Stevens (1936) (directed by Powell), Crime Over London (1936), Pearls Bring Tears (1937), Action for Slander (1937), and Paradise for Two (1937).
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Googie Withers
Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers (12 March 1917 – 15 July 2011) was an English entertainer. She was a dancer and actress, with a lengthy career spanning some seventy-three years in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during and after the Second World War.
She often featured in British productions, primarily in films with actor and producer John McCallum, whom she married and, in the late 1950s, emigrated together to her husband's native Australia, where they became best known in theatre. During the 1970s, she played prison governor Faye Boswell in the TV series Within These Walls, and continued to feature in films. She won the inaugural British Academy Television Award for Best Actress in 1955.
Withers was born in Karachi, British India (now Pakistan), to Edgar Withers, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Lizette Wilhelmina Katarina, of Dutch, French and German descent. She was named after her aunt Georgette Ottolina, but was fondly given the name "chota ghugi'" at a young age by her Punjabi ayah (nanny), chota ghugi' being Punjabi for "little dove", which became anglicised to "Googie". She became used to the nickname and decided to keep it as her stage name.
After her father left the Royal Navy to manage a foundry in Birmingham, England, Googie was sent to Fredville Park School, a boarding school in Nonington, and a secondary day school in London.
Withers began acting at the age of twelve, and was student at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and at the dance school of Buddy Bradley, where she learnt ballet and tap. She was a dancer in a West End production when she was offered work as a film extra in Michael Powell's The Girl in the Crowd (1935). She arrived on the set to find one of the major players in the production had been dismissed, and she was immediately asked to step into the leading role, beginning a seven year contract with Warner Brothers, after which she worked for Fox British, Ealing Studios and The Rank Organisation.
During the 1930s, Withers was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films, and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was in Windfall (1935) and The Love Test (1935), and she had the lead in All at Sea (1935).
Withers supported in Dark World (1935), King of Hearts (1936), and Accused (1936). Her Last Affaire (1935) was her third film with Powell.
She followed it with She Knew What She Wanted (1936), Crown v. Stevens (1936) (directed by Powell), Crime Over London (1936), Pearls Bring Tears (1937), Action for Slander (1937), and Paradise for Two (1937).