Sylvia Syms

London-born Sylvia May Laura Syms hit major film appeal at a relatively young age. Born on January 6, 1934, she was educated at convent schools before receiving dramatic training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She made her stage debut in a production of "The Apple Cart" in 1954.A repertory player by the time she was discovered for films by the British star 'Anna Neagle' (qv) and her director/husband 'Herbert Wilcox' (qv), the lovely demure blonde started out auspiciously enough in the delinquent film _Teenage Bad Girl (1956)_ (qv) in which she played Neagle's troubled daughter. This was followed by a second Neagle/Wilcox collaboration with _No Time for Tears (1957)_ (qv).Excelling whether cast in stark melodrama, spirited adventure or harmless comedy fluff, Syms' film list grew impressive in the late 1950s and early 1960s working alongside the likes of 'John Mills' (qv) and 'Anthony Quayle' (qv) in _Ice Cold in Alex (1958)_ (qv), 'Curd Jürgens' (qv) and 'Orson Welles' (qv) in _Ferry to Hong Kong (1959)_ (qv), 'Lilli Palmer' (qv) and 'Yvonne Mitchell' (qv) in _Conspiracy of Hearts (1960)_ (qv), 'Laurence Harvey' (qv) in _Expresso Bongo (1959)_ (qv), 'William Holden' (qv) in _The World of Suzie Wong (1960)_ (qv), and 'Dirk Bogarde' (qv) in the landmark gay-themed _Victim (1961)_ (qv), playing the unsuspecting wife of Bogarde's closeted male. After nearly a decade's absence, Sylvia returned briefly to the London theatre lights in 1964 to play the title role in "Peter Pan."Ably portraying innocent love interests throughout the years, she graced a number of pictures without ever nabbing that one role that would truly put her over the top. She was nominated, however, three times for British Film Academy 'Awards' (qv)--twice for best actress in _Woman in a Dressing Gown (1957)_ (qv) and _No Trees in the Street (1959)_ (qv) and once for supporting actress in _The Tamarind Seed (1974)_ (qv) that starred 'Julie Andrews' (qv) and 'Omar Sharif' (qv).The 1970s saw quite a bit of TV series work and she played British prime minister 'Margaret Thatcher' (qv) at one point on both stage and TV. She grew plumper with middle age and found herself immersed in character roles, offering support in such films as _Absolute Beginners (1986)_ (qv), _Shirley Valentine (1989)_ (qv) and _Shining Through (1992)_ (qv).The stage once again beckoned in the mid-to-late 1980's with touring performances, among many others, in "The Heiress," "The Beaux Stratagem," "The Ideal Husband," "A Doll's House," "Ghosts," "The Vortex," "Hamlet," "Anthony and Cleopatra" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" She portrayed the Queen and 'Margaret Thatcher' (qv) in a production of "Ugly Rumours" and was among the cast in a musical presentation of "On the Town" in 2005.Into the millennium, Sylvia has continued to have remarkable agility. American audiences have recently seen her as the dog-doting "Princess Charlotte" in the light teen comedy _What a Girl Wants (2003)_ (qv) with 'Amanda Bynes' (qv) and 'Colin Firth' (qv), and treading water as the 'Shelley Winters' (qv) character in the TV-remake of _The Poseidon Adventure (2005)_ (qv). Other movies have included the role of the Queen Mum in _The Queen (2006)_ (qv) starring Oscar-winning 'Helen Mirren' (qv) as Queen Elizabeth II, as well as featured roles in _Is Anybody There? (2008)_ (qv) starring 'Michael Caine' (qv) and _Booked Out (2012)_ (qv). She also co-starred opposite 'Peter Bowles' (qv) in the heart-warming senior character study _Together (2018)_ (qv).Married once and divorced in the 1980's from Alvin Edney, daughter 'Beatie Edney' (qv) (aka Beatrice) is a highly prolific actress in her own right, and her son, 'Benjamin Edney' (qv), was briefly an actor while young and appeared with his mother as her son in the western _The Desperados (1969)_ (qv). Ms. Syms is sometimes confused with Brooklyn-born jazz/cabaret performer and recording artist 'Sylvia Syms' (qv) (1917-1992) (née Sylvia Blagman).::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]