Suzanna Leigh

Suzanna Leigh (born Sandra Eileen Anne Smith; 26 July 1945 – 11 December 2017) was a British actress, known for her film and television roles in the 1960s and 1970s.[2]

Suzanna Leigh
Leigh in 1977
Born
Sandra Eileen Anne Smith

(1945-07-26)26 July 1945
Reading, Berkshire, England
Died11 December 2017(2017-12-11) (aged 72)
OccupationActress
Years active1956–2016
PartnerTim Hue-Williams (1972–1982)[1]
Children1

Early life and education edit

Born Sandra Eileen Anne Smith on 26 July 1945, Leigh grew up in Berkshire, England,[3] and later went to convent schools outside London. She began working in films while still a child, appearing as an extra in several British productions. She changed her name to Suzanna Leigh after entering film, whilst under the tutelage of her godmother, Vivien Leigh[4]

Career edit

Leigh's film roles include the love interest of Elvis Presley in Paradise, Hawaiian Style (1966), a stewardess in the comedy Boeing Boeing (1965), and the heroine in a couple of Hammer films - The Lost Continent (1968) and Lust for a Vampire (1971).[5]

She starred in the cult British horror films The Deadly Bees (1966) and The Fiend (1972). In 1974 she starred as Amber in Son of Dracula.[5] In 2015, she was a featured player in the film Grace of the Father. She wrote a 2000 autobiography, Paradise, Suzanna Style.

Death edit

Leigh was diagnosed with stage-four liver cancer in September 2016 and died in December 2017 in Winter Garden, Florida.[6][7]

Filmography edit

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1956The Silken AffairMinor RoleUncredited
1957Man from TangierUncredited
1958Tom ThumbExtra in 'Dancing Shoes' sequenceUncredited
1960Oscar WildeMinor RoleUncredited
1961Bomb in the High StreetJackie
1965The Pleasure GirlsDee
1965Boeing BoeingVicky HawkinsBritish United
1966Paradise, Hawaiian StyleJudy Hudson (Friday)
1966The Deadly BeesVicki Robbins
1967Deadlier Than the MaleGrace
1968The Lost ContinentUnity Webster
1968SubterfugeDonetta
1970Docteur CaraïbesLaura
1971Lust for a VampireJanet Playfair
1972The FiendPaddy Lynch
1973Son of DraculaAmber
2015Grace of the FatherJudith Hudson(final film role)
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1963It Happened Like ThisAmanda Morris1 episode
1964The SaintLilla McAndrew1 episode
1966The Wednesday PlayElaine1 episode
1966Trois étoiles en TouraineTV movie
1969Journey to the UnknownVickie1 episode
1970ITV PlayhouseIngrid1 episode
1971Amicalement Vôtre!Emily Major1 episode
1973Docteur CaraïbesLaura4 episodes
1978The Chiffy KidsMiss Armitage1 episode

Writings edit

  • Paradise, Suzanna Style[8]
  • 2014: "Thank you, Lord", Touched by an Angel, chickensoup.com; accessed 14 December 2017.

References edit

  1. ^ Profile, independent.co.uk; accessed 26 July 2015.
  2. ^ "Suzanna Leigh". BFI. Archived from the original on 10 March 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  3. ^ Sandra Brennan (2014). "Suzanna Leigh - Biography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  4. ^ "Suzanna Leigh Obituary". 2017.
  5. ^ a b Suzanna Leigh at IMDb
  6. ^ "Natalia Leigh". Natalia Leigh. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  7. ^ Suzanna Leigh, Elvis Presley's Co-Star in 'Paradise, Hawaiian Style,' Dies at 72 The Hollywood Reporter, 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  8. ^ Leigh, Suzanna (2000). Paradise. CreateSpace. ISBN 9781439209684.

External links edit