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Dilys Laye

Trivia

Dilys Laye

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  • Lifelong friend of "Carry On..." star Joan Sims, they first met when Dilys was 16.
  • Was allowed to keep most of the costumes she wore in the Carry On films, in particular. La folle croisière (1962) and Les Cinglés du camping (1969).
  • Was taught poker by Sidney James during the filming of Les Cinglés du camping (1969).
  • For the last 20 years she lived off Wimbledon Common in the house where she nursed her sick husband, the actor/writer Alan Downer, until his death in 1995. The stress of caring for him brought on her own serious illness but she recovered.
  • Replaced Joan Sims in La folle croisière (1962) as Flo Castle three days before filming commenced. The producers rushed Dilys around London in order to get her fitted with costumes in time.
  • Her father was a musician who abandoned the family when she was 8.
  • Made her Broadway debut as Dulcie, Polly's friend, in the musical "The Boyfriend" when the London production transferred to New York in 1954. She co-starred with Julie Andrews (as Polly) and the two shared a Manhattan apartment for the duration of the run.
  • Co-wrote the 7 part television serial Chintz (1981) with Alex Adams and played the part of Dottie Nelson in it.
  • Owns Betty E. Box's white leather script holder.
  • In her early days she did a 12 week run of one night stands in Wales and wowed audiences.
  • Soon after graduating from Aida Foster's she recreated Elizabeth Bergner's celebrated role of 'The Boy in the Burning Bush'.
  • Educated (1944-1947) at St. Dominic's Convent, Harrow-on-the-Hill, and trained in theatre (1947-1949) at the Ada Foster Stage School.
  • She worked at the Bromley Repertory Theatre and The Bristol Old Vic, and in the West End appeared in the revue 'For Amusement Only', 'High Spirits, with Joan Sims, and 'The Tunnel of Love'.
  • Educated at St Dominic's Convent, Harrow-on-the-Hill, northwest London, she trained for the stage at the Aida Foster School and made her first appearance as a child in 1948 as Moritz in The Burning Bush at the New Lindsey Theatre.
  • Son is Agent / Producer / Actor Andrew Downer.
  • She was cast along with Joe Melia, Derek Godfrey, Jack Shepperd and Felicity Kendall in 'Seven Who Were Hanged' but it was canceled when the finance ran out.
  • Daughter of Edward Lay and his wife Margaret (née Hewitt).
  • Starred in Yorkshire Television's first play Daddy Kiss It Better (1968).
  • In 1955 she went to America with Julie Andrews and Millicent Martin to appear in The Boyfriend on Broadway.

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