Margaret Nolan

Margaret Ann Nolan (29 October 1943 – 5 October 2020) was an English actress, visual artist and glamour model. She appeared in Goldfinger, A Hard Day's Night and six Carry On films, and also regularly appeared on screen from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Early life Nolan was born in Hampstead, London.

Acting career Nolan reverted to her birth name as soon as she began to find acting roles, appearing in numerous television shows, theatre productions and films. The latter included A Hard Day's Night with the Beatles, Ferry Cross the Mersey with Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Marcel Carné's Three Rooms in Manhattan. Nolan also appeared in one of the first episodes of the television spy thriller The Saint with Roger Moore.

Nolan played the role of Dink, Bond's masseuse, in the James Bond film Goldfinger released in 1964. She was also painted gold and wore a gold bikini for Robert Brownjohn's title-sequence, advertisements and soundtrack-cover (not Shirley Eaton as in the narrative of the film). This led to photographs in Playboy magazine's James Bond's Girls edition of November 1965. In the film Carry On at Your Convenience (1971), composer Eric Rogers referenced Nolan's Goldfinger affiliation by using its three-note motif on a close-up of her. Nolan appeared on the front cover of both the US and UK versions of the 2005 book Robert Brownjohn: Sex and Typography. In 2012, Nolan gave her first interview concerning her experiences as the model. Asked if the imagery liberates or celebrates womanhood, Nolan responded that:It does celebrate the physical form. If I'd been nude it might have been about liberation because up to that point you wouldn't have seen a nude woman in a publicly visible thing like that. I could have been very pretentious and said this is liberating. But because I was dressed-up anyway I didn't get that sense. It became the first film-title to be shown in installation at MoMA, New York (2012).

On appearing in Michael Pertwee's farce She's Done It Again at London's Garrick Theatre in 1969, Nolan was described as combining "a long list of physical attractions with a talent that has contributed to the success of many films and television plays". She was known for five BBC series with Spike Milligan and in 2013 published a short essay on her time working with him. Nolan gave a live reading of the work at the Poetry Society in Covent Garden, reviewed by What's On London as a "deeply-personal memoir... her performance simply magical." She spoke of her awareness of Milligan's depressive character but also of their friendly working relationship; noting that "Professionally, he taught me that timing is what makes things funny. Timing is crucial." Nolan was cast in several Carry On films

Nolan also appeared in serious theatre, motivated by political themes. In 2011, Nolan's work as a comedy actress was recognised with her name included on Gordon Young's Comedy Carpet installation in front of Blackpool Tower. Also in 2011, Nolan returned to the screen after a gap of nearly three decades. She starred in a role especially written for her by Ann Cameron, in Yvonne Deutschman's The Power of Three. These pieces concern "a unique and personal dialogue intrinsically related to a view of a woman and how a woman is viewed." She exhibited in London at venues including the Brick Lane Gallery (2009), The Misty Moon Gallery (2013) and Gallery Different (2013), whilst a screen-print is held by Kemistry Gallery. In 2007, Nolan moved back to London.

In 2009, early publicity shots of Nolan inspired screen-prints by Brighton-based graffiti artist Hutch. Nolan's work in photo-montage was also selected for the front cover of Playerist poetry magazine (No. 2, 2012). In 2013, her artworks featured in the group show equals: exploring feminism through art and conversation at Blankspace Manchester; the press release quoting that: "Her voice carries alongside universal debate on socio-sexual hierarchies in the age of mass media."

Personal life and death Nolan was married to English playwright Tom Kempinski in 1967 and divorced in 1972. They had two sons.

Nolan died of cancer on 5 October 2020 at her home in Belsize Park, London, at age 76. She had sought to write a memoir with Paul Stenning.

Filmography Nolan's acting career covers works in television and cinema.

Film Year Title Role Notes1962 One Track Mind Girl Short film1963 It's a Bare, Bare World! Vicki Short film. Credited as Vicki Kennedy 1968 Witchfinder General Girl at Inn Billed as Maggie Nolan in end credits Don't Raise the Bridge, Lower the River Spink's Nurse 1969 Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness? Little Assistance Crooks and Coronets Girlfriend Uncredited role The Best House in London Busty Prostitute Uncredited role1970 Toomorrow Johnson 1971 Carry On Henry Buxom Lass Carry On at Your Convenience Popsy 1972 Carry On Matron Mrs. Tucker Frenzy Young Woman Uncredited role. Scene cut1973 Class of '44 Girl in Stairwell Uncredited role No Sex Please, We're British Barbara Carry On Girls Dawn Brakes 1974 Carry On Dick Lady Daley 1983 Positions of Power Elizabeth Nihell Short film1986 Sky Bandits Waitress 2011 The Power of Three Dame Margaret 1983 Crown Court Frances O'Reilly Episode: "A Sword in the Hand of David: Part One" Crossroads Denise Paget 14 episodes

Theatre Fringe Why Bournemouth? (1968) It Has No Choice A Minor Scene Homo Stimulation Super Santa How the Vote Was Won (1986) Daughters of Men (1986)Provincial The Bacchae (1970) Bus Stop (Cherie) (1970) Who Goes Bare (1970) Murder in the Office (1972) Not Now, Darling (1973) Don't Look Now (1974) Under the Hill (Aubrey Beardsley) (1976)West End The Giveaway (1969) Adam's Apple (1970) She's Done It Again (1970)