Patricia Kirkwood

Patricia Kirkwood (24 February 1921 – 25 December 2007) was a British stage actress, singer and dancer who appeared in numerous performances of dramas, cabaret, revues, music hall, variety and pantomimes. She also performed on radio, television and films. In 1954, BBC Television broadcast The Pat Kirkwood Show; she was the first woman appearing on British television to have her own series. Kirkwood married four times and did not have any children. She was educated at Levenshulme High School in Manchester. During Christmas 1937, she took the role of Dandini at Shaftesbury Theatre, in the pantomime "Cinderella", along with Stanley Lupino. Over the next two years, she worked in cabaret, variety shows, and pantomimes.

Stardom and the war years During 1938–39, Kirkwood appeared in two films, Save a Little Sunshine and Me and My Pal along with the Scottish comedian Dave Willis where she sang 2 musical numbers. She continued to perform throughout the rest of the war in West End pantomimes and shows. She played in Lady Behave (1941), Let's Face It! (1942), as Robin Goodfellow in Goody Two Shoes (Coliseum Theatre, London, 1944), as the Princess in Aladdin (Theatre Royal, Nottingham) and was featured on radio in A Date with Pat Kirkwood.

American venture and breakdown Towards the end of the war in 1944, Kirkwood received competing 7-year contract offers from both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and 20th Century Fox, allegedly for £250,000. Three days after V-E Day, Kirkwood journeyed to the United States. In 1954, Kirkwood travelled back to the US for a three-month tour in Las Vegas performing cabaret at the Desert Inn. Later that evening, they went to dinner at Les Ambassadeurs restaurant in Mayfair. Rumours of an affair between Prince Philip and Kirkwood were printed in the daily newspapers. King George VI was said by courtiers to be furious when he was told about the circulating gossip.

Retirement From 1970 to 1973, Kirkwood came out of her declared retirement to Portugal to perform again in a number of venues and tours including taking the part of Judith Bliss in Noël Coward's Hay Fever (1970), Lady Frederick (1971), Babes in the Woods (1971 - pantomime), A Chorus Murder (1972), Move Over Mrs. Markham (in the title role, 1973). Her last pantomime performance was in Aladdin in Newcastle (pantomime). on Christmas Day 2007, aged 86.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes 1938 Save a Little Sunshine Pat 1939 Come On George! Ann Johnson 1940 Band Waggon Pat 1945 Flight from Folly Sue Brown 1946 No Leave, No Love Susan Malby Duncan 1950 Once a Sinner Irene James 1956 Stars in Your Eyes Sally Bishop 1957 After the Ball Vesta Tilley