Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts (20 September 192726 November 1980) was a Welsh actress. She is best remembered for her screen performances as the older mistress of the central male characters in both Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and This Sporting Life (1963). For each, she won the BAFTA Award for Best British Actress. She was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress for This Sporting Life. Her other notable film appearances included Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) and Yanks (1979).

Roberts's theatre credits included the original production of the musical Maggie May in 1964. She was nominated for the 1974 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for the plays Chemin de Fer and The Visit, and won a Drama Desk Award in 1976 for Habeas Corpus.

Early life and career Roberts was born in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales, the daughter of a Baptist minister, though she later rebelled against her upbringing. After studying at the University of Wales in Aberystwyth and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Her film debut was in Gilbert Gunn's Welsh-set comedy Valley of Song (1953).

Her portrayal of Brenda in Karel Reisz's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960) won her a British Academy Film Award. Lindsay Anderson cast her as the long suffering Mrs Hammond in This Sporting Life (1963), earning her another BAFTA and an Oscar nomination. Both films were significant examples of the British New Wave of film-making.

In theatre, she performed at the Royal Court and played the title role as the life-enhancing prostitute in Lionel Bart's musical Maggie May (1964). On film she played a dual role as a suicidal housewife and a predatory PR officer in Lindsay Anderson's O Lucky Man! (1973). It was her work as Hildegarde Schmitt in Murder on the Orient Express (1974) that got her a leading part in Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), playing the authoritarian head teacher of a girls' school in 1900 Australia.

After relocating to Los Angeles in the early 1970s, she appeared in supporting roles in several American films such as Foul Play (1978). Her final British film was Yanks (1979), directed by John Schlesinger, for which she received a Supporting Actress BAFTA. In 1979, Roberts co-starred with Jill Bennett in the London Weekend Television production of Alan Bennett's The Old Crowd, directed by Lindsay Anderson.

Personal life Roberts was married twice and had no children. She first married actor Alan Dobie in 1955. They divorced in 1960. The following year, Roberts married actor Rex Harrison in Genoa, Italy. The marriage was tumultuous; Roberts and Harrison both drank excessively and engaged in public fights. Harrison later left Roberts and they divorced in 1971. Later that year, Harrison married British socialite Elizabeth Rees-Williams, Roberts's former best friend.

Roberts was known in the entertainment industry for the eccentric behaviour that stemmed from her alcoholism. At the time of her death, Roberts was intermittently with Darren Ramirez, a Mexican almost 20 years younger. It was a largely platonic relationship. In her final years she became obsessed with rekindling her relationship with Harrison.

Death Rachel Roberts was devastated by her divorce from Rex Harrison, and her alcoholism and depression worsened.

On 26 November 1980, Rachel Roberts died at her home in Los Angeles at the age of 53. Her death was initially attributed to a heart attack. An autopsy later determined that her death was a result of swallowing lye or another alkali, or another unidentified caustic substance, as well as barbiturates and alcohol, as detailed in her posthumously published journals. The corrosive effect of the alkali was the immediate cause of death. The coroner documented the cause of death as "swallowing a caustic substance" and, later, "acute barbiturate intoxication." Her death was ruled a suicide.

In 1992, Roberts's ashes, along with those of her friend Jill Bennett, who died by suicide in 1990, were scattered on the River Thames in London by director Lindsay Anderson during a boat trip, with several of the two actresses' professional colleagues and friends aboard; musician Alan Price sang "Is That All There Is?" The event was included as a segment in Anderson's BBC documentary film, also titled Is That All There Is?.

Filmography + Film Year Title Role Notes 1953 Valley of Song Bessie Lewis Alternative title: Men Are Children Twice 1953 The Limping Man Barmaid 1954 The Weak and the Wicked Pat, pregnant inmate Alternative title: Young and Willing 1954 The Crowded Day Maggie Alternative title: Shop Spoiled 1957 The Good Companions Elsie and Effie Longstaff 1959 Our Man in Havana Prostitute Uncredited 1960 Saturday Night and Sunday Morning BrendaBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role 1961 Girl on Approval Anne Howland 1963 This Sporting Life Mrs. Margaret HammondBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated — Academy Award for Best ActressNominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress - Motion Picture Drama 1968 A Flea in Her Ear Suzanne de Castilian 1969 The Reckoning Joyce Eglington Alternative title: A Matter of Honour 1971 Doctors' Wives Della Randolph 1971 Wild Rovers Maybell (town madam) 1973 The Belstone Fox Cathie Smith Alternative title: Free Spirit 1973 O Lucky Man! Gloria Rowe / Madame Paillard / Mrs. Richards 1974 Murder on the Orient Express Hildegarde Schmidt 1975 Picnic at Hanging Rock Mrs. Appleyard 1978 Foul Play Delia Darrow / Gerda Casswell 1979 Yanks Mrs. Clarrie MoretonBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role 1979 When a Stranger Calls Dr. Monk 1981 Charlie Chan and the Curse of the Dragon Queen Mrs. Dangers Posthumous release (final theatrical film) + Television Year Title Role Notes 1958 The Firm of GirdlestoneMrs. Scully Miniseries 1958–1959 Our Mutual Friend Lizzie Hexam Miniseries 1960 On Trial Mrs. Rogerson 1 episode1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play Mrs. Holyoake 1 episode 1963 The Eleventh Hour Mary Newell 1 episode 1966 ITV Play of the Week Lady Hamilton 1 episode1966 Out of the Unknown Anna Preston 1 episode1966 Blithe Spirit Ruth Condomine Television movie 1969 Destiny of a Spy Megan Thomas Television movie 1969 Happy Ever After Joanna Bulstrode 1 episode 1970 Night Gallery Rebecca Brigham 1 episode 1971 Marcus Welby, M.D. Dr. Victoria Thorson 1 episode 1973 Alpha Beta Nora Elliot Television movie 1973 Baffled! Mrs. Farraday Television movie 1974 Graceless Go I Dorothy Television movie 1974 Play for Today Olwen 1 episode 1974 Great Expectations Mrs. Gargery Television movie 1976–1978 The Tony Randall Show Mrs. Bonnie McClellen 32 episodes 1977 A Circle of Children Helga Television movie 1979 Family Angela Brown 1 episode 1979 Six Plays by Alan Bennett: The Old Crowd Pauline Television movie 1979 3 by Cheever: The Sorrows of Gin Mrs. Henlein Television movie 1980 The Hostage Tower Sonya Television movie 1982 The Wall Regina Kowalska Television movie, posthumous release (final film role)