Eileen Beldon
Encyclopedia
Eileen Beldon was an English stage and film actress. She had a successful career as a Shakespearean actress as well as in modern repertory theatre.
, West Yorkshire
to parents Albert Beldon and Bertha Nicholson. She attended Bradford Grammar School
and the Hendon School
. Beldon died on 3 August 1985.
on 26 December 1917 as a chorus member in a production of Aladdin
. For several years thereafter she performed at the Old Vic
in such roles as Maria in Twelfth Night, Audrey in As You Like It
and Mopsa in The Winter's Tale
. In 1920, she went on two tours throughout England. The first was in the role of Jocelyn in Sacred and Profane Love and the second was in the role of Kitty Cranford in The Great Day.
In March 1923, she joined the company at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
with which she performed through March 1924. She again appeared with the Birmingham company for their 1944–1945 season, appearing as Paulina in The Winter's Tale and Juno in Juno and the Peacock among other roles. Beldon also appeared with the Birmingham company from 1961 through 1964.
Beldon performed in a number of original Broadway theatre
productions, including Yellow Sands
at the Fulton Theatre and Fallen Angels
at the 49th Street Theatre, both in 1927. Other major venues at which Beldon performed include the Garrick Theatre
, the Winter Garden Theatre
, the Guild Theatre, and at the Edinburgh Festival
. She also appeared in various films and television programs, beginning with a role as a parlormaid in the 1938 film adaptation
of Pygmalion
.
Biography
Eileen Beldon was born on 12 September 1901 in BradfordBradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
to parents Albert Beldon and Bertha Nicholson. She attended Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School
Bradford Grammar School is a co-educational, independent school in Frizinghall, Bradford, West Yorkshire. Headmaster, Stephen Davidson is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference . The school was founded in 1548 and granted its Charter by King Charles II in 1662...
and the Hendon School
Hendon School
Hendon School is a mixed comprehensive secondary school in the London Borough of Barnet. It specialises in languages, offering Japanese amongst others to its students.-Overview:...
. Beldon died on 3 August 1985.
Career
Eileen Beldon made her first stage appearance at the Drury Lane TheatreTheatre Royal, Drury Lane
The Theatre Royal, Drury Lane is a West End theatre in Covent Garden, in the City of Westminster, a borough of London. The building faces Catherine Street and backs onto Drury Lane. The building standing today is the most recent in a line of four theatres at the same location dating back to 1663,...
on 26 December 1917 as a chorus member in a production of Aladdin
Aladdin
Aladdin is a Middle Eastern folk tale. It is one of the tales in The Book of One Thousand and One Nights , and one of the most famous, although it was actually added to the collection by Antoine Galland ....
. For several years thereafter she performed at the Old Vic
Old Vic
The Old Vic is a theatre located just south-east of Waterloo Station in London on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road. Established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre, it was taken over by Emma Cons in 1880 when it was known formally as the Royal Victoria Hall. In 1898, a niece of Cons, Lilian...
in such roles as Maria in Twelfth Night, Audrey in As You Like It
As You Like It
As You Like It is a pastoral comedy by William Shakespeare believed to have been written in 1599 or early 1600 and first published in the folio of 1623. The play's first performance is uncertain, though a performance at Wilton House in 1603 has been suggested as a possibility...
and Mopsa in The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare's late romances. Some critics, among them W. W...
. In 1920, she went on two tours throughout England. The first was in the role of Jocelyn in Sacred and Profane Love and the second was in the role of Kitty Cranford in The Great Day.
In March 1923, she joined the company at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory Theatre is a theatre and theatre company based on Centenary Square in Birmingham, England...
with which she performed through March 1924. She again appeared with the Birmingham company for their 1944–1945 season, appearing as Paulina in The Winter's Tale and Juno in Juno and the Peacock among other roles. Beldon also appeared with the Birmingham company from 1961 through 1964.
Beldon performed in a number of original Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
productions, including Yellow Sands
Yellow Sands
Yellow Sands is a play which opened at the Haymarket Theatre, London in 1925, where it ran for 610 performances, and at the Fulton Theatre, New York on September 10, 1927, where it ran for 25 performances, closing in October 1927. It was written by Eden Phillpotts and his daughter Adelaide...
at the Fulton Theatre and Fallen Angels
Fallen Angels (play)
Fallen Angels is a play by British actor and playwright Noel Coward that opened at the Globe Theatre in 1925, starring Tallulah Bankhead.Cast of the original 1927 Broadway production included:...
at the 49th Street Theatre, both in 1927. Other major venues at which Beldon performed include the Garrick Theatre
Garrick Theatre
The Garrick Theatre is a West End theatre, located on Charing Cross Road, in the City of Westminster. It opened on 24 April 1889 with The Profligate, a play by Arthur Wing Pinero. In its early years, it appears to have specialised in the performance of melodrama, and today the theatre is a...
, the Winter Garden Theatre
Winter Garden Theatre
The Winter Garden Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 1634 Broadway in midtown Manhattan.-History:The structure was built by William Kissam Vanderbilt in 1896 to be the American Horse Exchange....
, the Guild Theatre, and at the Edinburgh Festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. She also appeared in various films and television programs, beginning with a role as a parlormaid in the 1938 film adaptation
Pygmalion (1938 film)
Pygmalion is a 1938 British film based on the George Bernard Shaw play of the same title, and adapted by him for the screen. It stars Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller....
of Pygmalion
Pygmalion (1938 film)
Pygmalion is a 1938 British film based on the George Bernard Shaw play of the same title, and adapted by him for the screen. It stars Leslie Howard and Wendy Hiller....
.