Emily Perry (English actress)
Encyclopedia
Patricia Emily Perry (28 June 1907 – 19 February 2008) was an English actress and dancer. Born in Torquay
, Devon, England, she was best known for her recurring role as Madge Allsop, Dame Edna Everage
's long-suffering, silent "bridesmaid" from Palmerston North, New Zealand
Perry subsequently appeared as a singer, dancer and actress in pantomime and music halls. She played the role of Susan in The Desert Song for twelve years, and also toured in The Student Prince
and The Belle of New York. During the Second World War, she performed with ENSA
. Around 1960, she founded a children's dancing school, The Patricia Perry Academy of Dancing, based in Crystal Palace in South London, which she ran for twenty-five years before deciding to return to acting in 1984. At that time, there was another actress named Patricia Perry, so she adopted her middle name, Emily, as her stage name.
. Orr died of cancer in 1979, so when the role of Madge was written into Humphries' 1987 film Les Patterson Saves the World
, she was portrayed by another Australian actress, Connie Hobbs. Later that year, when Humphries decided to cast "the definitive Madge" for his new TV series, The Dame Edna Experience, he auditioned many elderly actresses for what would be a recurring role. As he recalled, "All of them tried too hard. Some were whimsical, some camp, but most were far too over the top to rememble an oppressed, inarticulate New Zealand spinster whom life had passed by." Perry herself later recalled: "I did nothing at the audition, and I've done nothing since." Humphries paid tribute to Perry in the second volume of his autobiography, ascribing her with "the rare gift of being able to do nothing in the face of overwhelming provocation".
Perry's portrayal of Madge Allsop in The Dame Edna Experience was well-received, and she subsequently reprised the role in many of Humphries' other TV specials, including One more Audience with Dame Edna Everage (1988), A Night on Mount Edna (1990), Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch
(1992) and Dame Edna's Hollywood (1993). Madge became something of a cult figure – much to the apparent annoyance of Dame Edna – and appeared in a coffee commercial in the late 1980s.
In 1997, she made a memorable appearance as Madge Allsop on a Comic Relief
TV Special, in which she danced and sang 'Today I Feel So Happy'. She was to have been accompanied on the piano by Andrew Lloyd Webber
but, as he did not know the music, a member of the audience was conscripted instead, with Webber turning the pages of the sheet music. This brief performance, which represented the only time that Madge Allsop has ever spoken on camera, received a huge ovation from the studio audience.
Perry's last on-screen appearance as Madge Allsop was a cameo in the TV special Dame Edna lives at the Palace (2003), in which the then 97-year-old actress was 'caught' in bed with Ozzy Osbourne
.
as "Mrs. Broadbent". She appeared as herself in Night of a Thousand Faces (2001).
, Twickenham
.
She died on 19 February 2008 in Twickenham
, South West London
, England, aged 100.
Torquay
Torquay is a town in the unitary authority area of Torbay and ceremonial county of Devon, England. It lies south of Exeter along the A380 on the north of Torbay, north-east of Plymouth and adjoins the neighbouring town of Paignton on the west of the bay. Torquay’s population of 63,998 during the...
, Devon, England, she was best known for her recurring role as Madge Allsop, Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna Everage
Dame Edna is a character created and played by Australian dadaist performer and comedian, Barry Humphries, famous for her lilac-coloured or "wisteria hue" hair and cat eye glasses or "face furniture," her favorite flower, the gladiola and her boisterous greeting: "Hello Possums!" As Dame Edna,...
's long-suffering, silent "bridesmaid" from Palmerston North, New Zealand
Early life and career
According to one obituary, Perry first appeared on stage at the Theatre Royal, Birmingham, at the age of four. Her father, who was an accountant, was reportedly shocked by her desire to become an actor, although he nevertheless paid her tuition fees at dance school and even permitted her to use the family home for her first audition.Perry subsequently appeared as a singer, dancer and actress in pantomime and music halls. She played the role of Susan in The Desert Song for twelve years, and also toured in The Student Prince
The Student Prince
The Student Prince is an operetta in four acts with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. It is based on Wilhelm Meyer-Förster's play Alt Heidelberg. The piece has elements of melodrama but lacks the swashbuckling style common to Romberg's other works...
and The Belle of New York. During the Second World War, she performed with ENSA
Entertainments National Service Association
The Entertainments National Service Association or ENSA was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during World War II. ENSA operated as part of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes...
. Around 1960, she founded a children's dancing school, The Patricia Perry Academy of Dancing, based in Crystal Palace in South London, which she ran for twenty-five years before deciding to return to acting in 1984. At that time, there was another actress named Patricia Perry, so she adopted her middle name, Emily, as her stage name.
Madge Allsop
Although the character of Madge Allsop was created by Barry Humphries during the 1960s, she was only mentioned in passing by Dame Edna and did not actually appear on stage until the late 1970s, when she was portrayed by the London-based Australian actress Madeleine OrrMadeleine Orr
Madeleine Grace Orr was an Australian-born film, stage and TV actress who worked for many years in London. She is best known as the first person to portray Madge Allsop, bridesmaid and companion to Barry Humphries' most popular and enduring comic character, Dame Edna Everage.-Early life:Born in...
. Orr died of cancer in 1979, so when the role of Madge was written into Humphries' 1987 film Les Patterson Saves the World
Les Patterson Saves the World
Les Patterson Saves the World is a 1987 Australian comedy film. The plot involves the uncouth Sir Les Patterson, played by Barry Humphries, teaming up with Dame Edna Everage to save the world from a virulent bioterror attack ordered by Colonel Richard Godowni of the Gulf State of Abu Niveah.The...
, she was portrayed by another Australian actress, Connie Hobbs. Later that year, when Humphries decided to cast "the definitive Madge" for his new TV series, The Dame Edna Experience, he auditioned many elderly actresses for what would be a recurring role. As he recalled, "All of them tried too hard. Some were whimsical, some camp, but most were far too over the top to rememble an oppressed, inarticulate New Zealand spinster whom life had passed by." Perry herself later recalled: "I did nothing at the audition, and I've done nothing since." Humphries paid tribute to Perry in the second volume of his autobiography, ascribing her with "the rare gift of being able to do nothing in the face of overwhelming provocation".
Perry's portrayal of Madge Allsop in The Dame Edna Experience was well-received, and she subsequently reprised the role in many of Humphries' other TV specials, including One more Audience with Dame Edna Everage (1988), A Night on Mount Edna (1990), Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch
Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch
Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch was a 1992 comic game show.Hosted by the flamboyant Dame Edna Everage, on the surface, three members of her "all-female, invitation-only audience" would be randomly chosen to play a quiz game for fabulous prizes...
(1992) and Dame Edna's Hollywood (1993). Madge became something of a cult figure – much to the apparent annoyance of Dame Edna – and appeared in a coffee commercial in the late 1980s.
In 1997, she made a memorable appearance as Madge Allsop on a Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
TV Special, in which she danced and sang 'Today I Feel So Happy'. She was to have been accompanied on the piano by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
but, as he did not know the music, a member of the audience was conscripted instead, with Webber turning the pages of the sheet music. This brief performance, which represented the only time that Madge Allsop has ever spoken on camera, received a huge ovation from the studio audience.
Perry's last on-screen appearance as Madge Allsop was a cameo in the TV special Dame Edna lives at the Palace (2003), in which the then 97-year-old actress was 'caught' in bed with Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
.
Other appearances
As an actress in her own right, her filmography is limited to her appearances with Dame Edna, except for a 1995 appearance, in her late eighties, on an episode of Last of the Summer WineLast of the Summer Wine
Last of the Summer Wine is a British sitcom written by Roy Clarke that was broadcast on BBC One. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse on 4 January 1973 and the first series of episodes followed on 12 November 1973. From 1983 to 2010, Alan J. W. Bell produced and...
as "Mrs. Broadbent". She appeared as herself in Night of a Thousand Faces (2001).
Later life and death
Perry retired in 2004 and took up residence in Brinsworth HouseBrinsworth House
Brinsworth House is a retirement home especially for members of the acting and entertainment professions, in Twickenham, Greater London, England. The house, opened in 1911, is provided and maintained by the Entertainment Artistes' Benevolent Fund, founded in 1908 to care for members of what was at...
, Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
.
She died on 19 February 2008 in Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
, South West London
South West (London sub region)
The South West is a sub-region of the London Plan corresponding to the London Boroughs of London Borough of , Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton and Wandsworth. The sub region was established in 2008. The south west has a population of 1,600,000 and is the location...
, England, aged 100.