Vanda godspell biography of williams

English actress (–)

Nancy Evelyn Orchard (néeGodsell, formally Selway; 17 November – c.&#;2 April ), known professionally as Vanda Godsell, was an English actress. With a career that spanned 46 years, she was best known for her role as Katie Heenan in the BBC Onesoap operaThe Newcomers (–).

Hal Erickson writes in AllMovie, "Vanda Godsell specialised in playing disheveled housewives, busybody landladies and blowsy domestics."^[1]

Early life

Nancy Evelyn Godsell was born in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England on 17 November ,^[2] as the youngest child to Reginald Godsell (–),^[3][4] a retiredRoyal NavyCommander, who served in the Battle of Jutland,^[5][6] and his wife,^[7] Muriel Wilfreda Rachel Ellington (née Abbott or Jacob; –),^[8][9] an author, who was the sister of Naomi Jacob, a novelist.^[5][6] She had two elder sisters, Muriel Felicia Mary Atkinson^[10] (née Godsell; –),^[11] an actress,^[5] and Audrey Rosemary Nina "Audrie" Atcheson^[12] (née Godsell, formally Young;^[13] –),^[14][15] an editor in the publishing world.^[5]

Career

Godsell began her career as an actress when she joined the Bristol Repertoire in , at the age of She made her stage debut on 10 August , portraying Nancy in Barry O'Brien and Roy Limbert's production of Gaslight.^[16] She made her television debut on 3 April , with the role of Mirabelle in the television filmMy Mother Said.^[17] She made her broadcasting debut on 4 March , as the voice of Lulu Smith in the BBC Home Service production of the BBC Television series Sunday Night Theatre.^[18] She made her film debut in November , with the role of Angela Neilson in the second feature ('B')crime filmFlannelfoot.^[19]

Godsell portrayed Hilda Wardle in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in 14 episodes from 25 January The character was a lady friend of Christine Hardman's uncle Edwin Mason, who came to make sure Christine has enough money to live on following her mother's sudden death.^{[citation needed]}

Godsell portrayed Katie Heenan in the BBC Onesoap operaThe Newcomers from to ^[20][21]

Godsell retired on 5 September , following her role as Woman in the debut episode of the ITV television series Reilly, Ace of Spies.^[22]

Personal life

Godsell married her first husband, George Selway,^[23][24] an actor, in Marylebone, Middlesex in October ^[25] The couple divorced in , after two years of marriage.^{[citation needed]}

Godsell married her second husband, Alan Joseph Orchard (born 4 December ),^[26] in Hampstead, London in January ^[27] She was widowed in April , after 15 years of marriage.^[28]

Death

Godsell was found lying naked in an empty bath at her North Kensington home on 2 April , at the age of ^[29] Her body was discovered by police after neighbours, of Scrubs Lane, complained of the smell coming from her home.^[30][31] Her funeral service took place on 17 April at Mortlake Crematorium, where she was cremated.^[32]

The inquest into Godsell's death was held at Hammersmith Crown Court in early November ,^[29] and heard from her sister-in-law, Frances Atcheson, that she had been prone to drinking heavily. Coroner John Burton heard that her body was in such a state of decomposition that her cause of death could not be ascertained. Burton recorded an open verdict.^[33]

Filmography

Stage

Television

Radio

Film

Source(s): ^{[34][35][36][37][38][39]}

References