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Rene Ray, Countess of Midleton

April 13, 2024

Irene Lilian Brodrick, Countess of Midleton (née Creese, known as Rene Ray, 22 September 1911 – 28 August 1993) was a British stage and screen actress of the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and also a novelist.

The Right Honourable

The Countess of Midleton
Born
Irene Lilian Creese

(1911-09-22)22 September 1911
London, England
Died28 August 1993(1993-08-28) (aged 81)
Jersey, Channel Islands
OccupationActress
Spouses
  • George Posford
​
​
(m. 1975; died 1979)​

Acting career edit

Ray made her screen début in the 1929 silent film High Treason and first appeared on the West End stage on 5 December 1930 in the André Charlot production of Wonder Bar at the Savoy Theatre.[1] In 1935 she starred with Conrad Veidt in the Gaumont British film The Passing of the Third Floor Back. Other film co-stars included George Arliss (His Lordship, 1936), John Mills (The Green Cockatoo, 1937), Gordon Harker (The Return of the Frog, 1938) and Trevor Howard (They Made Me a Fugitive, 1947).

At London's Lyric Theatre in 1936 she appeared with Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson in JB Priestley's short-lived play Bees on the Boat Deck. Other West End credits included Yes and No (1937), They Walk Alone (1939) and Other People's Houses (1941).[2] Her single Broadway appearance was in Cedric Hardwicke's production of Priestley's An Inspector Calls, which ran at the Booth Theatre from October 1947 to January 1948.[3] In 1951–52 she starred in the London production of Sylvia Rayman's Women of Twilight, playing the central role nearly 450 times and reprising her performance in the subsequent film version.[4]

She made her last screen appearance as an interviewee in the BBC documentary Britain's Missing Movie Heritage, broadcast on 30 September 1992, 11 months before her death.[5]

Books edit

She turned to writing for much of her later career. Her first novel, Wraxton Marne, appeared in 1946.[1] According to a 1953 magazine profile, "Her second book, Emma Conquest, was an immediate best-seller."[6] (First published in 1950, this was reissued in 2010.) Other books included A Man Named Seraphin (1952) and The Tree Surgeon (1958). In 1956 she scripted the seven-part ATV science fiction serial The Strange World of Planet X; the following year her novelisation was published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd and a feature film based on it was made by Artistes Alliance. In the United States the film was renamed Cosmic Monsters.[7]

Personal life edit

Her father was Alfred Edward Creese, a famous British automotive and aviation inventor.[8] Born as Irene, she signed her name with a grave accent on the first 'e', not an acute accent on the second (Rène not René); her method was followed on all theatre programmes, book jackets and other publicity material.

Her first husband was the composer George Posford.[9] In the 1950s she met George St John Brodrick, 2nd Earl of Midleton (1888–1979); she moved with him to Jersey in 1963 and became his third wife in 1975, thus allowing her to style herself the Countess of Midleton.[8] In retirement she became an accomplished amateur painter and a member of the Jersey Film Society, which in 1986 opened its 40th season with a screening of The Passing of the Third Floor Back.[8] She died on 28 August 1993 in Jersey, the Channel Islands.[10]

Partial filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Rene Ray Dies at 81; Actress and a Writer". The New York Times. 6 September 1993. p. 1 16. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Rene Ray | Theatricalia". theatricalia.com.
  3. ^ "An Inspector Calls – Broadway Play – Original | IBDB".
  4. ^ Frances Stephens, Theatre World Annual (London), Rockliff Publishing Corporation, 1952
  5. ^ . BFI. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016.
  6. ^ 'Meet Rene Ray: The Girl They Passed By', Answers (week ending) 10 January 1953
  7. ^ "Media : Strange World of Planet X, The : SFE : Science Fiction Encyclopedia". www.sf-encyclopedia.com.
  8. ^ a b c Michael Rhodes, 'The Countess of Midleton' [obituary], The Times 3 September 1993
  9. ^ Famous Film Stars No 21: Rene Ray, R and J Hill Ltd [cigarette card] 1938
  10. ^ "Obituaries: Rene Ray". Variety. 20 September 1993. p. 42.

External links edit

April 13, 2024
rene, countess, midleton, irene, lilian, brodrick, countess, midleton, née, creese, known, rene, september, 1911, august, 1993, british, stage, screen, actress, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, also, novelist, right, honourablethe, countess, midletonbornirene, lilian, cre. Irene Lilian Brodrick Countess of Midleton nee Creese known as Rene Ray 22 September 1911 28 August 1993 was a British stage and screen actress of the 1930s 1940s and 1950s and also a novelist The Right HonourableThe Countess of MidletonBornIrene Lilian Creese 1911 09 22 22 September 1911London EnglandDied28 August 1993 1993 08 28 aged 81 Jersey Channel IslandsOccupationActressSpousesGeorge PosfordGeorge Brodrick 2nd Earl of Midleton m 1975 died 1979 wbr Contents 1 Acting career 2 Books 3 Personal life 4 Partial filmography 5 References 6 External linksActing career editRay made her screen debut in the 1929 silent film High Treason and first appeared on the West End stage on 5 December 1930 in the Andre Charlot production of Wonder Bar at the Savoy Theatre 1 In 1935 she starred with Conrad Veidt in the Gaumont British film The Passing of the Third Floor Back Other film co stars included George Arliss His Lordship 1936 John Mills The Green Cockatoo 1937 Gordon Harker The Return of the Frog 1938 and Trevor Howard They Made Me a Fugitive 1947 At London s Lyric Theatre in 1936 she appeared with Laurence Olivier and Ralph Richardson in JB Priestley s short lived play Bees on the Boat Deck Other West End credits included Yes and No 1937 They Walk Alone 1939 and Other People s Houses 1941 2 Her single Broadway appearance was in Cedric Hardwicke s production of Priestley s An Inspector Calls which ran at the Booth Theatre from October 1947 to January 1948 3 In 1951 52 she starred in the London production of Sylvia Rayman s Women of Twilight playing the central role nearly 450 times and reprising her performance in the subsequent film version 4 She made her last screen appearance as an interviewee in the BBC documentary Britain s Missing Movie Heritage broadcast on 30 September 1992 11 months before her death 5 Books editShe turned to writing for much of her later career Her first novel Wraxton Marne appeared in 1946 1 According to a 1953 magazine profile Her second book Emma Conquest was an immediate best seller 6 First published in 1950 this was reissued in 2010 Other books included A Man Named Seraphin 1952 and The Tree Surgeon 1958 In 1956 she scripted the seven part ATV science fiction serial The Strange World of Planet X the following year her novelisation was published by Herbert Jenkins Ltd and a feature film based on it was made by Artistes Alliance In the United States the film was renamed Cosmic Monsters 7 Personal life editHer father was Alfred Edward Creese a famous British automotive and aviation inventor 8 Born as Irene she signed her name with a grave accent on the first e not an acute accent on the second Rene not Rene her method was followed on all theatre programmes book jackets and other publicity material Her first husband was the composer George Posford 9 In the 1950s she met George St John Brodrick 2nd Earl of Midleton 1888 1979 she moved with him to Jersey in 1963 and became his third wife in 1975 thus allowing her to style herself the Countess of Midleton 8 In retirement she became an accomplished amateur painter and a member of the Jersey Film Society which in 1986 opened its 40th season with a screening of The Passing of the Third Floor Back 8 She died on 28 August 1993 in Jersey the Channel Islands 10 Partial filmography editHigh Treason 1929 uncredited Varsity 1930 Iris Young Woodley 1930 Kitty Dance Pretty Lady 1931 Elsie Tonight s the Night 1931 Rose Smithers Keepers of Youth 1931 Kitty Williams Two White Arms 1932 Trixie When London Sleeps 1932 Mary Here s George 1932 Telephonist The King s Cup 1933 Peggy Excess Baggage 1933 Angela Murgatroyd Born Lucky 1933 Mops Tiger Bay 1934 Letty Rolling in Money 1934 Eliza Dibbs Nine Forty Five 1934 Mary Doane Easy Money 1934 Typist Once in a New Moon 1935 Stella Drake Street Song 1935 Lucy Regal Cavalcade 1935 Girl Full Circle 1935 Margery Boyd The Passing of the Third Floor Back 1935 Stasia Beloved Imposter 1936 Mary Secret Agent 1936 Maid uncredited Crime Over London 1936 Joan His Lordship 1936 Vera Please Teacher 1937 Ann Trent Farewell Again 1937 Elsie Wainwright Jennifer Hale 1937 Jennifer Hale The Rat 1937 Odile Verdier The Green Cockatoo 1937 Eileen Bank Holiday 1938 Doreen Housemaster 1938 Chris Faringdon Weddings Are Wonderful 1938 Betty Leadbetter The Return of the Frog 1938 Lela Oaks Mountains O Mourne 1938 Mary Macree Home from Home 1939 Gladys Burton The Call for Arms 1940 Short Joan Old Bill and Son 1941 Sally They Made Me a Fugitive 1947 Cora If Winter Comes 1947 Sarah Low Jinks The Galloping Major 1951 Pam Riley Women of Twilight 1952 Vivianne The Good Die Young 1954 Angela The Vicious Circle 1957 Mrs AmblerReferences edit a b Rene Ray Dies at 81 Actress and a Writer The New York Times 6 September 1993 p 1 16 Retrieved 15 April 2022 Rene Ray Theatricalia theatricalia com An Inspector Calls Broadway Play Original IBDB Frances Stephens Theatre World Annual London Rockliff Publishing Corporation 1952 Rene Ray BFI Archived from the original on 24 May 2016 Meet Rene Ray The Girl They Passed By Answers week ending 10 January 1953 Media Strange World of Planet X The SFE Science Fiction Encyclopedia www sf encyclopedia com a b c Michael Rhodes The Countess of Midleton obituary The Times 3 September 1993 Famous Film Stars No 21 Rene Ray R and J Hill Ltd cigarette card 1938 Obituaries Rene Ray Variety 20 September 1993 p 42 External links editRene Ray at IMDb Rene Ray at the Internet Broadway Database Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rene Ray Countess of Midleton amp oldid 1210196029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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