This Is Your Life: Flora Robson

Dame Flora ROBSON DBE (1902-1984)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Flora Robson, actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at the BBC Television Theatre.

Flora trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating with a bronze medal, and made her stage debut in 1921, aged 19. Although she enjoyed some initial success, she lacked the convential good looks which were then an absolute requisite for actresses in dramatic roles, and she gave up the stage at the age of 23.

However, Flora was persuaded back to the theatre four years later by director Tyrone Guthrie, for his Old Vic company. It was during this time she had the opportunity to play a series of classical roles, which gained her critical and popular acclaim, and led to her becoming one of the finest dramatic actresses of her generation.

In cinema, Flora was often chosen for character roles, notably that of Queen Elizabeth I in both Fire Over England and The Sea Hawk. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Ingrid Bergman's servant in Saratoga Trunk.

programme details...

Edition No: 151
Subject No: 151
Broadcast live: Mon 13 Feb 1961
Broadcast time: 7.30-8.00pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 6
Edition: 22

on the guest list...

James Mason
Henry Oscar
Billy Roux
Ursula Howells
Robert Crottet
Paul Robeson
Robert Beatty
Willibald Onitach
Tyrone Guthrie
Charles Laughton

production team...

Researcher: Shirley Macnab
Writer: Robert Stuart
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

related pages...

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

The Big Red Book

the programme's icon

Flora Robson This Is Your Life Big Red Book

Photographs of Flora Robson This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Flora Robson's big red book

Writer Kenneth Barrow briefly mentions This Is Your Life in his biography Flora...

Shortly after her return from South Africa, Flora was the subject of This Is Your Life on BBC television.

Eamonn Andrews, the presenter, was somewhat apprehensive.

In those days the show was transmitted live and the previous week footballer Danny Blanchflower had refused to allow the invasion of his privacy, which meant that there had been no show.

Flora, on the other hand, was delighted to take part. Among the surprise guests was a colleague from Welwyn; Charles Laughton was seen in a filmed message from New York; Tony Guthrie, James Mason and Henry Oscar contributed memories.

The greatest surprise came when Paul Robeson’s massive frame appeared in the door.

Flora had led a campaign to have his passport restored by the American government and this was the first time she had seen him since then.