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Celebrating television's This Is Your Life

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THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Zena Dare, actress and singer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews during the curtain call of the musical My Fair Lady at London's Drury Lane Theatre, from where the programme was then recorded.

Zena, who was born in London, made her professional stage debut in the pantomime, Babes in the Wood, in 1899. After modelling for fashionable picture postcards, she went on to appear in various Edwardian musical comedies, notably for the actor-manager Seymour Hicks, including An English Daisy and The Beauty of Bath.

Having married, she retired from the stage at the height of her career in 1911 and later volunteered to nurse injured soldiers in France during the First World War. In 1926, she returned to the stage and later formed her own production company before taking over the management of the Haymarket Theatre.

"It's all too much! What do I do!"

programme details...

• Edition No: 220
• Subject No: 221
• Broadcast date: Tue 26 Mar 1963
• Broadcast time: 7.55-8.25pm
• Recorded: Mon 11 Mar 1963
• Venue: Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
• Series: 8
• Edition: 25

on the guest list...

• Muriel Pavlow
• Grace Reed
• Ellaline Terriss
• James, Lord Stuart
• Martin Lewis
• Fay Compton
• Roma Beaumont
• Angela - daughter
• Marie - daughter
• Antony - son
• Timothy - grandson
• Brian - grandson
• Vanessa - granddaughter
• Simon - grandson
• Mark - grandson
• Guy - great-grandson
• Molly Veness
Filmed tributes:
• Oliver Brett, Lord Esher
• Rex Harrison

related appearance...

• Ellaline Terriss - May 1962

production team...

• Researcher: unknown
• Writer: unknown
• Director: Vere Lorrimer
• Producer: T Leslie Jackson

• names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Ellaline Terriss

Screenshots and photographs of Zena Dare This Is Your Life