Madeleine Christie

Lenny Von Dohlen, as Miles, with Madeleine Christie, as the "Lady at the Concert".

Madeleine Christie was born on January 18, 1904, in Edinburgh, Scotland as Madeleine Elsie Jane Christie. Over a long working lifetime, she distinguished herself in roles as diverse as Dame Sensualitie in Tyrone Guthrie's 1949 production of "The Thrie Estates" (a Satire of the "Three Estates", the first modern adaptation of Sir David Lyndsay's grand-scale medieval comedy Ane Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis), Marya Vassilyevna in Chekov's "Uncle Vanya" at the National Theatre, London, and a titled lady in STV's "Take the High Road".

Madeleine Christie's own high road to success began with studies at the Central School of Speech and Drama, London. She did little stage work until the early 1940s, concentrating on her domestic responsibilities as wife and mother. She then acted with the Wilson Barrett Company in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen and subsequently with the Glasgow Citizens' Company for several years, in plays such as Bridie's "Meeting at Night" with Duncan Macrae.

Partly through the influence of Tyrone Guthrie, she became freelance and took part in several major productions at Stratford, Ontario.

She also played Queen Victoria at Edinburgh Tattoos in the early 1950s, driving in a Landau attended by ladies-in-waiting. The company, having donned their period dress in the City Chambers, clattered up the High Street to the tattoo with military precision. Mz. Christie recalled one evening waving to a very old man on the way. He seemed thunderstruck and practically collapsed. She realized he probably thought he was seeing the real Queen Victoria in a timewarp!

Madeleine Christie was also a pioneer of television drama, taking part in the first production from Scotland in 1952. The play was Barrie's "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals". She appeared increasingly on TV after that and also made several films. Her career also took her to Broadway, where she performed in "Love and Libel", in 1960, in the role of Mrs. Louisa Hansen Bridgtower.

Beautiful as a young woman, Madeleine Christie retained her joi de vivre and strong personality into old age. She died February 1, 1996.

"We'll Meet Again" (TV Mini-Series)

- The End of the Beginning (1982) ... Nanny

"Mr. Palfrey of Westminster" (TV Series)

- Freedom from Longing (1985) ... Lady in Shop

For a list of movies and television programs featuring Madeleine Christie, view her profile @ IMDb.