This Is Your Life: Ellaline Terriss

Ellaline TERRISS (1871-1971)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Mary Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks, actress and singer, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews while sketching in the garden of her home in Richmond.

Known professionally as Ellaline Terriss, the popular English actress and singer made her debut at the age of 16 in Cupid's Messenger at London's Haymarket Theatre. She became famous for her performances in Edwardian musical comedies, such as Bluebell in Fairyland and Quality Street.

She met and married the actor-producer Seymour Hicks in 1893, and the two collaborated on many projects for the stage and screen, performing constantly, both in London and on tour in America. Ellaline also appeared in over a dozen British films, her final film being The Four Just Men in 1939. She retired from performing after the Second World War and took up painting.

programme details...

Edition No: 195
Subject No: 196
Broadcast live: Mon 7 May 1962
Broadcast time: 8.00-8.30pm
Venue: BBC Television Theatre
Series: 7
Edition: 32

on the guest list...

Macdonald Hobley
Murray King
Anton Dolin
Godfrey Winn
Fred Emney
Betty Stuart – daughter
Robert Stuart – son
Gladys Bowen
Margaretta Scott
Camille Clifford
children from Italia Conti Stage School
children from Ada Foster Stage School
children from the Corona Stage School
Ralph Richardson
Margaret Lockwood
Peter Ustinov
Gladys Cooper
P G Woodhouse
Zena Dare

production team...

Researcher: Alfred Draper
Writer: Alfred Draper
Director: Michael Goodwin
Producer: T Leslie Jackson

names above in bold indicate subjects of This Is Your Life

with thanks to Lucia Stuart for her contribution to this page

related pages...

An Actor's Life For Me

spotlight on the stars

Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life Big Red Book

Photographs of Ellaline Terriss This Is Your Life - and a photograph of Ellaline Terriss's big red book

Anton Dolin recalls his experience of this edition of This Is Your Life in his autobiography Last Words...

I was in Rome in 1959 when I was telephoned by Eamonn Andrews: ‘Anton, can you come to London for three days, travel and expenses paid, for a This Is Your Life programme?’

‘Who is it, Eamonn?’ I asked. ‘Because if it’s me, no I will never appear. Too many of my friends are gone.’

‘Anton, I give you my word, it is not you. Though I’ll get you one day! This Is Ellaline Terriss, Lady Hicks. Everyone will wear white tie and tails. Please come.’

There was now no hesitation on my part, and I agreed. Before the programme Betty Hicks, Ellaline’s daughter, warned me to speak up.

‘Peter,’ she said, calling me by my ‘Bluebell’ name, ‘mother is very deaf, though she will never admit it. So when you say your few words, say them to her direct, loud and clear.’

The programme was beautiful, a regal tribute to a still beautiful person. Afterwards Eamonn invited us all to the VIP room for the showing and refreshments. ‘Lady Hicks,’ he asked, ‘who would you like to be your escort?’

‘My ‘Peter’ dear,’ she replied, ‘for he was the only one I really heard.’

I never told her that I had been briefed by Betty, and it was a very proud ‘Peter’ who took her arm.

Series 7 subjects