This Is Your Life: Flora Robson

Flora ROBSON DBE (1902-1984)

THIS IS YOUR LIFE - Flora Robson, actress, was surprised by Eamonn Andrews backstage at the BBC Television Theatre, having been led to believe she was there to take part in a different programme.

Flora, who was born in South Shields but grew up in London, trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating with a bronze medal in 1921, aged 19. Following some initial success on stage, including touring with Ben Greet's Shakespeare company, she gave up the stage at the age of 23 to work as a welfare officer at a food factory in Welwyn Garden City.

However, director Tyrone Guthrie persuaded her back to the theatre four years later. She secured a season at the Old Vic Theatre in 1933, playing a series of leading classical roles, which gained her critical and popular acclaim. In cinema, Flora played Queen Elizabeth I in the films Fire Over England and The Sea Hawk and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Saratoga Trunk in 1945.

"It has been the most wonderful evening of my life"

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 Onitsch
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

Kenneth Barrow recalls this edition of This Is Your Life in his book, Flora - An Appreciation of the Life and Work of Dame Flora Robson...

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.

Series 6 subjects