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{{Short description|British actress and entertainer}}
{{Short description|British actress and entertainer (1917–2011)}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2011}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|honorific_suffix = [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Officer of the Order of Australia|AO]]
|honorific_suffix = [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]] [[Officer of the Order of Australia|AO]]
|image = Googie Withers, 1947.jpg
|image = Googie Withers, 1947.jpg
|name = Googie Withers
|name = Googie Withers
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|birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[British Raj|British India]]
|birth_place = [[Karachi]], [[British Raj|British India]]
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|07|15|1917|03|12|df=y}}
|death_date = {{Death date and age|2011|07|15|1917|03|12|df=y}}
|death_place = [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
|death_place = [[Sydney]], Australia
|othername =
|othername =
|nationality = British
|education = [[Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]]
|occupation = Actress, dancer
|occupation = Actress, dancer
|years_active = 1929–1996
|years_active = 1929–2002
|spouse = [[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]]<br>(m. 1948–2010, his death)
|spouse = {{marriage|[[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]]|1948|2010|end=his death}}
|children = [[Joanna McCallum|Joanna]], Nicholas, Amanda<ref>{{cite news|title=Googie Withers|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/8641392/Googie-Withers.html|access-date=16 July 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=16 July 2011}}</ref>
|children = 3, including [[Joanna McCallum|Joanna]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Googie Withers|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/8641392/Googie-Withers.html|access-date=16 July 2011|newspaper=The Telegraph|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|date=16 July 2011}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''Georgette Lizette Withers''', [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Officer of the Order of Australia|AO]] (12 March 1917{{spaced ndash}}15 July 2011), known professionally as '''Googie Withers''', was an English entertainer who was a dancer and actress with a lengthy career spanning some nine decades in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during the [[Second World War]] and postwar years.
'''Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers''', [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire|CBE]], [[Officer of the Order of Australia|AO]] (12 March 1917{{spaced ndash}}15 July 2011) was an English entertainer. She was a dancer and actress, with a lengthy career spanning some nine decades in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during and after the [[Second World War]].

She often starred in British productions, primarily in films with actor and producer [[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]], whom she married, and together they emigrated in the late 1950s to her husband's native Australia, where they became best known in theatre, although she would play prison governor Faye Boswell in the TV series ''[[Within These Walls]]'' during the 1970s and continued to feature in films.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/arts/googie-withers-british-actress-dies-at-94.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=Googie Withers, 94, a Veteran British Actress, Dies|agency=Associated Press|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 July 2011}}</ref>
She often featured in British productions, primarily in films with actor and producer [[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]], whom she married and, in the late 1950s, emigrated together to her husband's native Australia, where they became best known in theatre. During the 1970s, she played prison governor Faye Boswell in the TV series ''[[Within These Walls]]'', and continued to feature in films.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/19/arts/googie-withers-british-actress-dies-at-94.html?ref=deathsobituaries|title=Googie Withers, 94, a Veteran British Actress, Dies|agency=Associated Press|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=18 July 2011}}</ref>


==Biography==
==Biography==
Withers was born in [[Karachi]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now the largest city in [[Pakistan]]) to Edgar Withers, a captain in the [[Royal Navy]], and a Dutch-German mother, Lizette.<ref name=mcf>Brian McFarlane, ''Assured lady of the screen took no nonsense'', obituary, The Age, 19 July 2011.</ref><ref>https://www.myheritage.com.tr/names/willem_no%C3%ABls%20van%20wageningen</ref><ref name=SydHer>{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Damien |title=Best British bad girl with a 'haughty sexuality' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/best-british-bad-girl-with-a-haughty-sexuality-20110716-1hjjh.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 July 2011}}</ref> She was fondly given the name "Googie" (Little Pigeon) at a young age by her Indian ''[[Amah (occupation)|ayah]]'' (nanny).<ref name="Heads">{{cite web|last=Thompson |first=Peter |title=Googie Withers & John McCallum |url=http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s2051047.htm |work=[[Talking Heads (Australian TV series)|Talking Heads]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=16 July 2011 |date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907143212/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s2051047.htm |archive-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a child, she showed interest in learning the [[Urdu]] language.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}
Withers was born in [[Karachi]], [[British Raj|British India]] (now [[Pakistan]]), to Edgar Withers, a captain in the [[Royal Navy]], and Lizette Wilhelmina Katarina, of Dutch, French and German descent.<ref name=mcf>{{cite news |last1=McFarlane |first1=Brian |title=Assured leading lady of the screen took no nonsense |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/assured-leading-lady-of-the-screen-took-no-nonsense-20110718-1hlm8.html |access-date=2023-02-16 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=2011-07-19}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.myheritage.com.tr/names/willem_no%C3%ABls%20van%20wageningen |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320220055/https://www.myheritage.com.tr/names/willem_no%25C3%25ABls%2520van%2520wageningen |archive-date=20 March 2020 |title=Willem Noëls van Wageningen - Tarihi kayıtlar ve aile ağaçları - MyHeritage}}</ref><ref name=SydHer>{{cite web|last=Murphy |first=Damien |title=Best British bad girl with a 'haughty sexuality' |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/best-british-bad-girl-with-a-haughty-sexuality-20110716-1hjjh.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 July 2011}}</ref> She was named after her aunt Georgette Ottolina, but was fondly given the name "chota ghugi'" at a young age by her Punjabi ''[[Amah (occupation)|ayah]]'' (nanny), chota ghugi' being Punjabi for "little dove", which became anglicised to "Googie". She became used to the nickname and decided to keep it as her stage name.<ref name="Heads">{{cite web|last=Thompson |first=Peter |title=Googie Withers & John McCallum |url=http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s2051047.htm |work=[[Talking Heads (Australian TV series)|Talking Heads]] |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=16 July 2011 |date=8 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907143212/http://www.abc.net.au/talkingheads/txt/s2051047.htm |archive-date=7 September 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a child, she showed interest in learning the [[Urdu]] language.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}


Her father left the Royal Navy to manage a foundry in [[Birmingham]], England, UK and Googie was sent to a boarding school near [[Dover]].<ref name=mcf/>
After her father left the Royal Navy to manage a foundry in [[Birmingham]], England, Googie was sent to Fredville Park School, a boarding school in [[Nonington]], and a secondary day school in London.<ref name=mcf/><ref>{{cite web|title=Fredville House School|website=The Old Parish of Nonington|quote=Actress Georgette 'Googie' Withers was a pupil there around 1929 to 1930 just prior to beginning her long career. She was educated first at Fredville Park School, and after a year or so moved to the Convent of the Holy Family in Kensington|url=https://nonington.org.uk/the-fredville-estate/fredville-school/|access-date=13 October 2024}}</ref>


==Acting career==
==Acting career==
She began acting at the age of twelve. A student at the [[Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]], she was a dancer in a [[West End theatre|West End]] production when she was offered work initially as a film extra in [[Michael Powell]]'s ''[[The Girl in the Crowd]]'' (1935). She arrived on the set to find one of the major players in the production had been dismissed, and she was immediately asked to step into the leading role in her place.
Withers began acting at the age of twelve, and was student at the [[Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]], and at the dance school of [[Buddy Bradley (choreographer)|Buddy Bradley]], where she learnt ballet and tap. She was a dancer in a [[West End theatre|West End]] production when she was offered work as a film extra in [[Michael Powell]]'s ''[[The Girl in the Crowd]]'' (1935). She arrived on the set to find one of the major players in the production had been dismissed, and she was immediately asked to step into the leading role, beginning a seven year contract with [[Warner Brothers]], after which she worked for Fox British, [[Ealing Studios]] and [[The Rank Organisation]].<ref name="nla">{{cite web |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-204490672./listen |title=Googie Withers interviewed by Bill Stephens (sound recording)}}</ref>

⚫
During the 1930s, Withers was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films, and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was in ''[[Windfall (1935 film)|Windfall]]'' (1935) and ''[[The Love Test]]'' (1935), and she had the lead in ''[[All at Sea (1935 film)|All at Sea]]'' (1935).


⚫
During the 1930s, Withers was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was in ''[[Windfall (1935 film)|Windfall]]'' (1935) and ''[[The Love Test]]'' (1935) and she had the lead in ''[[All at Sea (1935 film)|All at Sea]]'' (1935).
Withers supported in ''[[Dark World (1935 film)|Dark World]]'' (1935), ''[[King of Hearts (1936 film)|King of Hearts]]'' (1936), and ''[[Accused (1936 film)|Accused]]'' (1936). ''[[Her Last Affaire]]'' (1935) was her third film with Powell.
Withers supported in ''[[Dark World (1935 film)|Dark World]]'' (1935), ''[[King of Hearts (1936 film)|King of Hearts]]'' (1936), and ''[[Accused (1936 film)|Accused]]'' (1936). ''[[Her Last Affaire]]'' (1935) was her third film with Powell.


Withers followed it with ''[[She Knew What She Wanted]]'' (1936), ''[[Crown v. Stevens]]'' (1936) (directed by Powell), ''[[Crime Over London]]'' (1936), ''[[Pearls Bring Tears]]'' (1937), ''[[Action for Slander]]'' (1937), and ''[[Paradise for Two]]'' (1937).
She followed it with ''[[She Knew What She Wanted]]'' (1936), ''[[Crown v. Stevens]]'' (1936) (directed by Powell), ''[[Crime Over London]]'' (1936), ''[[Pearls Bring Tears]]'' (1937), ''[[Action for Slander]]'' (1937), and ''[[Paradise for Two (1937 film)|Paradise for Two]]'' (1937).


She had the lead in ''[[You're the Doctor]]'' (1938) and was back to support for ''[[Kate Plus Ten (film)|Kate Plus Ten]]'' (1938). Her best known work of the period was as one of [[Margaret Lockwood]]'s friends in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938).
Withers had the lead in ''[[You're the Doctor]]'' (1938) and was back to support for ''[[Kate Plus Ten (film)|Kate Plus Ten]]'' (1938). Her best-known work of the period was as one of [[Margaret Lockwood]]'s friends in [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938).


Withers kept in support roles in ''[[Paid in Error]]'' (1938) and ''[[Strange Boarders]]'' (1938). She was in a [[Will Hay]] film ''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938) and supported [[Jack Buchanan]] in ''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'' (1939). Then she appeared in crime films ''[[Murder in Soho]]'' (1939) and ''[[Dead Men are Dangerous]]'' (1939).
She continued in support roles in ''[[Paid in Error]]'' (1938) and ''[[Strange Boarders]]'' (1938). She was in a [[Will Hay]] film ''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938) and supported [[Jack Buchanan]] in ''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'' (1939). Then she appeared in crime films ''[[Murder in Soho]]'' (1939) and ''[[Dead Men are Dangerous]]'' (1939).


She supported [[George Formby]] in ''[[Trouble Brewing (1939 film)|Trouble Brewing]]'' (1939) and [[Tommy Trinder]] in ''[[She Couldn't Say No (1939 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]'' (1939). She was in a Robert Montgomery film ''[[Busman's Honeymoon (film)|Busman's Honeymoon]]'' (1939) and was reunited with Buchanan in ''[[Bulldog Sees It Through]]'' (1940). She was still supporting comics in ''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942) with [[Arthur Askey]].
She supported [[George Formby]] in ''[[Trouble Brewing (1939 film)|Trouble Brewing]]'' (1939) and [[Tommy Trinder]] in ''[[She Couldn't Say No (1939 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]'' (1939). She was in a Robert Montgomery film ''[[Busman's Honeymoon (film)|Busman's Honeymoon]]'' (1939) and was reunited with Buchanan in ''[[Bulldog Sees It Through]]'' (1940). She was still supporting comics in ''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942) with [[Arthur Askey]].


===Rising fame===
===Rising fame===
⚫
Among her successes of the 1940s, and a departure from her previous roles, was the [[Powell and Pressburger]] film ''[[One of Our Aircraft Is Missing]]'' (1942), a topical [[World War II]] drama, in which she played a [[Dutch resistance]] fighter who helps British airmen return to safety from behind enemy lines.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|last=Arthur|first=Nigel|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/447446/index.html|title =...One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942)| publisher = BFI Screenonline|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>


⚫
Powell and Pressburger then used her in a film they produced but did not direct, ''[[The Silver Fleet]]'' (1943). She played Helen, a significant second lead in the Clive Book-directed 1944 comedy ''[[On Approval (1944 film)|On Approval]]''.
⚫
Among her successes of the 1940s, and a departure from her previous roles, was the [[Powell and Pressburger]] film ''[[One of Our Aircraft Is Missing]]'' (1942), a topical World War II drama in which she played a [[Dutch resistance]] fighter who helps British airmen return to safety from behind enemy lines.<ref name=bfi>{{cite web|last=Arthur|first=Nigel|url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/film/id/447446/index.html|title =...One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942)| publisher = BFI Screenonline|access-date=13 February 2012}}</ref>


⚫
Withers was in ''[[They Came to a City]]'' (1945), directed by [[Basil Dearden]], and was one of several stars in ''[[Dead of Night]]'' (1945).
⚫
Powell and Pressburger then used her in a film they produced but did not direct, ''[[The Silver Fleet]]'' (1943). She played Helen, a significant second lead in the Clive Book directed 1944 comedy ''[[On Approval (1944 film)|On Approval]]''.


She was given a star part in ''[[Pink String and Sealing Wax]]'' (1945). It was well received, and Withers was given the title role in ''[[The Loves of Joanna Godden]]'' (1947), which was a hit. In the cast was actor John McCallum, whom Withers later married. They remained married until McCallum died in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/7149675/John-McCallum.html|title=John McCallum|date=3 February 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=3 February 2010}}</ref>
⚫
Withers was in ''[[They Came to a City]]'' (1945) directed by [[Basil Dearden]] and was one of several stars in ''[[Dead of Night]]'' (1945).


Withers was given a star part in ''[[Pink String and Sealing Wax]]'' (1945). It was well received and Withers was given the title role in ''[[The Loves of Joanna Godden]]'' (1947), which was a hit. In the cast was actor John McCallum whom Withers later married. They remained married until McCallum died in 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/7149675/John-McCallum.html|title=John McCallum|date=3 February 2010|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|publisher=Telegraph Media Group|access-date=3 February 2010}}</ref>
Withers then starred in ''[[It Always Rains on Sunday]]'' (1948), which was one of the biggest hits of the year. In 1948, British exhibitors voted her the 8th most popular British star in the country.<ref>'BRITTEN'S "RAPE OF LUCRETIA": NEW YORK DIVIDED', ''The Manchester Guardian'' (1901-1959) [Manchester (UK)] 31 December 1948: 8.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49930940 |title=THE STARRY WAY |newspaper=[[The Courier-mail]] |issue=3782 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=8 January 1949 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


Withers then starred in ''[[It Always Rains on Sunday]]'' (1948) which was one of the biggest hits of the year. In 1948 British exhibitors voted her the 8th most popular British star in the country.<ref>'BRITTEN'S "RAPE OF LUCRETIA": NEW YORK DIVIDED', ''The Manchester Guardian'' (1901-1959) [Manchester (UK)] 31 December 1948: 8.</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49930940 |title=THE STARRY WAY |newspaper=[[The Courier-mail]] |issue=3782 |location=Queensland, Australia |date=8 January 1949 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Three comedies followed: the hugely popular ''[[Miranda (1948 film)|Miranda]]'' (1948), with McCallum, and ''[[Once Upon a Dream (1949 film)|Once Upon a Dream]]'' (1949) and ''[[Traveller's Joy]]'' (1949), both directed by [[Ralph Thomas]]. Next, she was third-billed after Hollywood stars [[Gene Tierney]] and [[Richard Widmark]] in the tense thriller ''[[Night and the City]]'' (1950).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55780485 |title=GOOGIE WITHERS IS RAVING... |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |volume=39 |issue=1,949 |location=Adelaide |date=8 October 1949 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=5 (Sunday Magazine) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


Three comedies followed: the hugely popular ''[[Miranda (1948 film)|Miranda]]'' (1948) with McCallum, and ''[[Once Upon a Dream (1949 film)|Once Upon a Dream]]'' (1949) and ''[[Traveller's Joy]]'' (1949), both directed by [[Ralph Thomas]]. Next she was third billed after Hollywood stars [[Gene Tierney]] and [[Richard Widmark]] in the tense thriller ''[[Night and the City]]'' (1950).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55780485 |title=GOOGIE WITHERS IS RAVING... |newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]] |volume=39 |issue=1,949 |location=Adelaide |date=8 October 1949 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=5 (Sunday Magazine) |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
Withers took 13 months off following the birth of her first child, then returned to star as a doctor in ''[[White Corridors]]'' (1951), one of the most popular films of the year in Britain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75617280 |title=EMPHASIS ON GLAMOR AT ROYAL FILM SHOW |newspaper=[[The Mirror (Western Australia)|The Mirror]] |volume=27 |issue=1487 |location=Western Australia |date=18 November 1950 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63397098 |title=Vivien Leigh Actress of the Year. |newspaper=[[Townsville Daily Bulletin]] |volume=LXXI |location=Queensland, Australia |date=29 December 1951 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> She was one of many cameos in ''[[The Magic Box]]'' (1951) and was in a play ''Winter Journey''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201357249 |title=Googie Withers—EX-DUMB |newspaper=[[Truth (Brisbane newspaper)|Truth]] |issue=2750 |location=Brisbane |date=7 December 1952 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Withers took 13 months off for the birth of her first child, then returned to star as a doctor in ''[[White Corridors]]'' (1951), one of the most popular films of the year in Britain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75617280 |title=EMPHASIS ON GLAMOR AT ROYAL FILM SHOW |newspaper=[[The Mirror (Western Australia)|The Mirror]] |volume=27 |issue=1487 |location=Western Australia |date=18 November 1950 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article63397098 |title=Vivien Leigh Actress of the Year. |newspaper=[[Townsville Daily Bulletin]] |volume=LXXI |location=Queensland, Australia |date=29 December 1951 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> She was one of many cameos in ''[[The Magic Box]]'' (1951) and was in a play ''Winter Journey''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201357249 |title=Googie Withers—EX-DUMB |newspaper=[[Truth (Brisbane newspaper)|Truth]] |issue=2750 |location=Brisbane |date=7 December 1952 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=21 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>


Withers made three films with her husband, ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' (1952), ''[[Devil on Horseback]]'' (1954), and ''[[Port of Escape]]'' (1956).
Withers made three films with her husband, ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' (1952), ''[[Devil on Horseback]]'' (1954), and ''[[Port of Escape]]'' (1956).


In 1954 she starred with McCallum in the West End play ''[[Waiting for Gillian]]'' by [[Ronald Millar]].
In 1954, she starred with McCallum in the West End play ''[[Waiting for Gillian]]'', by [[Ronald Millar]].


===Australia===
===Australia===
Withers first toured Australia in the stage play ''Simon and Laura''. When McCallum was offered the position running [[J.C. Williamson]] theatres, they moved to Australia in 1959. Withers starred in a number of stage plays, including [[Terence Rattigan|Rattigan]]'s ''[[The Deep Blue Sea (play)|The Deep Blue Sea]]'', ''Desire of the Moth'', ''The First 400 Years'' (with [[Keith Michell]]), ''The Circle'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44801552 |title=A day in the life of Googie[?] Withers and John McCallum |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=50 |issue=21 |date=10 November 1982 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> [[A. R. Gurney]]'s ''[[The Cocktail Hour]]'', ''[[Time and the Conways]]'', ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'', ''Beekman Place'' (for which she also designed the set) (1965),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105876315 |title=Googie Withers arrives |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=40 |issue=11,330 |date=4 December 1965 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> ''The Kingfisher'', ''Stardust'', [[Anton Chekhov|Chekhov]]'s ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'' and [[Oscar Wilde|Wilde]]'s ''[[An Ideal Husband]]'' for the [[Melbourne Theatre Company]]; both productions toured Australia. They appeared together in the UK in ''[[The School for Scandal]]'' at the [[Duke of York's Theatre]] in London's [[West End theatre|West End]] and on the subsequent [[British Council]] tour of Europe in 1983–84 and in [[W. Somerset Maugham]]'s ''The Circle'' at the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]].{{citation needed|date=July 2011}}
Withers first toured Australia in the stage play ''Simon and Laura''. After McCallum was offered the position of running [[J.C. Williamson]] theatres, they moved to Australia in 1959. Withers starred in a number of stage plays, including [[Terence Rattigan|Rattigan]]'s ''[[The Deep Blue Sea (play)|The Deep Blue Sea]]'', ''Desire of the Moth'', ''The First 400 Years'' (with [[Keith Michell]]), ''The Circle'',<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44801552 |title=A day in the life of Googie[?] Withers and John McCallum |newspaper=[[The Australian Women's Weekly]] |volume=50 |issue=21 |date=10 November 1982 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> [[A. R. Gurney]]'s ''[[The Cocktail Hour]]'', ''[[Time and the Conways]]'', ''[[The Importance of Being Earnest]]'', ''Beekman Place'' (1965), for which she also designed the set.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article105876315 |title=Googie Withers arrives |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=40 |issue=11,330 |date=4 December 1965 |access-date=16 September 2017 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> ''[[Desire of the Moth]]'', ''The Kingfisher'', ''Stardust'', [[Anton Chekhov|Chekhov]]'s ''[[The Cherry Orchard]]'' and [[Oscar Wilde|Wilde]]'s ''[[An Ideal Husband]]'' for the [[Melbourne Theatre Company]]; both productions toured Australia. They appeared together in the UK in ''[[The School for Scandal]]'' at the [[Duke of York's Theatre]] in London's West End and on the subsequent [[British Council]] tour of Europe in 1983–84, and in [[W. Somerset Maugham]]'s ''The Circle'' at the [[Chichester Festival Theatre]].{{citation needed|date=July 2011}} Withers starred on Broadway with [[Michael Redgrave]] in ''[[The Complaisant Lover]]'', and in London with [[Alec Guinness]] in ''[[Exit the King]]''.

Withers starred on Broadway with [[Michael Redgrave]] in ''[[The Complaisant Lover]]'' and in London with [[Alec Guinness]] in ''[[Exit the King]]''.


===Later career===
===Later career===
Line 73: Line 72:
She was in ''[[The Cherry Orchard (1974 film)|The Cherry Orchard]]'' (1974) on Australian TV.
She was in ''[[The Cherry Orchard (1974 film)|The Cherry Orchard]]'' (1974) on Australian TV.


In 1974, she appeared as Faye Boswell, the original governor of a women's prison, in the television series ''[[Within These Walls]]''. Because ''Within These Walls'' had been a moderate success in Australia, she was approached by producers to play the role of the Governor in the Australian version titled ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', although she declined, and the role was given to [[Patsy King]].
In 1974, she appeared as Faye Boswell, the original governor of a women's prison, in the television series ''[[Within These Walls]]''. Because ''Within These Walls'' had been a moderate success in Australia, she was approached by producers to play the role of the Governor in the Australian version titled ''[[Prisoner (TV series)|Prisoner]]'', but she declined and the role was given to [[Patsy King]].


Withers starred in the BBC adaptation of ''[[Hotel du Lac (film)|Hotel du Lac]]'' (1986), which was followed a year later by another BBC production of ''[[Northanger Abbey (1987 film)|Northanger Abbey]]''.
Withers starred in the BBC adaptation of ''[[Hotel du Lac (film)|Hotel du Lac]]'' (1986), which was followed a year later by another BBC production, ''[[Northanger Abbey (1987 film)|Northanger Abbey]]''.


In 1989, she appeared at Brighton in England in ''The Cocktail Hour'' alongside her husband John and her daughter, [[Joanna McCallum|Joanna]] - the play a success from New York starring [[Nancy Marchand]], the previous year. In 1990, she appeared in ITV's adaptation of ''Ending Up''. Her last screen performance was as the Australian novelist [[Katharine Susannah Prichard]] in the film ''[[Shine (film)|Shine]]'' (1996), for which she and the other cast members were nominated for a [[Screen Actors Guild]] award for "Outstanding performance by a cast".
In 1989, she appeared at Brighton in England in ''The Cocktail Hour'' alongside her husband John and her daughter, [[Joanna McCallum|Joanna]]. In the previous year, the play had been a success in New York, starring [[Nancy Marchand]]. In 1990, she appeared in ITV's adaptation of ''Ending Up''. Her last screen performance was as the Australian novelist [[Katharine Susannah Prichard]] in the film ''[[Shine (film)|Shine]]'' (1996), for which she and the other cast members were nominated for a [[Screen Actors Guild]] award for "Outstanding performance by a cast".


In 2002, aged 85, Withers appeared with [[Vanessa Redgrave]] in [[Oscar Wilde]]'s ''[[Lady Windermere's Fan]]'' in London's West End.
In 2002, aged 85, Withers, with [[Vanessa Redgrave]], appeared in London's West End, in [[Oscar Wilde]]'s ''[[Lady Windermere's Fan]]''.


In October 2007, aged 90 and 89 respectively, Withers and McCallum appeared in an extended interview with [[Peter Thompson (broadcaster)|Peter Thompson]] on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] TV's ''[[Talking Heads (Australian TV series)|Talking Heads]]'' programme.<ref name="Heads"/>
In October 2007, aged 90 and 89 respectively, Withers and McCallum appeared in an extended interview with [[Peter Thompson (broadcaster)|Peter Thompson]] on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] TV's ''[[Talking Heads (Australian TV series)|Talking Heads]]'' programme.<ref name="Heads"/>


==Death==
==Death==
Withers died on 15 July 2011 at her Sydney home, aged 94. Her husband John McCallum predeceased her on 3 February 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/actor-googie-withers-dies-at-94/story-e6frf7jo-1226096004938|title=Actor Googie Withers dies at 94|newspaper=[[Herald Sun]]|date=17 July 2011|access-date=17 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Googie Withers obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/16/googie-withers-obituary|work=The Guardian| date=16 July 2011 |first=Dennis | last=Barker |access-date=14 May 2016}}</ref>
Withers died on 15 July 2011 at her Sydney home, aged 94. Her husband, actor, television producer and studio executive [[John McCallum (actor)|John McCallum]] predeceased her on 3 February 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/actor-googie-withers-dies-at-94-/news-story/2ce9b028cc9b31c4deae78e65785587f|title=Actor Googie Withers dies at 94|newspaper=[[Herald Sun]]|date=17 July 2011|access-date=17 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Googie Withers obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/jul/16/googie-withers-obituary|work=The Guardian| date=16 July 2011 |first=Dennis | last=Barker |access-date=14 May 2016}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==
Withers was appointed an Honorary Officer of the [[Order of Australia]] (AO) for services to drama, in the 1980 Australia Day Honours List.<ref>[http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=869750&search_type=advanced&showInd=true It's an Honour: AO (hon)] (she appears in the database as "Georgette Lizette McCallum")</ref> In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List (UK), she was named a Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE). Withers was a [[JC Williamson Award]] recipient for lifetime achievement in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=recipients |title=JC Williamson Award recipients |access-date=30 April 2012 |work=Helpmann Awards |publisher=Live Performance Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321094228/http://helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=recipients |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1992 Googie Withers and John McCallum were founding patrons and active supporters of the [[Tait Memorial Trust]] in London. A Charity established by Isla Baring OAM, the daughter of Sir Frank Tait of [[J. C. Williamson]]'s to support young Australian performing artists in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Home |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-07-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724035412/http://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Home |archive-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>
Withers was appointed an Honorary Officer of the [[Order of Australia]] (AO) for services to drama, in the 1980 Australia Day Honours List.<ref>[https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869750 It's an Honour: AO (hon)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312204834/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/869750 |date=12 March 2023 }} (she appears in the database as "Georgette Lizette McCallum")</ref> In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List (UK), she was named a Commander of the [[Order of the British Empire]] (CBE). Withers was a [[JC Williamson Award]] recipient for lifetime achievement in 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=recipients |title=JC Williamson Award recipients |access-date=30 April 2012 |work=Helpmann Awards |publisher=Live Performance Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321094228/http://helpmannawards.com.au/default.aspx?s=recipients |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1992 Googie Withers and John McCallum were founding patrons and active supporters of the [[Tait Memorial Trust]] in London. A Charity established by Isla Baring OAM, the daughter of Sir Frank Tait of [[J. C. Williamson]]'s to support young Australian performing artists in the UK.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Home |title=Tait Memorial Trust |access-date=2016-07-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724035412/http://www.taitmemorialtrust.org/Home |archive-date=24 July 2016}}</ref>


She was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1971 when she was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]], whilst thinking she was going to be interviewed by her close friend [[Godfrey Winn]]. Although she knew Andrews, when he appeared as she entered the set, she asked him why he was no longer working as a presenter and was instead working as a floor manager.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZaEqDNljls</ref>
She was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (British TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1971, when she was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] whilst thinking she was going to be interviewed by her close friend [[Godfrey Winn]]. Although she knew Andrews, when he appeared as she entered the set, she asked him why he was no longer working as a presenter and was instead working as a floor manager.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/QZaEqDNljls Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200629235428/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZaEqDNljls Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZaEqDNljls| title = Googie Withers This Is Your Life | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


==Selected filmography==
==Selected filmography==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[The Girl in the Crowd]]'' (1935) - Sally
* ''[[The Girl in the Crowd]]'' (1935) – Sally
*''[[The Love Test]]'' (1935) - Minnie
* ''[[The Love Test]]'' (1935) – Minnie
*''[[Windfall (1935 film)|Windfall]]'' (1935) - Dodie
* ''[[Windfall (1935 film)|Windfall]]'' (1935) – Dodie
*''[[Her Last Affaire]]'' (1935) - Effie
* ''[[Her Last Affaire]]'' (1935) – Effie
*''[[Dark World (1935 film)|Dark World]]'' (1935) - Annie
* ''[[Dark World (1935 film)|Dark World]]'' (1935) – Annie
*''[[All at Sea (1935 film)|All at Sea]]'' (1935) - Daphne Tomkins
* ''[[All at Sea (1935 film)|All at Sea]]'' (1935) – Daphne Tomkins
*''[[She Knew What She Wanted]]'' (1936) - Dora
* ''[[She Knew What She Wanted]]'' (1936) – Dora
*''[[Crown v. Stevens]]'' (1936) - Ella Levine
* ''[[Crown v. Stevens]]'' (1936) – Ella Levine
*''[[Crime Over London]]'' (1936) - Miss Dupres
* ''[[Crime Over London]]'' (1936) – Miss Dupres
*''[[Accused (1936 film)|Accused]]'' (1936) - Ninette Duval
* ''[[Accused (1936 film)|Accused]]'' (1936) – Ninette Duval
*''[[King of Hearts (1936 film)|King of Hearts]]'' (1936) - Elaine
* ''[[King of Hearts (1936 film)|King of Hearts]]'' (1936) – Elaine
*''[[Action for Slander]]'' (1937) - Mary
* ''[[Action for Slander]]'' (1937) – Mary
*''[[Pearls Bring Tears]]'' (1937) - Doreen
* ''[[Pearls Bring Tears]]'' (1937) – Doreen
*''[[Paradise for Two]]'' (1937) - Miki
* ''[[Paradise for Two (1937 film)|Paradise for Two]]'' (1937) – Miki
*''[[The Green Cockatoo]]'' (1937) - (uncredited)
* ''[[The Green Cockatoo]]'' (1937) – (uncredited)
*''[[Paid in Error]]'' (1938) - Jean Mason
* ''[[Paid in Error]]'' (1938) – Jean Mason
*''If I Were Boss'' (1938) - Pat
* ''[[If I Were Boss (1938 film)|If I Were Boss]]'' (1938) – Pat
*''[[Strange Boarders]]'' (1938) - Elsie
* ''[[Strange Boarders]]'' (1938) – Elsie
*''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938) - Lottie
* ''[[Convict 99]]'' (1938) – Lottie
*''[[Kate Plus Ten (film)|Kate Plus Ten]]'' (1938) - Lady Moya
* ''[[Kate Plus Ten (film)|Kate Plus Ten]]'' (1938) – Lady Moya
*''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938) - Blanche
* ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938) – Blanche
*''[[You're the Doctor]]'' (1938) - Helen Firmstone
* ''[[You're the Doctor]]'' (1938) – Helen Firmstone
*''[[Trouble Brewing (1939 film)|Trouble Brewing]]'' (1939) - Mary Brown
* ''[[Trouble Brewing (1939 film)|Trouble Brewing]]'' (1939) – Mary Brown
*''[[Murder in Soho]]'' (1939) - Lola Matthews
* ''[[Murder in Soho]]'' (1939) – Lola Matthews
*''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'' (1939) - Alice Forrest
* ''[[The Gang's All Here (1939 film)|The Gang's All Here]]'' (1939) – Alice Forrest
*''[[Dead Men are Dangerous]]'' (1939)
* ''[[Dead Men are Dangerous]]'' (1939)
*''[[She Couldn't Say No (1939 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]'' (1940) - Dora
* ''[[She Couldn't Say No (1939 film)|She Couldn't Say No]]'' (1940) – Dora
*''[[Busman's Honeymoon (film)|Busman's Honeymoon]]'' (1940) - Polly
* ''[[Busman's Honeymoon (film)|Busman's Honeymoon]]'' (1940) – Polly
*''[[Bulldog Sees It Through]]'' (1940) - Toots
* ''[[Bulldog Sees It Through]]'' (1940) – Toots
*''[[Jeannie (film)|Jeannie]]'' (1941) - Laundry Girl
* ''[[Jeannie (film)|Jeannie]]'' (1941) – Laundry Girl
*''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942) - Bobbie
* ''[[Back-Room Boy]]'' (1942) – Bobbie
*''[[One of Our Aircraft Is Missing]]'' (1942) - Jo de Vries
* ''[[One of Our Aircraft Is Missing]]'' (1942) – Jo de Vries
*''[[The Silver Fleet]]'' (1943) - Helène van Leyden
* ''[[The Silver Fleet]]'' (1943) – Helène van Leyden
*''[[On Approval (1944 film)|On Approval]]'' (1944) - Helen Hale
* ''[[On Approval (1944 film)|On Approval]]'' (1944) – Helen Hale
*''[[They Came to a City]]'' (1945) - Alice
* ''[[They Came to a City]]'' (1945) – Alice
*''[[Dead of Night]]'' (1945) - Joan Cortland (segment "Linking Story") / (segment "The Haunted Mirror")
* ''[[Dead of Night]]'' (1945) – Joan Cortland (segment "Linking Story") / (segment "The Haunted Mirror")
*''[[Pink String and Sealing Wax]]'' (1945) - Pearl Bond
* ''[[Pink String and Sealing Wax]]'' (1945) – Pearl Bond
*''[[The Loves of Joanna Godden]]'' (1947) - Joanna Godden
* ''[[The Loves of Joanna Godden]]'' (1947) – Joanna Godden
*''[[It Always Rains on Sunday]]'' (1947) - Rose Sandigate
* ''[[It Always Rains on Sunday]]'' (1947) – Rose Sandigate
*''[[Miranda (1948 film)|Miranda]]'' (1948) - Clare Martin
* ''[[Miranda (1948 film)|Miranda]]'' (1948) – Clare Martin
*''[[Once Upon a Dream (1949 film)|Once Upon a Dream]]'' (1949) - Carol Gilbert
* ''[[Once Upon a Dream (1949 film)|Once Upon a Dream]]'' (1949) – Carol Gilbert
*''[[Night and the City]]'' (1950) - Helen Nosseross
* ''[[Night and the City]]'' (1950) – Helen Nosseross
*''[[Traveller's Joy]]'' (1950) - Bumble Pelham
* ''[[Traveller's Joy]]'' (1950) – Bumble Pelham
*''[[White Corridors]]'' (1951) - Dr. Sophie Dean
* ''[[White Corridors]]'' (1951) – Dr. Sophie Dean
*''[[The Magic Box]]'' (1951) - Sitter in Bath Studio
* ''[[The Magic Box]]'' (1951) – Sitter in Bath Studio
*''[[Lady Godiva Rides Again]]'' (1951) - Susan Foster (actress in clip, "The Shadow of the Orient") (uncredited)
* ''[[Lady Godiva Rides Again]]'' (1951) – Susan Foster (actress in clip, "The Shadow of the Orient") (uncredited)
*''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' (1952) - Betty Molloy
* ''[[Derby Day (1952 film)|Derby Day]]'' (1952) – Betty Molloy
*''[[Devil on Horseback]]'' (1954) - Mrs. Cadell
* ''[[Devil on Horseback]]'' (1954) – Mrs. Cadell
*''[[Port of Escape]]'' (1956) - Anne Stirling
* ''[[Port of Escape]]'' (1956) – Anne Stirling
*''[[The First 400 Years]]'' (1964)
* ''[[The First 400 Years]]'' (1964)
*''[[Nickel Queen]]'' (1971) - Meg Blake
* ''[[Nickel Queen]]'' (1971) – Meg Blake
*''[[The Cherry Orchard (1974 film)|The Cherry Orchard]]'' (1974, TV Movie) - Ranevskaya
* ''[[The Cherry Orchard (1974 film)|The Cherry Orchard]]'' (1974, TV Movie) – Ranevskaya
*''[[Within These Walls]]'' (1974–1975, TV Series) - Prison Governess - Faye Boswell
* ''[[Within These Walls]]'' (1974–1975, TV Series) – Prison Governess – Faye Boswell
*''[[Screen Two]]'' (1986, TV Series) - Mrs. Allen / Mrs. Pusey / Leda Klein
* ''[[Screen Two]]'' (1986, TV Series) – Mrs. Allen / Mrs. Pusey / Leda Klein
*''[[Melba (miniseries)|Melba]]'' (1988, TV Mini-Series) - Lady Armstrong
* ''[[Melba (miniseries)|Melba]]'' (1988, TV Mini-Series) – Lady Armstrong
*''[[Country Life (film)|Country Life]]'' (1994) - Hannah
* ''[[Country Life (film)|Country Life]]'' (1994) – Hannah
*''[[Shine (film)|Shine]]'' (1996) - Katharine Susannah Prichard (final film role)
* ''[[Shine (film)|Shine]]'' (1996) – Katharine Susannah Prichard (final film role)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


Line 156: Line 155:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0936727}}
* {{IMDb name|0936727}}
*{{IBDB name}}
* {{IBDB name}}
*[https://archive.today/20121127141125/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number:357267%20 |%20Number%3A355688%20|%20Number%3A360821;querytype=;resCount=10 Googie Withers at the National Film and Sound Archive]
* [https://archive.today/20121127141125/http://colsearch.nfsa.afc.gov.au/nfsa/search/summary/summary.w3p;adv=yes;group=;groupequals=;page=0;parentid=;query=Number:357267%20 |%20Number%3A355688%20|%20Number%3A360821;querytype=;resCount=10 Googie Withers at the National Film and Sound Archive]
*[http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/search/people_sub_plays?forename=Googie&surname=WITHERS&job=Actor&pid=4516&image_view=Yes&x=19&y=17 Performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol]
* [http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/search/people_sub_plays?forename=Googie&surname=WITHERS&job=Actor&pid=4516&image_view=Yes&x=19&y=17 Performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol]
*{{Screenonline name|450878}}
* {{Screenonline name|450878}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Actress 1955–1959}}
{{British Academy Television Award for Best Actress 1955–1959}}
{{JC Williamson Award}}
{{JC Williamson Award}}
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[[Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]]
[[Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts]]
[[Category:Australian people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Australian people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:Anglo-Indian people]]
[[Category:Best Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:Best Actress BAFTA Award (television) winners]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Helpmann Award winners]]
[[Category:Helpmann Award winners]]
[[Category:Honorary Officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Honorary officers of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:English emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:British emigrants to Australia]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English film actresses]]
[[Category:English people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:English people of Dutch descent]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English stage actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:English television actresses]]
[[Category:Actresses from Karachi]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]
[[Category:Actresses from British India]]

Revision as of 19:20, 24 November 2024

Googie Withers
CBE AO
Withers in 1947
Born
Georgette Lizette Withers

(1917-03-12)12 March 1917
Karachi, British India
Died15 July 2011(2011-07-15) (aged 94)
Sydney, Australia
NationalityBritish
EducationItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Occupation(s)Actress, dancer
Years active1929–2002
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1948; died 2010)​
Children3, including Joanna[1]

Georgette Lizette "Googie" Withers, CBE, AO (12 March 1917 – 15 July 2011) was an English entertainer. She was a dancer and actress, with a lengthy career spanning some nine decades in theatre, film, and television. She was a well-known actress and star of British films during and after the Second World War.

She often featured in British productions, primarily in films with actor and producer John McCallum, whom she married and, in the late 1950s, emigrated together to her husband's native Australia, where they became best known in theatre. During the 1970s, she played prison governor Faye Boswell in the TV series Within These Walls, and continued to feature in films.[2]

Biography

Withers was born in Karachi, British India (now Pakistan), to Edgar Withers, a captain in the Royal Navy, and Lizette Wilhelmina Katarina, of Dutch, French and German descent.[3][4][5] She was named after her aunt Georgette Ottolina, but was fondly given the name "chota ghugi'" at a young age by her Punjabi ayah (nanny), chota ghugi' being Punjabi for "little dove", which became anglicised to "Googie". She became used to the nickname and decided to keep it as her stage name.[6] As a child, she showed interest in learning the Urdu language.[citation needed]

After her father left the Royal Navy to manage a foundry in Birmingham, England, Googie was sent to Fredville Park School, a boarding school in Nonington, and a secondary day school in London.[3][7]

Acting career

Withers began acting at the age of twelve, and was student at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, and at the dance school of Buddy Bradley, where she learnt ballet and tap. She was a dancer in a West End production when she was offered work as a film extra in Michael Powell's The Girl in the Crowd (1935). She arrived on the set to find one of the major players in the production had been dismissed, and she was immediately asked to step into the leading role, beginning a seven year contract with Warner Brothers, after which she worked for Fox British, Ealing Studios and The Rank Organisation.[8]

During the 1930s, Withers was constantly in demand in lead roles in minor films, and supporting roles in more prestigious productions. She was in Windfall (1935) and The Love Test (1935), and she had the lead in All at Sea (1935).

Withers supported in Dark World (1935), King of Hearts (1936), and Accused (1936). Her Last Affaire (1935) was her third film with Powell.

She followed it with She Knew What She Wanted (1936), Crown v. Stevens (1936) (directed by Powell), Crime Over London (1936), Pearls Bring Tears (1937), Action for Slander (1937), and Paradise for Two (1937).

Withers had the lead in You're the Doctor (1938) and was back to support for Kate Plus Ten (1938). Her best-known work of the period was as one of Margaret Lockwood's friends in Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938).

She continued in support roles in Paid in Error (1938) and Strange Boarders (1938). She was in a Will Hay film Convict 99 (1938) and supported Jack Buchanan in The Gang's All Here (1939). Then she appeared in crime films Murder in Soho (1939) and Dead Men are Dangerous (1939).

She supported George Formby in Trouble Brewing (1939) and Tommy Trinder in She Couldn't Say No (1939). She was in a Robert Montgomery film Busman's Honeymoon (1939) and was reunited with Buchanan in Bulldog Sees It Through (1940). She was still supporting comics in Back-Room Boy (1942) with Arthur Askey.

Rising fame

Among her successes of the 1940s, and a departure from her previous roles, was the Powell and Pressburger film One of Our Aircraft Is Missing (1942), a topical World War II drama, in which she played a Dutch resistance fighter who helps British airmen return to safety from behind enemy lines.[9]

Powell and Pressburger then used her in a film they produced but did not direct, The Silver Fleet (1943). She played Helen, a significant second lead in the Clive Book-directed 1944 comedy On Approval.

Withers was in They Came to a City (1945), directed by Basil Dearden, and was one of several stars in Dead of Night (1945).

She was given a star part in Pink String and Sealing Wax (1945). It was well received, and Withers was given the title role in The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947), which was a hit. In the cast was actor John McCallum, whom Withers later married. They remained married until McCallum died in 2010.[10]

Withers then starred in It Always Rains on Sunday (1948), which was one of the biggest hits of the year. In 1948, British exhibitors voted her the 8th most popular British star in the country.[11][12]

Three comedies followed: the hugely popular Miranda (1948), with McCallum, and Once Upon a Dream (1949) and Traveller's Joy (1949), both directed by Ralph Thomas. Next, she was third-billed after Hollywood stars Gene Tierney and Richard Widmark in the tense thriller Night and the City (1950).[13]

Withers took 13 months off following the birth of her first child, then returned to star as a doctor in White Corridors (1951), one of the most popular films of the year in Britain.[14][15] She was one of many cameos in The Magic Box (1951) and was in a play Winter Journey.[16]

Withers made three films with her husband, Derby Day (1952), Devil on Horseback (1954), and Port of Escape (1956).

In 1954, she starred with McCallum in the West End play Waiting for Gillian, by Ronald Millar.

Australia

Withers first toured Australia in the stage play Simon and Laura. After McCallum was offered the position of running J.C. Williamson theatres, they moved to Australia in 1959. Withers starred in a number of stage plays, including Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea, Desire of the Moth, The First 400 Years (with Keith Michell), The Circle,[17] A. R. Gurney's The Cocktail Hour, Time and the Conways, The Importance of Being Earnest, Beekman Place (1965), for which she also designed the set.[18] Desire of the Moth, The Kingfisher, Stardust, Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard and Wilde's An Ideal Husband for the Melbourne Theatre Company; both productions toured Australia. They appeared together in the UK in The School for Scandal at the Duke of York's Theatre in London's West End and on the subsequent British Council tour of Europe in 1983–84, and in W. Somerset Maugham's The Circle at the Chichester Festival Theatre.[citation needed] Withers starred on Broadway with Michael Redgrave in The Complaisant Lover, and in London with Alec Guinness in Exit the King.

Later career

Withers returned to films with the lead in Nickel Queen (1971), directed by McCallum.

She was in The Cherry Orchard (1974) on Australian TV.

In 1974, she appeared as Faye Boswell, the original governor of a women's prison, in the television series Within These Walls. Because Within These Walls had been a moderate success in Australia, she was approached by producers to play the role of the Governor in the Australian version titled Prisoner, but she declined and the role was given to Patsy King.

Withers starred in the BBC adaptation of Hotel du Lac (1986), which was followed a year later by another BBC production, Northanger Abbey.

In 1989, she appeared at Brighton in England in The Cocktail Hour alongside her husband John and her daughter, Joanna. In the previous year, the play had been a success in New York, starring Nancy Marchand. In 1990, she appeared in ITV's adaptation of Ending Up. Her last screen performance was as the Australian novelist Katharine Susannah Prichard in the film Shine (1996), for which she and the other cast members were nominated for a Screen Actors Guild award for "Outstanding performance by a cast".

In 2002, aged 85, Withers, with Vanessa Redgrave, appeared in London's West End, in Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan.

In October 2007, aged 90 and 89 respectively, Withers and McCallum appeared in an extended interview with Peter Thompson on ABC TV's Talking Heads programme.[6]

Death

Withers died on 15 July 2011 at her Sydney home, aged 94. Her husband, actor, television producer and studio executive John McCallum predeceased her on 3 February 2010.[19][20]

Honours

Withers was appointed an Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to drama, in the 1980 Australia Day Honours List.[21] In the 2001 Queen's Birthday Honours List (UK), she was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Withers was a JC Williamson Award recipient for lifetime achievement in 1999.[22] In 1992 Googie Withers and John McCallum were founding patrons and active supporters of the Tait Memorial Trust in London. A Charity established by Isla Baring OAM, the daughter of Sir Frank Tait of J. C. Williamson's to support young Australian performing artists in the UK.[23]

She was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1971, when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews whilst thinking she was going to be interviewed by her close friend Godfrey Winn. Although she knew Andrews, when he appeared as she entered the set, she asked him why he was no longer working as a presenter and was instead working as a floor manager.[24]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ "Googie Withers". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 16 July 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  2. ^ "Googie Withers, 94, a Veteran British Actress, Dies". The New York Times. Associated Press. 18 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b McFarlane, Brian (19 July 2011). "Assured leading lady of the screen took no nonsense". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Willem Noëls van Wageningen - Tarihi kayıtlar ve aile ağaçları - MyHeritage". Archived from the original on 20 March 2020.
  5. ^ Murphy, Damien (18 July 2011). "Best British bad girl with a 'haughty sexuality'". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  6. ^ a b Thompson, Peter (8 October 2007). "Googie Withers & John McCallum". Talking Heads. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 September 2011. Retrieved 16 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Fredville House School". The Old Parish of Nonington. Retrieved 13 October 2024. Actress Georgette 'Googie' Withers was a pupil there around 1929 to 1930 just prior to beginning her long career. She was educated first at Fredville Park School, and after a year or so moved to the Convent of the Holy Family in Kensington
  8. ^ "Googie Withers interviewed by Bill Stephens (sound recording)".
  9. ^ Arthur, Nigel. "...One of Our Aircraft is Missing (1942)". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  10. ^ "John McCallum". The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
  11. ^ 'BRITTEN'S "RAPE OF LUCRETIA": NEW YORK DIVIDED', The Manchester Guardian (1901-1959) [Manchester (UK)] 31 December 1948: 8.
  12. ^ "THE STARRY WAY". The Courier-mail. No. 3782. Queensland, Australia. 8 January 1949. p. 2. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "GOOGIE WITHERS IS RAVING..." The Mail. Vol. 39, no. 1, 949. Adelaide. 8 October 1949. p. 5 (Sunday Magazine). Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "EMPHASIS ON GLAMOR AT ROYAL FILM SHOW". The Mirror. Vol. 27, no. 1487. Western Australia. 18 November 1950. p. 15. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Vivien Leigh Actress of the Year". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. LXXI. Queensland, Australia. 29 December 1951. p. 1. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Googie Withers—EX-DUMB". Truth. No. 2750. Brisbane. 7 December 1952. p. 21. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "A day in the life of Googie[?] Withers and John McCallum". The Australian Women's Weekly. Vol. 50, no. 21. 10 November 1982. p. 20. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ "Googie Withers arrives". The Canberra Times. Vol. 40, no. 11, 330. 4 December 1965. p. 3. Retrieved 16 September 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Actor Googie Withers dies at 94". Herald Sun. 17 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  20. ^ Barker, Dennis (16 July 2011). "Googie Withers obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  21. ^ It's an Honour: AO (hon) Archived 12 March 2023 at the Wayback Machine (she appears in the database as "Georgette Lizette McCallum")
  22. ^ "JC Williamson Award recipients". Helpmann Awards. Live Performance Australia. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  23. ^ "Tait Memorial Trust". Archived from the original on 24 July 2016. Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  24. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Googie Withers This Is Your Life". YouTube.
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