Beatrix Lehmann

Beatrix Alice Lehmann (1 July 1903 – 31 July 1979) was a British actress, theatre director, writer and novelist.

Lehmann was born in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire. She trained at the RADA and made her stage debut as Peggy in a 1924 production The Way of the World at the Lyric Hammersmith. She also appeared in films and on television.

She wrote short stories and two novels, including Rumour of Heaven, first published in 1934 (ISBN 014016166X). In 1946 Lehmann became director and producer of the Arts Council Midland Theatre Company.^[1]

In 1978 she appeared in the Doctor Who serial The Stones of Blood as Professor Emilia Rumford. Although no one knew it at the time of recording this would be her final Television appearance.^[2] She played Susan Calvin in two episodes of the British science fiction series Out of the Unknown.^[3]

In 1979 she played Mrs Pleasant in a film version of The Cat and The Canary. Other roles include parts in Z-Cars, The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, War and Peace, Love for Lydia, Staircase, and Crime and Punishment.^[3]

Family

She came from a family of notable achievers: the third of four children of author and publisher Rudolph Chambers Lehmann. Her great-uncle was Henri Lehmann the artist. Her brother was publisher John Lehmann and one of her two older sisters was the novelist Rosamond Lehmann.

Death

Beatrix Lehmann died in Camden, London, aged 76.^[3] There are 12 portraits of Beatrix Lehmann in the British National Portrait Gallery Collection.^[4]

Selected filmography

• The Passing of the Third Floor Back (1935)
• Strangers on Honeymoon (1936)
• Candles at Nine (1944)
• The Key (1958)
• On the Fiddle (1961)
• The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965)
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
• Wonderwall (1968)
• Staircase (1969)
• The Cat and the Canary (1979)

References

External links

• Performances listed in Theatre Archive University of Bristol