Helena Pickard (13 October 1900 – 27 September 1959) was a British stage, film and television actress.

Helena Pickard
Autographed photo
Born(1900-10-13)13 October 1900
Died27 September 1959(1959-09-27) (aged 58)
Oxfordshire, England
Resting placeGolders Green Crematorium
Other namesHelena Marie Pickard
OccupationActress
Years active1924 - 1959 (film)
Spouses
(m. 1927; div. 1950)
Herbert Rothbarth
(m. 1956)
ChildrenEdward Hardwicke
RelativesPercy Charles Pickard (brother)

Career

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Pickard was a prominent character actress in West End plays such as When We Are Married and Flare Path and also appeared on Broadway. She made her screen debut in the 1924 silent film The Clicking of Cuthbert. She played the female lead in the 1931 comedy Splinters in the Navy but mostly appeared in supporting roles.

While working in the United States she appeared in two Hollywood productions before returning to Britain. During her later career she appeared occasionally on television in series including The Four Just Men, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and Vanity Fair, and in the BBC radio series Saturday Night Theatre.

Personal life

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Pickard was the sister of Group Captain Percy Charles Pickard, RAF, who died during the Second World War while leading the air raid on Amiens Prison in Operation Jericho on 18 February 1944.

She was married to the celebrated actor Cedric Hardwicke, with whom she had a son, Edward Hardwicke, who also became an actor. Later, after divorcing Hardwicke, she married the financier Herbert Rothbarth. She died in 1959 from an overdose of sleeping pills,[1] with her remains handled at Golders Green Crematorium.[2]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1924 The Clicking of Cuthbert Adeline Short
1930 Lord Richard in the Pantry Uncredited
1931 Splinters in the Navy Lottie
1934 Music Hall Lou
1934 Nell Gwyn Mrs. Pepys
1937 Limelight Pixie
1940 Let George Do It! Oscar's Wife
1940 Saloon Bar Mrs. Dorothy Small
1943 Forever and a Day Trimble Maid
1944 The Lodger Annie Rowley / Katie in Opening Sequence
1947 The Turners of Prospect Road Lil Turner
1949 Miss Pilgrim's Progress Mrs. Jenkins
1951 The Lady with a Lamp Queen Victoria
1954 The Love Lottery Sally's Mother
1955 Make Me an Offer Lady On Train
1956 Doublecross Mrs. Ernest

References

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  1. ^ Rubinstein pg. 822
  2. ^ Wilson, Scott (16 September 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997. Retrieved 16 September 2018 – via Google Books.

Bibliography

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  • Rubinstein, William D. The Palgrave Dictionary of Anglo-Jewish History. Palgrave Macmillan, 2011.
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