Elisabeth Croft
 | This section relies largely or entirely on a single source. (July 2011) |
Elisabeth Croft | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 September 1907 |
| Died | 13 January 2003 (aged 95) |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1940–84 |
| Notable work | See below |
| Television | Crossroads |
Elisabeth Croft (born 22 September 1907- died 13 January 2003) is a English actress. Her best known roles are playing postmistress Miss Edith Tatum in the ITV soap opera Crossroads between 1966–76. Croft was the oldest surviving cast member from the original Crossroads.[1]
Personal life
Early and Death
Croft was born on the 22 September 1907 in Windermere. Croft was extremely shy as a child but chose acting as a career, worked in repertory theatre and appeared alongside star Seymour Hicks in Vintage Wine in the Daly's Theatre, 1934.[1] She was married and had a son and a daughter.[1] On the 13 January 2003 Croft died, the same day the updated version of Crossroads was relaunched for a second time.[1]
Career
Crossroads
"It was all very amateur when I went into it," said Croft three years ago. "We were doing five episodes a week and didn't get as much rehearsal time as we would have liked, so we had to be prepared for anything."[1]
—Croft describes her time on Crossroads (2000)
In 1966, Croft landed a part in the ITV soap opera Crossroads. This was her first televison role.[1] For the first 8 weeks on the set she played a eccentric spinister with a home full of animals.[1] The soap featured Beryl Johnstone who played Kitty Jarvis, who ran the King's Oak village shop. Following Johnstone's death, the show needed a replacement and the role of Miss Tatum was created specially for Croft by the producer, Reg Watson, based on his real-life aunt. Croft said, "Miss Tatum didn't suffer fools gladly and was a bit sharp at times, but she was a wonderful character," she said. Croft left Crossroads in 1976, following a change of producer. "I suppose you would call it a quiet, humdrum show," she said just before the serial's 21st-century resurrections: I heard it described as the programme where nothing happened. It probably wouldn't go down now. The critics slammed it because it wasn't sensational, but it was what the viewers liked."[1] Croft did return to Crossroads for the screen wedding of Jill Harvey and Adam Chance in 1983.[1]
Other work
Croft joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon, in 1940. She apepared in many plays whilst there, such as Nurse in Romeo and Juliet and Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor. After Crossroads she appeared in some televsion commercials for products such as Spiller's Memory Lane Cakes and After Eight mints. She apepeared in the Armchair Thriller production The Limbo Connection. Her last appearance in television was in the BAFTA winning The Dress in 1984 and after this she had a long retirement.[1]
Awards and nominations
She played the 'Old Lady' whilst in the cast of The Dress which won a BAFTA award in 1984 alongside Michael Palin.[1]
Filmography
- Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1965 | Wars of the Roses | Richard III, Edward IV, Henry VI | 3 Episodes |
| 1966-76 | Crossroads | Miss Tatum | 30 Episodes |
| 1971 | Crossroads: A Celebration | 1 Episode | |
| 1976 | Within These Walls | Agatha Mason | |
| 1978 | Armchair Thriller | Mrs. Sangster | |
| 1981 | BBC2 Playhouse | Neighbour | |
| 1983 | Crossroads | Miss Tatum | 1 Episode |
| 1985 | Crossroads Revisited | Herself | TV Documentry |
| 1994 | Crossroads: 30 Years On |
- Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Dress | Old Lady |
- Stage/Theatre
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1934 | Vintage Wine | Minor Role |
| 1940 | Romeo and Juliet | Nurse |
| The Merry Wives of Windsor | Mistress Quickly | |
| 1964 | Henry IV Part 1 | Various Roles |
- TV commercials
| Title |
|---|
| After Eight mints |
| Spiller's Memory Lane Cakes |