Georgia Brown(1933-1992)

She was was born in London's East End, the daughter of a Russian immigrant family who settled in Britain at the turn of the century. During WWII she was evacuated to South Wales where Welsh choirs fascinated her and she remembers the miners harmonising which made her want to sing professionally. Her first engagement at 17 was at London's Stork Club where she sang Blues numbers. She got steady work in cabaret and on the variety circuit. Tiring of all the touring in 1956 she auditioned for and got a part in the production of 'The Threepenny Opera at the Royal Court which transferred to the Aldwych Theatre in the West End and then to New York. When that closed she got the offer of singing in a Hollywood night club but that was a disaster. She returned to New York broke and destitute then she got a message that London Television wanted to do a programme about her.She was then asked to record some songs for a new show called 'The Lily White Boys'which she stared in with Albert Finney at the Royal Court. After that she was cast as Nancy in 'Oliver' which she played in London and New York for 4 years earning the London Critics Award and a New York Tony Award nomination. She was, needless to say, disappointed at not getting the role in the film version. She returned to London for Lionel Bart's 'Maggie May' then made her film debut in 'The Fixer'