Beatrice Lillie

About

Also Known As

Bea Lillie, Lady Peel, Beatrice Lilly

Birth Place

Toronto, Ontario, CA

Born

May 29, 1894

Died

January 20, 1989

Biography

A brilliant deadpan stage comic whose film career never really took off, Beatrice Lillie was born in Canada had her first success in the 1910s in London with revues staged by Andre Charlot. She starred in shows by Noel Coward, Shaw and others, including several one-woman shows.Lillie's unique appeal rarely came across on screen. Her first film, the silent "Exit Smiling" (1926) was a hit,...

Filmography

Wisecracks (1991)

Herself

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967)

Mrs. Meers

Around the World in 80 Days (1956)

Leader of revivalist group, London

On Approval (1944)

Doctor Rhythm (1938)

Mrs. Lorelei Dodge-Blodgett

Are You There? (1931)

Shirley Travis

Photos & Videos

View All

On Approval (1944) -- (Movie Clip) Have You No Odd Corner?

On Approval (1944) -- (Movie Clip) Ever Tried Brandy?

Family & Companions

Robert Peel

Husband

British; married January 1920 until his death in 1934.

John Phillip Huck

Companion

Companion and conservator; died of a heart attack on January 21, 1989, one day after Lillie; 30 years her junior.

Bibliography

"Every Other Inch a Lady"

Bea Lillie (1972)

Biography

A brilliant deadpan stage comic whose film career never really took off, Beatrice Lillie was born in Canada had her first success in the 1910s in London with revues staged by Andre Charlot. She starred in shows by Noel Coward, Shaw and others, including several one-woman shows.

Lillie's unique appeal rarely came across on screen. Her first film, the silent "Exit Smiling" (1926) was a hit, and she shone in the all-star "Show of Shows" (1929). But her film work was spotty from then on: the early musical "Are You There?" (1930), the Bing Crosby musical "Dr. Rhythm" (1938), the stagy British-made "On Approval" (1944) and a cameo in "Around the World in 80 Days" (1956). She went out in style, though, with a brilliant turn as a white slaver in "Thoroughly Modern Millie" (1967).