Actress. Born Shirley Ann Pithers, she was best known for her role as Ivy, the formidable cafe owner in the long-running television comedy "Last of the Summer Wine." She began acting as a teenager, changing her name to Jane Evans. By the time she had graduated from the Cardiff College of Music and Drama in 1955, she had changed her name to Jane Freeman. She joined the Osiris Players, a touring acting company whose repertoire consisted mainly of the works of Shakespeare. In 1967, she joined the Birmingham repertory company, where she met Michael Simpson, who later became her husband. In 1973 she joined the cast of "Last of the Summer Wine," as the character of Ivy. It was a role she would continue to play for the next 37 years until "Last of the Summer Wine" was canceled in 2010.
Actress. Born Shirley Ann Pithers, she was best known for her role as Ivy, the formidable cafe owner in the long-running television comedy "Last of the Summer Wine." She began acting as a teenager, changing her name to Jane Evans. By the time she had graduated from the Cardiff College of Music and Drama in 1955, she had changed her name to Jane Freeman. She joined the Osiris Players, a touring acting company whose repertoire consisted mainly of the works of Shakespeare. In 1967, she joined the Birmingham repertory company, where she met Michael Simpson, who later became her husband. In 1973 she joined the cast of "Last of the Summer Wine," as the character of Ivy. It was a role she would continue to play for the next 37 years until "Last of the Summer Wine" was canceled in 2010.
Bio by: Robert Patterson
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