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Moiya Kelly

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Moiya Kelly

Birth
Finsbury, London Borough of Islington, Greater London, England
Death
3 Jan 2023 (aged 88)
Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire District, Cambridgeshire, England
Burial
Cremated. Specifically: She was cremated privately and her ashes were given to her surviving family members. Add to Map
Memorial ID
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Actress. She will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in the holiday film classic, "A Christmas Carol" (1951). The film also starred actor Alastair Sim (1900-1976), as the crotchety title character, the miser, 'Ebenezer Scrooge.' She was born as Moiya Ann Kelly to Robert Kelly (1904-1980), and his wife Williamina Stewart "Mina" Duff Kelly (1904-1979), in Finsbury, London, England, on May 28, 1934. She began her career in entertainment when she danced a duet at the Hippodrome Theatre in Norwich, London, England, just before her third birthday in 1937. She returned to the Hippodrome Theatre in Norwich, London, England, and danced there again in 1940 and 1941. She became an accomplished dancer by the age of 13, and she was invited to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London, England. Unfortunately, the school later informed her that she was the best they had auditioned, but that she would not grow tall enough for a professional career in ballet. Shortly thereafter, she attended the prestigious Aida Foster Theatre School in Golders Green, England, where her contemporaries included the likes of actresses Jean Marsh and Dame Barbara Windsor (1937-2020). She then appeared at the Prince's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London, England, in the pantomime, "Cinderella" (1950), which also starred actress Christine Norden (1924-1988), playing the role of 'Prince Charming' and actor Derek Roy (1922-1981), playing the role of 'Buttons.' She also appeared in the role of 'Irene Collins' in the stage production of the play, "Cosh Boy," at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage in London, England, in April 1951, and playing the same role of 'Irene Collins' when the stage play was renamed "Master Crook," when it transferred to the Comedy Theatre in London, England. The stage play was adapted into the film of the same name, "Cosh Boy" (1953), but the role of 'Irene Collins' was given to actress Joan Collins, instead of her. During the run of the stage play, "Cosh Boy" (1951), she was discovered by film director Brian Desmond Hurst (1895-1986), who cast her in the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in his holiday film, "A Christmas Carol" (1951), alongside actor Alastair Sin (1900-1976), who played the title role of the miser 'Ebenezer Scrooge.' She also played the role of a schoolgirl in two episodes of the television adaptation of "Anne Of Green Gables" (1952), and as 'Mamie' in the stage production of the play, "Love From Judy" (August 15, 1952, to May 15, 1954), alongside actress June Whitfield (1925-2018), at the Saville Theatre in London, England, and at the Coventry Hippodrome (now Coventry Apollo), in Coventry, England. A television adaptation of the original stage production of the play was filmed with the original cast and aired on the British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC on March 16, 1953. Besides, playing the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in the the holiday film classic, "A Christmas Carol" (1951), her many other films include, "The Belles Of St. Trinian's (1954), and "The Love Lottery" (1954). She lastly was involved in the British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC outside broadcast, "Youth Wants To Know," and took part in a television program showcasing promising young talent with classical guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream (1933-2020), comedian, actor, television presenter, and game show host, Leslie Crowther (1933-1996), and actress Shani Wallis. On the advice of her parents to find a more steady employment, the young actress left acting and became a primary school teacher in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, and then in Camberley, Surrey, England. She was married to businessman John G. Bewsher at The Chapel at Mill Hill School in London, England, on July 29, 1959. She later lived in Bagshot, Surrey, England, for many years. She passed away in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England on January 3, 2023, at the age of 88. Following her death, she was cremated privately and her ashes were given to her surviving family members
Actress. She will be best remembered for playing the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in the holiday film classic, "A Christmas Carol" (1951). The film also starred actor Alastair Sim (1900-1976), as the crotchety title character, the miser, 'Ebenezer Scrooge.' She was born as Moiya Ann Kelly to Robert Kelly (1904-1980), and his wife Williamina Stewart "Mina" Duff Kelly (1904-1979), in Finsbury, London, England, on May 28, 1934. She began her career in entertainment when she danced a duet at the Hippodrome Theatre in Norwich, London, England, just before her third birthday in 1937. She returned to the Hippodrome Theatre in Norwich, London, England, and danced there again in 1940 and 1941. She became an accomplished dancer by the age of 13, and she was invited to audition for the Royal Ballet School in London, England. Unfortunately, the school later informed her that she was the best they had auditioned, but that she would not grow tall enough for a professional career in ballet. Shortly thereafter, she attended the prestigious Aida Foster Theatre School in Golders Green, England, where her contemporaries included the likes of actresses Jean Marsh and Dame Barbara Windsor (1937-2020). She then appeared at the Prince's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in London, England, in the pantomime, "Cinderella" (1950), which also starred actress Christine Norden (1924-1988), playing the role of 'Prince Charming' and actor Derek Roy (1922-1981), playing the role of 'Buttons.' She also appeared in the role of 'Irene Collins' in the stage production of the play, "Cosh Boy," at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage in London, England, in April 1951, and playing the same role of 'Irene Collins' when the stage play was renamed "Master Crook," when it transferred to the Comedy Theatre in London, England. The stage play was adapted into the film of the same name, "Cosh Boy" (1953), but the role of 'Irene Collins' was given to actress Joan Collins, instead of her. During the run of the stage play, "Cosh Boy" (1951), she was discovered by film director Brian Desmond Hurst (1895-1986), who cast her in the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in his holiday film, "A Christmas Carol" (1951), alongside actor Alastair Sin (1900-1976), who played the title role of the miser 'Ebenezer Scrooge.' She also played the role of a schoolgirl in two episodes of the television adaptation of "Anne Of Green Gables" (1952), and as 'Mamie' in the stage production of the play, "Love From Judy" (August 15, 1952, to May 15, 1954), alongside actress June Whitfield (1925-2018), at the Saville Theatre in London, England, and at the Coventry Hippodrome (now Coventry Apollo), in Coventry, England. A television adaptation of the original stage production of the play was filmed with the original cast and aired on the British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC on March 16, 1953. Besides, playing the role of 'Martha Cratchit' in the the holiday film classic, "A Christmas Carol" (1951), her many other films include, "The Belles Of St. Trinian's (1954), and "The Love Lottery" (1954). She lastly was involved in the British Broadcasting Corporation or BBC outside broadcast, "Youth Wants To Know," and took part in a television program showcasing promising young talent with classical guitarist and lutenist Julian Bream (1933-2020), comedian, actor, television presenter, and game show host, Leslie Crowther (1933-1996), and actress Shani Wallis. On the advice of her parents to find a more steady employment, the young actress left acting and became a primary school teacher in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, England, and then in Camberley, Surrey, England. She was married to businessman John G. Bewsher at The Chapel at Mill Hill School in London, England, on July 29, 1959. She later lived in Bagshot, Surrey, England, for many years. She passed away in Huntingdon, Huntingdonshire, England on January 3, 2023, at the age of 88. Following her death, she was cremated privately and her ashes were given to her surviving family members

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