Jean Dunlop Cadell (13 September 1884 – 29 September 1967) was a Scottish character actress.[1] Although her married name was Jean Dunlop Perceval-Clark she retained her maiden name in the context of acting.

Jean Cadell
Born(1884-09-13)13 September 1884
Died29 September 1967(1967-09-29) (aged 83)
London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1912–1962
SpousePerceval Perceval-Clarke
Children1

Life and career edit

 
22 Ainslie Place
 
The grave of Jean Cadell, Dean Cemetery

She was born at 4 Buckingham Terrace[2] in Edinburgh, the daughter of Dr Francis Cadell (1844-1909), a wealthy surgeon, and his wife, Mary Hamilton Boileau (1853-1907).[3] The family moved to 22 Ainslie Place, a huge Georgian house on the Moray Estate, in her youth.[4]

She performed in the cinema and on the stage.[5][6] Among her best-known cinema roles was in the Ealing Studios comedy Whisky Galore! (1949), as well as Pygmalion (1938) and I Know Where I'm Going! (1945). She once performed opposite W.C. Fields in Hollywood, cast as Mrs. Micawber to his Wilkins Micawber in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 1935 production of David Copperfield.[7] Although Cadell remains in the released version of the film, her biggest scene (when the Micawber family prepare to emigrate) was deleted from the release prints.[citation needed]

Jean Cadell died in London on 29 September 1967, aged 83.[5]

She is buried with her family in Dean Cemetery in western Edinburgh. The grave lies against the southern wall.

Family edit

Her brother, Francis Cadell, was one of the Scottish Colourists.[8] She married actor Perceval Perceval-Clark.[9] Jean and Perceval both appeared in the play The Man Who Stayed at Home.[10]

Her son, born John Cadell Perceval-Clark in 1915, changed his name to John Cadell and became a theatrical agent.[11][12] Her grandson Simon Cadell and her granddaughter Selina Cadell also became actors.[13]

Complete filmography edit

References edit

  1. ^ Jean Cadell; North American Theatre Online
  2. ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1884
  3. ^ Cadell grave, Dean Cemetery
  4. ^ Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1890
  5. ^ a b "Jean Cadell". BFI. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012.
  6. ^ "Jean Cadell movies, photos, movie reviews, filmography, and biography - AllMovie". AllMovie.
  7. ^ "The Personal History, Adventures, Experience, & Observations of David Copperfield the Younger (1935) - BFI". BFI. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Lost work by Scottish colourist Cadell found on back of painting". BBC News. 27 January 2015.
  9. ^ Simon Cadell
  10. ^ Terry, J. E. Harold; Worrall, Lechmere (1916). The Man Who Stayed at Home. Samuel French. Retrieved 19 July 2016.
  11. ^ Simon Cadell
  12. ^ The Stage
  13. ^ "Obituary: Simon Cadell". The Independent. 8 March 1996.

External links edit