Dorinda Stevens (16 August 1932 – 25 October 2012) was a British television and film actress of the 1950s and 1960s.[2][3][4]

Dorinda Stevens
Dorinda Stevens in Danger Man in 1964
Born
Doreen May Stevens

16 August 1932
Southampton, Hampshire, England
Died25 October 2012(2012-10-25) (aged 80)
Winchester, Hampshire, England
OccupationActress
Years active1952 – 1965
Spouse
(m. 1951; div. 1956)
[1]

Biography

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Stevens was born Doreen May Stevens in Southampton,[5] the daughter of Henry C. Stevens and Winifred (née Lucas).[6] During World War II, at age 10, she was evacuated to Houghton in Hampshire where she appeared in amateur dramatics to entertain the troops. She studied elocution, and she taught this subject by age 13. She joined the Southampton Repertory Company, where she was spotted for her good looks, and she was booked to appear in London aged 17.[7]

Stevens was briefly married to the actor Peter Wyngarde in the early 1950s[8][9] and later married Canadian cinematographer William Michael Boultbee (1933–2005) in Nairobi in 1957[10] while filming for African Patrol.

Stevens retired from acting in 1965. Reviewing her final theatrical film Night Train to Paris (1964), New York Times critic Howard Thompson wrote that "the most attractive thing about the whole picture is a nifty blonde named Dorinda Stevens. The woman can act, too, which is more than can be said for most of the others."[11]

Stevens died aged 80 in 2012 in Winchester in Hampshire as a result of complications of a stroke, and she was cremated at Bournemouth Crematorium.[12]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1952 Lady in the Fog Girl at film studio uncredited
1952 It Started in Paradise Flo, 1st barmaid uncredited
1954 The Golden Link Norma Sheridan
1955 Confession[3] Blonde U.S. title: The Deadliest Sin
1955 Handcuffs, London[a] Lady Edith Garven
1957 A King in New York[13][14] (Unconfirmed role) uncredited
1957 Not Wanted on Voyage[15] Pat
1958 Man with a Gun Club Receptionist
1959 Jack the Ripper[16] Margaret
1959 Operation Bullshine A.T.S. Girl
1959 Horrors of the Black Museum[17] Pat Dunlap
1959 The Shakedown Grace
1960 Carry On Constable Young woman
1960 The Gentle Trap[18] Mary
1960 Make Mine Mink Jean uncredited
1961 His and Hers Dora
1961 Raising the Wind Doris
1961 Night Without Pity Girlfriend
1962 Hair of the Dog Ann Tickle
1963 Carry on Jack Girl at Dirty Dick's uncredited
1963 The Undesirable Neighbour Mary Bennet part of The Scales of Justice series of featurettes
1964 The Verdict[b] Molly
1964 Night Train to Paris Olive Davies

Selected television appearances

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Year Programme Episode Role
1953 Sunday Night Theatre "Once in a Lifetime" Coat-check girl
1955 Fabian of the Yard "The King's Hat"[a] Lady Edith Garven
1955 Confidentially Receptionist
1956 Sixpenny Corner Miss Golightly
1959 Dial 999 (TV series) "50,000 Hands"

"Old Soldiers Sometimes Die"

Madge Bingham

Helen

1958–59 African Patrol "Man and Beast"

"Missing Doctor"
"The Baboon Laughed"

Lila

Ruth
Helen Gibson

1959 Crime Sheet "The Superintendent Hedges a Bet" Carol Betterton
1960 International Detective "The Barnaby Case" Glory
1959–60 Interpol Calling "In the Swim"

"Air Switch"

Millicent

Helen

1961 The Pursuers "Inside Job" Belle
1962 The Cheaters "The Safe Way" Girl
1959–1962 No Hiding Place "Thirty Seconds From Now"

"Process of Elimination"
"Murder with Witnesses"

Carol

Betty
Lola la Salle

1962 The Saint "The Careful Terrorist" Verna
1963 The Scales of Justice "The Undesirable Neighbour" Mary Bennet
1964 The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre "The Verdict"[b] Molly
1964 The Avengers "Concerto" Darleen
1964 Hugh and I "Emergency Ward"
1965 Danger Man "Such Men Are Dangerous" Miss Jackson

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Handcuffs, London was a feature-length compilation of episodes from TV's Fabian of the Yard (televised in the U.S. as Patrol Car), including "The King's Hat".
  2. ^ a b The Verdict was released theatrically in the UK as a second feature, and it later was televised in the U.S. as an episode of The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theater.

References

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  1. ^ Peter Wyngarde: Flamboyant actor renowned for his salacious exploits who became a household name in the 1970s when he played TV sleuth Jason KingThe Times 18 January 2018
  2. ^ "Last Night's Cable Flashes". The Argus. Melbourne, Australia. 24 November 1956. p. 6 – via Trove.
  3. ^ a b "Alan Hodgson on ITV". Daily Herald. 9 June 1956. p. 4 – via British Newspaper Archive. (subscription required)
  4. ^ "Spring Decorating". Winnipeg Free Press. Winnipeg, Canada. 6 June 1956. p. 38 – via Newspaperarchive.com.
  5. ^ Doreen M Stevens in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005
  6. ^ Henry C Stevens and Winifred Lucas in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005 (1923)
  7. ^ Interview with Dorinda Stevens - 'The Siren', TVTimes - 20–26 November 1955
  8. ^ Shelley, Gary (8 May 1972). "Peter Wyngarde – An Incurable Romantic". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 9.
  9. ^ Peter Wyngarde in the London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832-1965 - Ancestry.com (subscription required)
  10. ^ Partridge, Janet (20 April 1957). "Town Talk". The Vancouver Sun. p. 27.
  11. ^ Thompson, Howard (3 December 1964). "'Night Train to Paris' at Local Theaters". The New York Times.
  12. ^ Baker, Richard Anthony (5 November 2012). "Obituaries: Dorinda Stevens". The Stage. Archived from the original on 13 June 2018.
  13. ^ "Film Gossip". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney, Australia. 12 August 1956. p. 51 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Holmes, Su (2005). British TV and Film Culture of the 1950s: Coming to a TV Near You. UK: Intellect Books. p. 191. ISBN 9781841501215.
  15. ^ "Film Reviews: Not Wanted on Voyage". Variety. 13 November 1957. p. 20.
  16. ^ Grieg, Michael (14 February 1960). "A New Twist for a Ripping Old Horror Story". San Francisco Examiner. p. 13 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Watmough, David (7 June 1959). "Film Hypnosis - A New Kick for Horror Fans". San Francisco Examiner. pp. 20–21 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ Chibnall, Steve; McFarlane, Brian (2017). The British 'B' Film. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 185. ISBN 9781844575749.
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