Dilys Laye

Dilys Laye (born Dilys Lay; 11 March 1934 – 13 February 2009) was an English actress and singer, best known for her comedy roles, in which she was seen in the West End and on Broadway for more than fifty years, beginning in 1951. Although primarily a stage performer, she broadcast frequently on radio and television, and appeared in films. Laye's teenage work included drama, pantomime, revue and early experiences in television and film. From 1954 she appeared in a long run on Broadway in the musical The Boy Friend before returning to British films and theatre, including a long West End run in The Tunnel of Love. In the 1960s she appeared in four of the Carry On film series and other films, television sitcoms and stage comedies and dramas. From the 1970s she had a long and productive association with the playwright Peter Barnes, appearing in his original works and his radio and stage adaptations of plays by authors from Thomas Otway to Frank Wedekind and Georges Feydeau. With the Royal Shakespeare Company and other troupes, in addition to modern comedy roles, Laye appeared in plays by Shakespeare, Wilde, Brecht, Beckett, Genet and Dickens adaptations. In her last two decades, she played in musical theatre roles ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to Sondheim and Lloyd Webber, as well as other stage and television roles.