Denis, Michaela (1914–2003)
Denis, Michaela (1914–2003)
English wildlife filmmaker. Name variations: Machaela Denis Lindsay. Born Michaela Holdsworth, Aug 28, 1914, in London, England; died May 4, 2003, in Nairobi, Kenya; m. Armand Denis (Belgian filmmaker), 1948 (died 1971); became 3rd wife of Sir William Lindsay (former chief justice of Sudan), Aug 1975 (died Oct 1975); no children.
Pioneer filmmaker with husband, brought the life of animals to BBC tv screens; began career as a designer in Paris and NY; known for her white blonde hair and glamorous presentation, was often seen on screen with the animals in such shows as "Filming Wild Animals" (1954), "Filming in Africa" (1955), "On Safari" (1957–59 and 1961–65) and "Safari to Asia" (1959–61); also wrote Leopard in My Lap (1957) and Ride a Rhino (1960); with husband, built a house near Nairobi, and remained in Kenya after his death; a conservationist, was an outspoken vice-chair of Kenyan branch of The Men of the Trees.