Lister, Moira (1923–)

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Lister, Moira (1923–)

South African-born actress. Born Aug 6, 1923, in Cape Town, South Africa; dau. of Major James Martin and Margaret Winifred (Hogan) Lister; attended Parktown Convent, in Johannesburg; studied acting with Dr. Hulbert and Amy Coleridge; m. Vicomte d'Orthez.

At 6, made stage debut as the Prince in The Vikings of Helgeland with Johannesburg University Players; 1st appeared on English stage as Jeeby Cashler in Post Road at Golders Green Hippodrome (1937); made London debut as Diana in Six Pairs of Shoes (1944); appeared as Juliet and Desdemona with Shakespeare Memorial Theater (1945, 1955); made NY debut as Madeleine in Don't Listen Ladies (1948); toured Africa and Australia in one-woman show People in Love (1958–59); played Nell Nash in The Gazebo (1960–61) for over a year in London; launched film career with The Shipbuilders (1943); other films include The Deep Blue Sea (1955), The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964), The Double Man (1967), Not Now Darling (1972) and Ten Little Indians (1989); on tv, appeared in popular series "The Very Merry Widow."

See also autobiography, The Very Merry Moira (1969); and Women in World History.

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