Forever linked with the Carry On film series of the 1960's and 70's, Joan Sims was always been one of the UK's most underrated actresses. This is probably due in no small part to her lack of choice roles, the 'Carry On' series aside.
It is perhaps not so well know that Joan was very much a loner for most of her life, by choosing to live alone and not get married despite having two meaningful relationships with fellow actors Tony Baird and her former stage manager, John Walters.
Asked in later years why she never married - Joan replied, 'Because the right man never came along. There's no point looking for any darker meaning, because there isn't one'.
Born Irene Joan Marian Sims on 9th May 1930 in Laingdon, Essex, she first got the acting bug, when applying for a scholarship at RADA in 1946 at the age of 16, but was initially unsuccessful.
Undeterred, she tried again a short while later and after eventually graduating from RADA, her first major appearance was on stage with Scottish actor and comedian, Stanley Baxter (Later to achieve UK fame with his own TV specials in the 1970s).
Her early career highlights included starring with comedy legend Norman Wisdom in 'Trouble In Store (1953) and then onto the 'Doctor' film series being given the character of Nurse Rigour Mortis next to Dirk Bogarde.
After being a regular in the 'Doctor' series, Joan was asked to play a small part in 'Carry On Admiral (1957) although this film bore no relation to the later Carry On series, it undoubtedly put her in a good position to be considered as one of the early team members of the cast.
Early in 1958, producer Peter Rodgers sent her a script for a brief role in a comedy called 'Carry On Nurse' (1959). After liking Sims potential in the 'Doctor' series, he thought she would be a good addition to what was to be the second of two films made by Rodgers and Gerald Thomas, after their first joint effort 'Carry On Sargent' (1958).
From here on Joan began to appear regularly in the Carry On series' for the remainder of its lifespan which ran until 1978. Her characters in the series began with Joan being an object of men's lust, and gradually over time, she was turned into the frumpy nagging wife type, usually played off next to Sid James hen-pecked husband.
Despite being so well known as a 'Carry On' performer, this still didn't stop other offers coming her way, most notably during her hot period of the 1960's. Indeed, she was to star in 23 films in the period from 1960-69 beginning with 'Watch Your Stern (1960) to Carry On Again Doctor (1969).
Her roles next to some of the UK's comedy acting profession reads like a veritable who's who?
How's this for a role call of names - Norman Wisdom, Peter Sellers, Dirk Bogarde, Jack Warner, George Cole, Jon Pertwee, William Hartnell, Margaret Rutherford, Stanley Holloway, Kenneth More, James Robertson-Justice, Prunella Scales, Dora Bryan and Alistair Sim. Of course, there were so many more as this was only early in her career up to the end of the 1950's.
After the Carry On series ended with 'Carry On Emmanuelle' (1978), Joan began to do a lot more TV work. Just prior to this, she was cast alongside acting legends Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Oliver in a film made for TV called 'Love Among The Ruins' (1975).
From the 1980s onward, Joan began to drink heavily due to bouts of depression. This was perhaps no doubt brought on by the sudden deaths of her agent Peter Eade, fellow 'Carry On' regular Hattie Jacques and her mother all within a short space of two-years.
In the later nineties, her health began to decline when she was diagnosed with Bells Palsy in 1999 and then broke her hip the following year due to a fall. Despite a remarkable recovery, the drinking didn't stop. She was offered rehab on one occasion, but declined.
The last two years of her life were not happy ones in terms of her health. Admitted to hospital for what was supposed to be a routine operation, Joan fell into a coma in 2000. Inevitably, on 27th June 2001, she passed away aged 71, due to a combination of liver failure and diverticulitis. Diabetes and COPD were also major factors all linked to alcoholism.
But thanks to the endless repeats on TV and DVD releases of her films, Joan Sims, the self-proclaimed 'Queen of Puddings' will outlive us all.
(Profile)
- Full Name: Irene Joan Marion Sims
- Date Of Birth: 9th May 1930
- Place Of Birth: Laingdon, Essex, England
- Date Of Death: 27th June 2001 (aged 71)
- Place Of Death: Chelsea, London, England
- Cause Of Death: Diverticular Disease
- Years Active: 1951-2000
(Filmography)
(Further reading and viewing)
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