Belinda Lee
Encyclopedia
Belinda Lee was an English
actress.
Born in Budleigh Salterton
, England
, Lee was signed to a film contract in 1954 by the Rank Studios
after being seen performing as a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
. Often cast in demure roles in her early career, she was able to demonstrate her dramatic abilities, however she found more constant employment when she began to play "sexpot" roles. Typecast as one of several "sexy blondes" she was often compared, unfavourably, to the popular Diana Dors
. Typical of these roles was a supporting part in the Benny Hill
film Who Done It?
(1956).
Married to the photographer Cornel Lucas
from1954 until 1959, it was after their divorce that Lee moved to Italy
, where she continued playing voluptuous temptresses in Italian films
, yet also found the occasion of credible dramatic performances in Francesco Rosi
's immigration drama I Magliari (1959) and Florestano Vancini
's intense war story La lunga notte del '43
(1960).
In 1958, Italian newspapers reported that Miss Lee had taken an overdose of sleeping pills. Three days later, papal prince Filippo Orsini, who had been linked to her by the papers, was reported to have been hospitalized after slashing his wrists. Police refused to comment on the newspaper reports linking the two romantically. Orsini, whose injuries were light, refused to tell the police why he had done it. Lee said that she had been suffering from insomnia
and had taken an overdose by mistake. Both were married to others at the time. The Vatican
said that Orsini would lose his title if it were proven that he had attempted suicide.
In 1961, Belinda Lee died in a car accident near San Bernardino, California
, on her way to Los Angeles
from Las Vegas
, where she had been acting in a film. Her ashes are kept at Campo Cestio Cemetery (Cimitero acattolico) in Rome
, Italy.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress.
Born in Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton
Budleigh Salterton is a small town on the south coast of Devon, England 15 miles south of Exeter. It is situated within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty designated East Devon AONB.- Features :...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Lee was signed to a film contract in 1954 by the Rank Studios
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
after being seen performing as a student of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
. Often cast in demure roles in her early career, she was able to demonstrate her dramatic abilities, however she found more constant employment when she began to play "sexpot" roles. Typecast as one of several "sexy blondes" she was often compared, unfavourably, to the popular Diana Dors
Diana Dors
Diana Dors was an English actress, born Diana Mary Fluck in Swindon, Wiltshire. Considered the English equivalent of the blonde bombshells of Hollywood, Dors described herself as: "The only sex symbol Britain has produced since Lady Godiva."-Early life:Diana Mary Fluck was born in Swindon,...
. Typical of these roles was a supporting part in the Benny Hill
Benny Hill
Benny Hill was an English comedian and actor, notable for his long-running television programme The Benny Hill Show.-Early life:...
film Who Done It?
Who Done It? (1956 film)
Who Done It? is a 1956 British comedy film starring comedian Benny Hill.-Cast:* Benny Hill as Hugo Dill* Belinda Lee as Frankie Mayne* David Kossoff as Zacco* Garry Marsh as Detective Inspector Hancock* George Margo as Barakov...
(1956).
Married to the photographer Cornel Lucas
Cornel Lucas
Cornel Lucas is a British photographer.He is the first photographer to win BAFTA in 1998 for Services to British Film Industry.Married in 1954 to Belinda Lee, then to actress Susan Travers in 1959....
from1954 until 1959, it was after their divorce that Lee moved to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, where she continued playing voluptuous temptresses in Italian films
Cinema of Italy
The history of Italian cinema began just a few months after the Lumière brothers had patented their Cinematographe, when Pope Leo XIII was filmed for a few seconds in the act of blessing the camera.-Early years:...
, yet also found the occasion of credible dramatic performances in Francesco Rosi
Francesco Rosi
Francesco Rosi is an Italian film director. He is the father of actress Carolina Rosi.-Biography:After studying Law, but hoping to study film, Rosi entered the industry as an assistant to Luchino Visconti on La Terra trema...
's immigration drama I Magliari (1959) and Florestano Vancini
Florestano Vancini
Florestano Vancini was an award-winning Italian film director and screenwriter.He directed over 20 movies since 1960...
's intense war story La lunga notte del '43
Long Night in 1943
Long Night in 1943, The Long Night of '43 or It Happened in '43 is an Italian film of 1960 set during the Allied invasion of Italy in 1943 during the Second World War. It was directed by Florestano Vancini and adapted by Vancini, Ennio De Concini and Pier Paolo Pasolini from a novel by Giorgio...
(1960).
In 1958, Italian newspapers reported that Miss Lee had taken an overdose of sleeping pills. Three days later, papal prince Filippo Orsini, who had been linked to her by the papers, was reported to have been hospitalized after slashing his wrists. Police refused to comment on the newspaper reports linking the two romantically. Orsini, whose injuries were light, refused to tell the police why he had done it. Lee said that she had been suffering from insomnia
Insomnia
Insomnia is most often defined by an individual's report of sleeping difficulties. While the term is sometimes used in sleep literature to describe a disorder demonstrated by polysomnographic evidence of disturbed sleep, insomnia is often defined as a positive response to either of two questions:...
and had taken an overdose by mistake. Both were married to others at the time. The Vatican
Vatican
Vatican may refer to:*Holy See, the central governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity recognized by international law, consisting of the Pope and the Roman Curia...
said that Orsini would lose his title if it were proven that he had attempted suicide.
In 1961, Belinda Lee died in a car accident near San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, on her way to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
from Las Vegas
Las Vegas
Las Vegas may refer to:* Las Vegas Valley, consisting of Las Vegas and surrounding areas** Las Vegas, Nevada, the city** Las Vegas Strip, the resort destination and location of many of the largest hotel and casino resorts in the world...
, where she had been acting in a film. Her ashes are kept at Campo Cestio Cemetery (Cimitero acattolico) in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy.
Selected filmography
- The Runaway BusThe Runaway BusThe Runaway Bus is a 1954 British comedy film produced, written, and directed by Val Guest. It stars Frankie Howerd and Petula Clark.-Plot summary:...
(1954) - Murder by ProxyMurder by ProxyMurder by Proxy is a 1954 crime film directed by Terence Fisher. It stars Dane Clark and Belinda Lee.-Cast:* Dane Clark as Casey Morrow* Belinda Lee as Phyllis Brunner* Betty Ann Davies as Mrs...
(1954) - Life with The LyonsLife with The Lyons (film)Life with The Lyons is a 1954 British comedy film directed by Val Guest and starring Bebe Daniels, Ben Lyon and Richard Lyon. It was a spin-off from the radio series Life with The Lyons. The Lyon family attempt to acquire a new house in Marble Arch. It was followed in 1955 by The Lyons in Paris....
(1954) - The Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian'sThe Belles of St Trinian's is a comedy film set in the fictional St Trinian's School, released in 1954. It and its sequels were inspired by British cartoonist Ronald Searle. Directed by Frank Launder and written by him and Sidney Gilliat, it was the first of a series of five...
(1954) - Footsteps in the FogFootsteps in the FogFootsteps in the Fog is a 1955 British crime film starring Jean Simmons and Stewart Granger, with a screenplay co-written by Lenore Coffee and Dorothy Davenport, and released by Columbia Pictures. It is based on the short story "The Interruption" by W.W...
(1955) - No SmokingNo Smoking (1955 film)No Smoking is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring Reg Dixon, Peter Martyn, Belinda Lee and Lionel Jeffries. A scientist who invents a pill that can cure smokers of their nicotine addiction, faces strong opposition from both the tobacco industry and the government.-Cast:*...
(1955) - The Feminine TouchThe Feminine Touch (1956 film)The Feminine Touch is a 1956 British drama film directed by Pat Jackson and starring George Baker, Belinda Lee and Delphi Lawrence. It is based on the novel A Lamp Is Heavy by Sheila Mackay Russell...
(1956) - The Secret PlaceThe Secret Place (film)The Secret Place is a 1957 British film directed by Henry Hathaway. It stars Belinda Lee and Ronald Lewis.-Cast:* Belinda Lee as Molly Wilson* Ronald Lewis as Gerry Carter* Michael Brooke as Freddie Haywood* Michael Gwynn as Steve Warring...
(1957) - Dangerous ExileDangerous ExileDangerous Exile is a 1957 British historical drama film directed by Brian Desmond Hurst and starring Louis Jourdan, Belinda Lee, Anne Heywood and Richard O'Sullivan. It concerns the fate of Louis XVII, who died in 1795 as a boy, yet was popularly believed to have escaped from his French...
(1957) - The Big MoneyThe Big Money (film)The Big Money is a 1958 British comedy film directed by John Paddy Carstairs and starring Ian Carmichael, Belinda Lee and Kathleen Harrison.-Partial cast:* Ian Carmichael - Willie Frith* Belinda Lee - Gloria* Kathleen Harrison - Mrs Frith...
(1958) - Love Now, Pay LaterLove Now, Pay LaterLove Now, Pay Later is a 1959 West German drama film directed by Rudolf Jugert and starring Belinda Lee, Walter Rilla and Karl Schönböck. It was based around the life and death of Rosemarie Nitribitt...
(1959) - Giuseppe venduto dai fratelli (1961)