Australian actress (1887–1982)
Enid Lorimer |
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| Born | May Enid Bosworth Nunn
27 November 1887
London, United Kingdom |
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| Died | 15 July 1982 (aged 94)
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| Other names | Ellen Bosworth (pen name) |
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| Citizenship | Australian |
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| Occupations | - Actress
- producer
- writer
- teacher
- theosophist
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| Years active | C. 1910-1979 |
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| Spouse | Count Harold Augustavas Wentworth Zeffri. (died 1926)[1] |
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| Children | 1 (adopted) |
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| Awards | Chips Rafferty Memorial Award |
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| Website | enidlorimer.com |
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Enid Bosworth Lorimer OAM (born May Enid Bosworth Nunn; 27 November 1887 – 15 July 1982), was an English-born stage, radio, television and film actress, director, producer, writer, teacher and theosophist. She worked in her native England and also in Australia.
She was a contemporary of Dame Sybil Thorndike and Dame Lilian Braithwaite.
Early life
Lorimer was born[2] on 27 November 1887, in London, United Kingdom.[2] Her father was Harold Marcus Nunn and her mother was Helen Louise Fowler (née Bosworth) and she had a younger sister. [3]
Brought up in comfortable and privileged circumstances her early education was supervised by a governess. She later attended a boarding school in Folkestone, Kent, and a finishing school in Switzerland.[1]
In London. she trained under renowned teacher Elsie Fogerty, she subsequently trained at Her Majesty's Theatre as a Shakespearean actress.
Career
Lorimer's career as an actress lasted for some 70 years.[4][5] She first took stage drama in the United Kingdom, and became an understudy to Phyllis Neilson-Terry, she joined the toiurding company of Laurence Irving and during the wars year's she worked on film production in Britain assisting Dame Ellen Terry.[6] she arrived for Sydney, Australia in November 1923 to serve as Art Director at the Star Amphitheatre, Balmoral.[7]
Lorimer produced the first impromptu radio play at 2GB in 1925; of the latter she was well known as an actress in the radio serial Dr. Mac with Lou Vernon as Ettie between 1940 and 1952.[1]
She starred in numerous Australian television programmes, such as Motel, Spyforce, Homicide, Division 4 and Cop Shop, as well as many theatrical stage plays,[8] and in 1966 she appeared as a narrator in fourteen episodes of the BBC children's television programme Jackanory. Up until her 85th birthday in 1973, she was very active within the entertainment circle and would not entertain the prospect of retirement, despite self-admitted signs of "phasing out".[9] Her final film appearance was in The Odd Angry Shot.[10] In her later years, she gradually declined from acting and instead started writing children's books, such as the series Shelley (which was based on her granddaughter), under the pseudonym of Ellen Bosworth publishing 3 books..[6] Many of her books were best-sellers in Australia.[11] During her lifetime, Lorimer also worked as a teacher and a theosophist.[12]
Recognition
Lorimer was awarded the Chips Rafferty Memorial Award in 1981[13] and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her service towards the performing arts on 14 June 1982.[14]
Enid Lorimer Circuit, in the Canberra suburb of Chisholm, is named in her honour.[15]
Death
Lorimer died on 15 July 1982 at a private hospital[16] in Wahroonga, New South Wales.[17][18] A private funeral was held for her; only six people attended.[17]
