Who Is Hattie Jacques? Age, Biography and Wiki
Hattie Jacques was born on February 7, 1922, and passed away on October 6, 1980, making her 58 years old at the time of her death. Renowned for her work in British cinema during the mid-20th century, Jacques is best known for her roles in the popular "Carry On" film series and as a prominent television actress. With her notable comedic style and substantial presence, she became a beloved figure in British pop culture.
| Occupation | Stage Actress |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | |
| Age | 58 Years |
| Birth Place | N/A |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | |
| Date of death | 6 October, 1980 |
| Died Place | N/A |
Popularity
Hattie Jacques's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Hattie Jacques stood tall at approximately 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm). Her weight during her prime was reported to be around 180 lbs (81 kg). Known for her distinct figure, Hattie's body measurements complemented her strong on-screen presence, making her a memorable character in the roles she played throughout her career.
In private, Jacques led a turbulent life. She was married to the actor John Le Mesurier from 1949 until their divorce in 1965, a separation caused by her five-year affair with another man. Jacques, who had been overweight since her teenage years, suffered ill-health soon after the separation from Le Mesurier and her weight rose to nearly 20 stone.
She died of a heart attack on 6 October 1980, at the age of 58. Her biographer, Frances Gray, considers Jacques had a "talent for larger-than-life comedy which never lost its grip on humanity", while she could also display "a broader comic mode" as a result of her "extraordinary versatility".
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Hattie Jacques was previously married to actor John Le Mesurier, with whom she had two sons, Robin and Simon. The couple divorced in 1965. Later, Jacques entered into a relationship with actor and playwright Norman Wisdom, although they never married. While her romantic relationships were often in the public eye, Hattie’s family remained a significant part of her life and contributed to her overall narrative as an actress.
At the outbreak of the Second World War Jacques became a nurse in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD); she served in a mobile unit in London, attending bombed sites during the Blitz.
After a reorganisation in the VAD, Jacques sought new work and, in the summer of 1943, she became a welder in a factory in north London, a job that lasted until the end of the year. Around this time she became romantically involved with an American soldier, Major Charles Kearney.
Jacques later claimed that the pair had been engaged and that Kearney had been killed in action, although her biographer, Andy Merriman, discovered that Kearney had a wife and children in the United States when he had proposed to Jacques, and had returned to them after the war.
Net Worth and Salary
At the time of her passing, Hattie Jacques had an estimated net worth of around $1 million. Adjusted for inflation and considering her enduring popularity, one could speculate about her potential earnings had she continued to work in the industry. Her legendary status most likely earned her a significant legacy in royalties from her film and television work.
Career, Business and Investments
Hattie Jacques’s career began in the theater, eventually moving to film and television. She became an iconic figure through her roles in comedy films and series, notably the "Carry On" films, which contributed to her status as one of Britain’s female comedy legends. Beyond acting, Jacques had interests in various business ventures aligned with her career in entertainment, including voice work and radio performances.
Jacques started her career in 1944 with an appearance at the Players' Theatre in London, but came to national prominence through her appearances on three highly popular radio series on the BBC: with Tommy Handley on It's That Man Again; with ventriloquist Peter Brough on Educating Archie; and then with Tony Hancock on Hancock's Half Hour.
After the Second World War Jacques made her cinematic debut in Green for Danger (1946), in which she had a brief, uncredited role. From 1958 to 1974 she appeared in 14 Carry On films, playing various roles including the formidable hospital matron.
On television she had a long professional partnership with Eric Sykes, with whom she co-starred in his long-running series Sykes and Sykes and a.... The role endeared her to the public and the two became staples of British television.
Social Network
Despite the lack of digital platforms during her era, Hattie Jacques's persona continues to connect with fans through various social media avenues today. Her legacy lives on through fan pages and tribute accounts that honor her life and contributions to the arts.
Jacques's private life became complicated in 1963. The previous year she had met John Schofield, a cockney used-car dealer, who chauffeured her to a Leukaemia Research Fund event. The couple became romantically involved after the driver gave her the attention and support that Le Mesurier did not.
When Jacques decided to move Schofield into the family home, Le Mesurier moved into a separate room. He later commented about this period: "I could have walked out, but, whatever my feelings, I loved Hattie and the children and I was certain—I had to be certain—that we could repair the damage".
During these upheavals in her personal life, Jacques was surprised to be the subject of This Is Your Life in February 1963, when she was approached by Eamonn Andrews during rehearsal for the sixth series of Sykes and a....
Although Le Mesurier did not mention the marital situation when being questioned by Andrews, he made the comment that for Jacques "the home comes first", which Merriman considered had been said "rather pointedly". Despite the matrimonial upsets, Jacques and Le Mesurier both appeared in the 1963 Tony Hancock film, The Punch and Judy Man.
In 1964 Le Mesurier moved out of the marital home, made a decision to protect Jacques from any negative publicity, and allowed her to bring a divorce suit on grounds of his own infidelity. This ensured that the press blamed him for the break-up, casting Jacques as the victim in the matter.
Education
Hattie Jacques received her education at the Girton High School and later enrolled at the University College London, where she honed her skills in drama. Her educational background equipped her with the necessary tools to excel in her career in performance arts.
Jacques began her association with the Carry On series in March 1958 with the first film in the series, Carry On Sergeant. She played the small role of Captain Clark, a "battleaxe medical officer" who fails to believe the fabricated ailments of the hypochondriac Private Horace Strong, played by Kenneth Connor.
The following year she played "Matron" for the first time in Carry On Nurse, a film which broke that year's box office records, selling more than 10 million tickets in British cinemas.
Although Jacques's role was still relatively small, she appeared in perhaps the best known scene of the film, in which she retrieves a daffodil from Wilfrid Hyde-White's buttocks, put there by a mischievous nurse as revenge for his constant harassment of the staff.
So popular was Jacques's scene, that the producers imported two million plastic daffodils from Japan which were then used to promote the comedy. Other characterisations followed, including the formidable maths mistress Grace Short in Carry On Teacher (1959) and the friendly Police Sergeant Laura Moon in Carry On Constable (1960).
Of the former film, Derek Prouse of The Sunday Times thought that Jacques "triumph[ed] over material so remorselessly juvenile that one is battered into a kind of fascinated admiration".
