Patricia Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere
Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews Harmsworth, Viscountess Rothermere (5 May 1929 – 12 August 1992) was an English socialite and actress. As Beverly Brooks, she appeared in several films, such as Reach for the Sky (1956).
The Viscountess Rothermere | |
|---|---|
| Born | Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews 5 May 1929 |
| Died | 12 August 1992 (aged 63)[1] Nice, France |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, socialite |
| Title | Viscountess Rothermere |
| Spouses | |
| Children | with Brooks: Sarah Brooks (b. 1956) with Harmsworth: Geraldine Harmsworth (b. 1957) Camilla Harmsworth (b. 1964) Jonathan Harmsworth (b. 1967) |
| Parent | John William Matthews |
Early life
Patricia Evelyn Beverley Matthews was born on 5 May 1929 to John William Matthews, an architect.[2]
Career
Shortly after her first marriage, and the birth of her first child, she enrolled at the Rank Charm School to become a starlet. This led to her being given a part in Reach for the Sky.
Filmography
- Simon and Laura (1955) – Mabel
- Lost (aka Tears for Simon) (1955) – Pam (telephone operator) – uncredited
- Man of the Moment (1955) – Air Hostess
- Find the Lady (1956) – June Weston
- Reach for the Sky (1956) – Sally
Television
- The Vise – "Diana" in episode "The Eighth Window" (episode No. 1.19) (4 February 1955)
- Clive James: Postcard from London, appears as herself, "Bubbles", (BBC, 1991).
Personal life
When she was 22 years old, Matthews met Captain Christopher Brooks, of the Coldstream Guards, while she was attending a motor-racing event at Goodwood. They married soon after on 2 June 1951. They had one child, Sarah Jane Brooks, in 1956.[3]
At the age of 27, while still married to Captain Brooks, she met Vere Harmsworth (1925–1998) at a party. She soon divorced Brooks and married the eventual Viscount Rothermere on 21 March 1957. In 1957 and 1964, she gave birth to two daughters. After her father-in-law, Esmond Harmsworth (1898–1978), remarried and produced a son, also named Esmond, Patricia researched the methods of a Dr. August Von Borosini in influencing the sex of her baby and gave birth to a son in December 1967.[2] Their children were Geraldine Theodora Gabriel Harmsworth (born 1957), Camilla Pamela Caroline Harmsworth (born 1964) and Jonathan Harold Esmond Vere Harmsworth, 4th Viscount Rothermere (born 1967).
As Lady Rothermere, she led a colourful social life, earning her the nickname of "Bubbles" through a love of champagne. She died aged 63 from a heart attack in Nice, France, after taking an accidental overdose of sleeping pills.[4]
Honours
In 1997, Jonathan Harmsworth set up The Patricia Rothermere Award in honour of his mother. It was a two-part award and the first part went to Judi Dench in recognition of her services to theatre. The second part was given to promising drama students of that year. In 1997, that went to Mark Rice-Oxley. The award was presented at the Evening Standard Theatre Awards show.[5] It was later called the Lady Rothermere Drama Award.
References
- "Obituary: Patricia Rothermere". Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022.
- Coleridge, Nicholas (13 June 1993). "The Viscount of Middle England: Lord Rothermere is the last of the grandee press barons, a product of old money and social privilege, living in maverick style. But his empire has at its heart the new-monied aspirational conservatism of the Daily Mail". The Independent. Archived from the original on 23 November 2010. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- "Major Harry St John Holcroft 1951–2013". 6 November 2013.
- "Society hostess died following drug overdose". \work= The Independent. 24 September 1992. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2017.
- "Lord Rothermere, Press Giant, Is Dead at 73". The New York Times. 3 September 1998. Retrieved 21 February 2017. - Lister, David (29 November 1997). "Arts: National in clean sweep of awards". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2014.