Shani Wallis

Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933) is an English actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is known for her roles in the West End and for the role of Nancy in the 1968 Oscar-winning film musical Oliver!

Shani Wallis
Born (1933-04-14) 14 April 1933
Tottenham, London, England
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
United States
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1952–present
Spouse
Bernie Rich
​
​
(m. 1968)​
Children1

Biography

Wallis was born 14 April 1933[1] in Tottenham, London,[2] and made her first stage appearance at the age of four. She later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[3]

She made her theatrical debut in a lead role as young princess Maria in Call Me Madam at the London Coliseum in March 1952.[3] Wallis sprang to global fame when appearing as Nancy in the Oscar-winning[2] musical film Oliver! in 1968,[1] starring alongside Oliver Reed as Bill Sykes, Ron Moody as Fagin, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger, and Mark Lester as Oliver.[2] Afterwards, Wallis received an offer to star in the television series The Brady Bunch, but turned it down because she wanted to do more musicals.[2]

Wallis is a naturalised citizen of the United States, where she has lived for more than 40 years.[1] She married her agent, Bernie Rich, on 13 September 1968;[1] the couple have one daughter and two granddaughters.[2] Wallis is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[4][1]

Selected credits

Film

Selected TV

Theatre

Recordings
  • Call Me Madam – original London stage recording (1952)
  • Wish You Were Here – original London stage recording (1953)
  • Shani! EP (1960) – Philips BBE 12337 ("Personality", "Please Don't Say No", "Don't Take Your Love Away from Me", "There Goes My Heart")
  • A Time for Singing (1966) – original Broadway cast recording
  • I'm a Girl! LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3472
  • Look to Love LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3527
  • Oliver! (1968) – original film cast recording
  • As Long As He Needs Me LP (1968) – Kapp Records KS-3573
  • The Girl from Oliver LP (1969) – Kapp Records KS-3606

References
  1. "Shani Wallis Discography". discogs.com. 5 January 2018.
  2. "I would have liked a bit more from my career after Oliver says Shani Wallis". sundaypost.com. 5 January 2018.
  3. "Unsung heroines - Shani Wallis". musical-theatre.net. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2001.
  4. "Our Treasured Patrons", The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America (online). Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. Princess Theatre, Melbourne theatre programme (1958)
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