Edina Ronay

  1. Julie Christie, Dr. Zhivago, 1965.     “David Lean liked me but Julie won.”  And her Darling Oscar. Edina, one of the sheer delights of Swinging London, later became a renowned London dress designer. So it flows.
  2. Susan Hampshire, Paris au mois d’aôut, France, 1965.    I introduced  Susan to her first husband.  Sort of… In 1965, when  working as the London correspondent  for the French movie magazine, Cinémonde, I was asked to recommend some British blondes for Paris au mois d’aout – Charles Aznavour falling for a lovely Brit visiting Paris in August, when the city is (almost) empty of French and packed with tourists.  I sent over some photos, adding one of Susan at the last second, although she was no favourite of mine. The rest is obvious. She beat Edina, Veronica Carlson, Julie Christie, Justine Lord and  Carol White. Susan won the film! And the heart of realisateur Pierre Granier-Deferre.  (Well, she had learned French – or enough  of it – in one week to play Patricia Seagrave). They married in 1967, had two children and divorced in 1974.
  3. Pamela Franklin, Sinful Davey, 1968.   Trouble with John Huston directing the Scottish Tom Jones– the real-life grave-robbing, maid-snatching, wife-stealing, jail-breaking, jewel-thieving smuggling pirate called Davey Haggart – was that he wanted his daughter as the female lead.  When a test proved her wrong, Huston capitulated, took scant concern about finding a new Annie and later abandoned the film after his first cut. “Disastrous,” said producer Walter Mirisch. “Unprofessional.”

 Birth year: Death year: Other name: Casting Calls:  3