Elisabeth Croft

Elisabeth Croft (22 September 1907 – 13 January 2003) was an English actress, known for playing Edith Tatum in the ITV soap opera Crossroads.[2]

Elisabeth Croft
Born22 September 1907
Windermere, Cumberland, England
Died13 January 2003(2003-01-13) (aged 95)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Other namesElizabeth Croft[1]
OccupationActress
Years active1940–84
Notable work
See below
TelevisionCrossroads

She is not to be confused with another English actress, Elizabeth Croft.

Personal life

Croft was born on 22 September 1907 in Windermere. Withdrawn as a child, she nonetheless chose to be an actress. In the 1930s she landed roles in repertory theatre and co-starred with Seymour Hicks in Vintage Wine in the Daly's Theatre, 1934. She was married and had a son and a daughter. Croft died on 13 January 2003; on that day a new version of Crossroads was released.[2]

Career
"It was very amateur when I went into it. We were doing five episodes a week and didn't get as much rehearsal time as we would have liked, so we had to be prepared."[2]

—Croft describes Crossroads (2000)

In 1966, Croft landed her first television role, a part in the ITV soap opera Crossroads, playing Miss Tatum.[2] The soap originally featured actress Beryl Johnstone as postmistress Kitty Jarvis, sister of the series lead, motel owner Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon). Following Johnstone's death in 1969, the role of Miss Tatum was increased and she was coaxed from her life as a recluse and took over the running of the shop from Kitty, becoming one of the show's leading peripheral characters as the location increasingly became a focal point in stories.[2][3] Croft later summed up her character: "Miss Tatum didn't suffer fools gladly and was a bit sharp at times, but she was a wonderful character". The role of Miss Tatum was quietly phased out following producer Reg Watson's departure. Croft left the series by 1979.[3] Croft said of the show, "I suppose you would call it a quiet, humdrum show".[2]

In 1940, Croft began working for Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon. She appeared in many plays whilst there, such as Romeo and Juliet and The Merry Wives of Windsor. She appeared in the Armchair Thriller production The Limbo Connection. Her last appearance in television was in the BAFTA award winning The Dress in 1984, her last role before a long retirement.[2] Whilst in the cast for The Dress, it won a BAFTA award in 1984.[4]

Filmography
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1965The Wars of the RosesRichard III, Edward IV, Henry VI3 episodes
1966–79, 1983CrossroadsMiss TatumSeries regular
1971Crossroads: A CelebrationHerself
1976Within These WallsAgatha Mason1 episode
1978Armchair ThrillerMrs. Sangster
1981BBC2 PlayhouseNeighbour
1985Crossroads RevisitedHerselfTV Documentary
1994Crossroads: 30 Years On
Film
Year Title Role
1984The DressOld Lady
Stage/Theatre
Year Title Role
1934Vintage WineMinor Role
1940Romeo and JulietNurse
The Merry Wives of WindsorMistress Quickly
1964Henry IV Part 1Various Roles

References
  1. "Croft, Elizabeth". The British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  2. Hayward, Anthony (18 January 2003). "Actress Obituaries-Elisabeth Croft". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  3. Tibballs, Geoff (2001). The Crossroads Story. Carlton Books Ltd. p. 86. ISBN 1-84222-391-7.
  4. "The Dress". The British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
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