Charlotte Francis Explained

Charlotte Francis (birth name Charlotte Frances Jiggens born 1904) was an English actress best known for playing the lead role in the Australian film The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934) in which she appeared opposite her husband John Longden.^[1] She was touring Australia in a company led by Athene Seyler and Nicholas Hannen for J.C. Williamsons in 1933 when cast in the role.^{[2] [3]} She also had extensive stage credits. Her British stage name was Jean Jay.

In 1948 she married journalist and Liberal politician John Hope.^[4] She later became a playwright and wrote Western Wind (1949),^[5] which was performed at London's Theatre Royal, E15 and Piccadilly theatres.^[6] The play had premiered in Glasgow, starring Australian actor, John McCallum and also had a run in Melbourne, Australia.^[7]

Frances died in London on 8 February 1983.^[8]

Filmography

As actress:

• Ordeal by Golf (1924) Millicent Boyd^[9]
• The Only Way (1926) Jeanne Defarge^[10]
• Every Mother's Son (1926) Janet Shaw
• Afterwards (1928) Hilda Ryder
• The Silver King (1929) Nellie Denver
• The Third Eye (1929) Flash Annie
• The Silence of Dean Maitland (1934) Alma Lee

As writer:

• Palais de Danse (1929) story, adapted by John Longden
• The School for Scandal (1931) script adapted from Richard Brinsley Sheridan's play
• Come into my Parlour (1932) script co-written with John Longden

Select theatre credits

• Private Lives (1933)^[11]

Notes and References

1. News: SCREEN ACTRESS ON WAY TO LONDON. . . Adelaide . 5 April 1934 . 9 September 2014 . 13 . National Library of Australia.
2. News: Plays from London. 2 February 2018. The West Australian.
3. News: CONCERT TOURS. . . 6 January 1933 . 9 September 2014 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
4. Who's Who of 475 Liberal Candidates
5. News: FILM CLOSE-UPS. . . Adelaide . 2 July 1949 . 9 September 2014 . 2 Supplement: Sunday MAGAZINE . National Library of Australia.
6. Book: Gale. Maggie Barbara. West End Women: Women and the London Stage, 1918–1962. 1996. Taylor & Francis. 9780415084963. 230. 28 January 2018. Listed as "Charlotte Frances"
7. News: Actress's Play in Melbourne. 2 February 2018. The Age. 15 November 1949.
8. Web site: Jean Jay. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230171954/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f899278. dead. 30 December 2017. BFI Film Forever. 2 February 2018.
9. Web site: Jean Jay. IMDb. 2 February 2018.
10. News: Saturday's New Shows at Theatres. 2 February 2018. Table Talk, Melbourne. 2 December 1926.
11. News: THE THEATRE AND ITS PEOPLE New Entertainments. . . Melbourne . 3 August 1933 . 9 September 2014 . 14 . National Library of Australia.