Nell Stirling Explained

Nell Stirling (1909–10 November 1951) was an Australian actor, producer and businesswoman best known for her association with George Edwards in the Sydney radio industry.[1]

Biography

She began her showbusiness career as a tap dancer and comic. In 1931 she started working for George Edwards as his assistant, and eventually became his business and romantic partner.

In 1932 the two of them began working on radio and were very successful, forming their own company, The George Edwards Players. This became one of the largest producers of radio shows in Australia, many of which starred Stirling.

Their writers included Lynne Foster, Lorna Bingham, Sumner Locke Elliott, Maurice Francis and Anthony Scott Veitch.[2] Key shows included Dad and Dave of Snake Gully.[3]

Stirling became Australia's highest paid female actress.

Personal life

Stirling and Edwards married in 1934 and they had a daughter together, born in 1941. Stirling divorced Edwards in 1948, and later that year married Alexander Atwill, her accountant. She died of an accidental overdose of carbitral capsules on 10 November 1951 at home.[4] [5]

Notes and References

  1. Martha Rutledge, 'Stirling, Helen Dorothy (Nell) (1909–1951)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/stirling-helen-dorothy-nell-11772/text21055, published first in hardcopy 2002, accessed online 19 March 2024.
  2. News: PICTORIAL PROFILE . The Daily Telegraph . X . 132 . New South Wales, Australia . 23 August 1945 . 19 March 2024 . 14 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: RADIO SUCCESS . . New South Wales, Australia . 15 July 1942 . 19 March 2024 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: NELL STIRLING . . 35,535 . New South Wales, Australia . 12 November 1951 . 19 March 2024 . 4 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Curtain Falls On Nell Stirling . Truth . 3233 . New South Wales, Australia . 13 January 1952 . 19 March 2024 . 40 . National Library of Australia.