- Born
- Height5′ 4″ (1.63 m)
- Louise English is the daughter of actress Liz English. Her mother had introduced her to Benny Hill, who became one of her closest friends. He gave her a starting role on his show as one of his Hill's Angels, but her talent proved that she was meant for so much more. Joining him as an actress in his sketches, she also excelled as a singer who did beautiful French songs. She went on to other jobs and small roles in other series, but The Benny Hill Show (1969) is the series for which she is best known.- IMDb Mini Biography By: William C. Uchtman <aesgaard41@hotmail.com>
- Louise was born in London into a family devoted to the arts. Louise's mother, Elizabeth Liz English was an actress, singer and dancer who appeared in Evening Stars, a review that toured with Benny Hill during his early show business career. She later worked for the BBC. Of her father Louise says, "My father was a classical musician and conductor with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and he played the violin as well."
Louise began dancing at the age of two-and-a half years. As a child, she won a scholarship and attended the Stella Mann School of Dancing in London for ten years where she passed examinations in classical ballet and modern dance and completed her academic schooling. She also attended the Anna Scher Theatre School and turned down the opportunity to attend the Royal Ballet School, preferring to concentrate on the acting side of her career.
Louise began her showbiz career at an early age when, while still at school, her superb dance skills earned her the role of the ballerina in the classic children's film Bugsy Malone (1976).
While still in school, she auditioned for a place with Pan's People, a nationally touring dance troupe, and was offered a contract. After completing her schooling she began a year filled with television appearances, cabaret, theatre, trade shows, modeling at fashion shows and appearing in television commercials.
She then performed as the featured singer in a cabaret act that toured the UK, Channel Islands and Bangkok and soon formed her own group, Patches, which enjoyed great success at London clubs.
Louise wasted no time in further developing her acting skills as she began her theatre career with the roles of Olivia in Twelfth Night and Edna in Harlequinade.
Louise soon had a chance to present her acting, singing and dancing talent to a world-wide audience. She appeared as a member of Pan's People on The Benny Hill Show (1969) and was then selected by Benny Hill to appear in sketches as a cast member.
Louise's outstanding comic timing allowed her to more than hold her own with one of the true masters of comedy and she was soon chosen to be one of the original members of the famous Hill's Angels.
She quickly became the featured performer and her solo renditions of classic songs including La Vie En Rose, Pour Un Flirt Avec Toi, Paradise and Milord became fan favorites and have been seen by more than 1 billion television viewers in over 140 countries.
Respect for Louise's skills soon earned her guest star appearances on many television shows including a featured dramatic turn as Cherry on Lytton's Diary (1985); the role of Lucia Morella, Karl Howman's Italian girlfriend, on two series of the popular BBC series Brush Strokes (1986); and as co-host for the pilot of the BBC game show Full Swing (1996).
Louise was also a featured guest star on TV entertainment specials including: Elkie and Our Gang with Elkie Brooks (1987) and Gemma Craven, Saturday Royal (1983), and Entertainment Express (all choreographed by Nigel Lythgoe); Mike Yarwood in Persons (1982), Dream Alley and Starburst (1980).
She also earned additional credits on a variety of popular television shows including Fresh Fields (1984), Mixed Doubles (1985), Chance in a Million (1984), Give Us a Clue (1979) and Don't Rock the Boat (1982).
Louise is one of the UK's top pantomime performers and has starred as the principal girl or boy in over ten pantomimes throughout the UK including: Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk, Dick Whittington, Mother Goose, The Bells of Notre Dame and a record-breaking run as Snow White.
She has also played such wonderful characters as the Princess in Aladdin, Mrs. Darling and the Magical Mermaid in Peter Pan, the Forest Fairy in Snow White and Maid Marion in Babes in the Wood.
Louise is a veteran of many highly successful national tours including Fur Coat and No Knickers, Tommy Boy, Tom Foolery and Russ Abbot's Madhouse. She also traveled to Stockholm to perform as the lead in Neil Simon's I Ought To Be In Pictures.
She has showcased her acting, dancing, and singing skills in many musicals including playing the highly acclaimed role of Louise in Gypsy at the Crucible Theatre, selling out every performance. She sang as Bella Spellgrove in the play and on the cast recorded CD of Sherlock Holmes The Musical, and displayed her lovely soprano voice in Maxwell - The Musical and Italian Idol - The Musical.
The Adelphi Theatre was the site of Louise's breakthrough West End performance as she earned great acclaim playing Sally Smith in the much-loved musical Me and My Girl, with Karl Howman - breaking all box office records. She was asked back for a special run of Me and My Girl and then was asked to perform the role of Sally Smith for an additional year at the Adelphi Theatre with Les Dennis.
Louise also starred in the national tour of My Dearest Ivor, an original musical that honored the legendary Ivor Novello. In this wonderful show she played eight roles and sang ten songs!
Not content with singing, dancing and performing comedy, Louise sank her acting teeth into meaty dramatic roles as Bella Manningham in the Victorian thriller, Gaslight; as Sybil Chase in Private Lives; and as Liz in Shadow of Doubt.
She appeared as the lead in many other plays including: Don't Dress For Dinner, There's A Girl In My Soup, Love Off The Shelf, Strip Poker and Cider with Rosie.
In recent years, Louise has been busier than ever performing in several highly successful plays, national tours and pantomimes.
She toured the UK, Ireland and Asia for six years earning high acclaim for her portrayal of Grace Farrell in Annie The Musical. She also starred as Nancy in Oliver! The Musical and as Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly!
In 2008, Louise originated the leading lady role of Rosa in the smash-hit new musical All The Fun Of The Fair alongside British pop legend David Essex. The show toured the UK and Ireland through 2012 and included a highly successful run in London's West End and a Special Edition DVD of a live performance.
Despite the extensive touring in national shows, Louise has performed many additional highly acclaimed roles in recent years including the role of Sally in Bedside Manners with television favorite John Inman and as Lady Chiltern in An Ideal Husband.
She has also starred in many other comedies and dramas including Absent Friends, Suddenly at Home, The Sound of Murder, The Secretary Bird, House Guest, How The Other Half Loves, Nightfright: The Nightmare of Your Life; and Truth, Lies, Diana in New York City.
She appears as a featured interviewee in House of the Long Shadows... Revisited (2012), a special feature accompanying the remastered DVD of the cult classic House of the Long Shadows (1983)in which she played Diana Caulder.
Recently, she has also played many popular pantomime characters such as Mrs Darling/The Mermaid in Peter Pan, the Forest Fairy in Snow White and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella.
Louise starred in the original role of Alice in the 2014 world premiere of the nationally touring show BLOCKBUSTER The Musical.
In 2018, Louise performed a reading of The Nuchess, a monologue, by Seiriol Davies, as part of The Greatest Wealth, a celebration of 70 years of the NHS at The Old Vic in London. She was also a featured performer in a nationwide television advertisement.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Louise English Fan Centre
- Parents
- Lead singer for the vocal group "Patches", which performed in the London (England) area.
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