Queenie Watts (born Mary Spenton; 21 July 1923 – 25 January 1980) was an English actress of film and television, as well as an occasional singer.Profile, BFI.org.uk; accessed 3 April 2016. She was noted for her broad cockney accent.
Biography Watts was born Mary Spenton in London in 1923. She appeared in many British films, including the Joan Littlewood production Sparrows Can't Sing (1963).
A film directed by Michael Orrom called Portrait of Queenie was released in 1964, in which she sang jazz standards and some original songs. It was released by the BFI. In the film she was accompanied by Stan Tracey's Quintet and Watts featured in scenes set around Poplar, the Isle of Dogs and the Iron Bridge Tavern, Poplar, which she ran in real life and in which she starred in the TV series Stars and Garters (1963).
In 1966 she appeared in the film version of Alfie, singing "Goodbye, Dolly Gray" in a memorable, riotous bar-room brawl sequence, and also appeared as a pub singer in the Tommy Steele film Half a Sixpence in 1967.
Her sole record called Queen High, in which she sang the same songs from Portrait of Queenie, and was accompanied by The Mike McKenzie Group and Stan Tracey's Quintet, was released in 1966 on the UK Columbia label with catalogue number SX 6047.
She also appeared in Ken Loach's Poor Cow (1967); in the film version of Up the Junction (1968); as a pub landlady, in All Coppers Are... (1972); as the ill-fated housekeeper in the horror film Schizo (1976); in many British 1970s sex comedies including Keep It Up, Jack (1973); Intimate Games (1976); Come Play with Me (1977); and Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair (1979). She was often seen in television programmes through the 1960s and 1970s, including the successful, but critically panned, Romany Jones (1972–75), and its sequel Yus, My Dear (1976) in which Arthur Mullard featured as her husband. Watts also appeared with Mullard, playing Lily and Wally Briggs from Romany Jones, in the third On the Buses film spin-off Holiday on the Buses in 1973. She was also a mainstay of the comedy drama series Beryl's Lot, appearing as Beryl's neighbour Freda Mills from 1973-75.
On stage, she played Mary in Edward Bond's play Saved at the Royal Court Theatre in 1969.
Watts appeared in Dad's Army in the role of Mrs Edna Peters, also in several episodes of Dixon of Dock Green in different roles; in two episodes of Callan (appearing as the aunt of petty crook Lonely, played by Russell Hunter); and singular episodes of Steptoe and Son (1972) and George and Mildred (1979). She appeared in three episodes of the Play for Today anthology series for the BBC, including Waterloo Sunset transmitted on 23 January 1979.
She ran pubs (including the Iron Bridge Tavern, East India Dock Road, London and the Rose and Crown, Pennyfields, Poplar) with her husband, "Slim Watts", where she also sang and played piano with an eight-piece band to pull in more customers.
Death Watts died in London from cancer in 1980, aged 56. She was cremated in the East London Cemetery.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1963 Sparrows Can't Sing Queenie 1966 Alfie Blonde Pub Singer Uncredited1967 Poor Cow Aunt Emm 1967 Half a Sixpence Pub Character 1968 Up the Junction Mrs. Hardy 1969 The Best House in London Old Crone Uncredited1972 All Coppers Are... Mrs. Malloy 1973 Holiday on the Buses Mrs. Briggs 1974 Keep It Up, Jack Char Lady 1976 Intimate Games John's Mother 1976 Schizo Mrs. Wallace 1977 Come Play with Me Café Girl 1979 Confessions from the David Galaxy Affair David Galaxy's Mother
Television Year Title Role Notes1967 Beggar My Neighbour The Bride's Mother Episode: "For Better, for Worse"1967 Dixon of Dock Green Mrs. Farley Episode: "Six Till Two"1968 Dixon of Dock Green Mrs. Gray Episode: "The Last Look"1968 Mr. Rose Mrs. Midgley Episode: "The Less-Than-Iron-Duke"1969 Dad's Army Mrs. Keen Episode: "Under Fire"1969 World in Ferment Various All 6 episodes1969 Dad's Army Mrs. Peters Episode: "The Armoured Might of Lance Corporal Jones"1970 Comedy Playhouse Annie Bundle Episode: "The Jugg Brothers"1970 As Good Cooks Go Evelyn Trent Episode: "Frying Squad"1970 Smith Applewoman Episode: "Not Nubbed Yet"1970, 1972 Callan Lonely's Auntie 2 episodes 1970 Up Pompeii! Luscia's Maid Episode: "The Love Potion"1970 Comedy Playhouse West Episode: "Meter Maids"1970 Dad's Army Edna Episode: "The Two and a Half Feathers"1970 The Goodies Playgirl Club Compere Episode: "Caught in the Act"1970 Play for Today Connie Episode: "The Hallelujah Handshake"1971 Sykes and a Big, Big Show Various Episode: "Guest"1971 Play for Today Mrs. Brass Episode: "Everybody Say Cheese"1971 Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width Lily Episode: "Weavers to Wearers"1972 Dixon of Dock Green Market Stallholder Episode: "First Offenders" 1972–1975 Romany Jones Lily Briggs All 27 episodes1972 Steptoe and Son Joyce Episode: "Oh, What a Beautiful Mourning"1972 Country Matters Molly Blatts Episode: "The Sullens Sisters"1972 Scott On... Various Episode: "Culture"1972 The Hole in the Wall Mrs. Grimes 6 episodes1972 Doomwatch Demonstrator Episode: "Sex and Violence"1973 Play of the Month Signora Bertolini Episode: "A Room with a View"1973 A Pin to See the Peepshow Mrs. Humble Episode: #1.31973 Armchair 30 Mrs. Fenton Episode: "Simon Fenton's Story"1973–1975 Beryl's Lot Freda Mills 14 episodes1974 Dixon of Dock Green Mrs. Cross Episode: "Knocker"1974 Marked Personal Doris 2 episodes1974 Sykes Ada Episode: "The Pub"1976 Dixon of Dock Green Mrs. Hooker Episode: "Everybody's Business" 1976 Yus My Dear Lily Briggs All 19 episodes1979 The Dick Emery Show Hilda's Mother Episode: #16.31979 Play for Today Grace Dwyer Episode: "Waterloo Sunset"1979 George and Mildred Gladys Episode: "The Last Straw"1980 Play for Today Lilian Episode: "Murder Rap"
References
Further reading Keeping the British End Up: Four Decades of Saucy Cinema by Simon Sheridan (Titan Books) (4th edition) (published 2011),
External links