Nancy Evelyn Orchard (née Godsell, formally Selway; 17 November 1922 – ), known professionally as Vanda Godsell, was an English actress. With a career that spanned 46 years, she was best known for her role as Katie Heenan in the BBC One soap opera The Newcomers (1966–1969).
Hal Erickson writes in AllMovie, "Vanda Godsell specialised in playing disheveled housewives, busybody landladies and blowsy domestics."
Early life Nancy Evelyn Godsell was born in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England, on 17 November 1922,England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: OCT 1922 2b 834 PORTSMOUTH — Nancy E Godsell as the youngest child to Reginald Godsell,England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: APR 1890 6a 3138 STROUD — Reginald GodsellEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: APR 1941 (aged 50) 2b 696 HOVE — Reginald Godsell a retired Royal Navy commander who had participated in the Battle of Jutland,1939 England and Wales Register and his wife,England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915: JAN 1915 5a 511 WEYMOUTH — Reginald Godsell = Abbott Muriel Wilfreda Rachel Ellington (née Abbott or Jacob),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: JUL 1887 9a 73 RIPON — Muriel Wilfreda R JacobsEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: JUL 1971 (aged 80) 9c 2299 SUTTON COLDFIELD — Muriel Ellington Godsell an author, who was the sister of Naomi Jacob, a novelist.
She had two elder sisters, Muriel Felicia Mary AtkinsonEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: OCT 1940 2b 900 HOVE — Muriel F M Godsell = Arthur G L Atkinson (née Godsell),England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: FEB 1985 (aged 69) 18 1481 HOVE — Muriel Felicia M Atkinson an actress, and Audrey Rosemary Nina "Audrie" AtchesonEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: JAN 1951 5h 703 HOVE — Audrie R N Godsell = Atcheson (née Godsell, formally Young),England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: JUL 1944 2b 534 BRIGHTON — Audrie R W Godsell = William J L YoungEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JAN 1919 1b 656 MARYLEBONE — Audrey GodsellEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: APR 1999 (aged 80) B40B 44 MID WARWICKSHIRE — Audrie Rosemary N Atcheson an editor in the publishing world.
Career Godsell began her career as an actress when she joined the Bristol Repertoire in 1937, at the age of 14. She made her stage debut on 10 August 1942, portraying Nancy in Barry O'Brien and Roy Limbert's production of Gaslight. She made her television debut on 3 April 1949, with the role of Mirabelle in the television film My Mother Said.
She made her broadcasting debut on 4 March 1950, as the voice of Lulu Smith in the BBC Home Service production of the BBC Television series Sunday Night Theatre. She made her film debut in November 1953, with the role of Angela Neilson in the second feature ('B') crime film Flannelfoot.
Godsell portrayed Hilda Wardle in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in 14 episodes from 25 January 1961. The character was a lady friend of Christine Hardman's uncle Edwin Mason, who came to make sure Christine has enough money to live on following her mother's sudden death.
Godsell portrayed Katie Heenan in the BBC One soap opera The Newcomers from 1966 to 1969.
Godsell retired on 5 September 1983, following her role as Woman in the debut episode of the ITV television series Reilly, Ace of Spies.
Personal life Godsell married her first husband, George Selway,England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: JAN 1924 1a 675 MARYLEBONE — Honry G SelwayEngland & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: MAY 1994 (aged 70) E42A 47 CAMDEN — Henry George Selway an actor, in Marylebone, Middlesex in October 1954.England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: OCT 1954 5d 589 MARYLEBONE — Henry G Selway = Nancy E Godsell The couple divorced in 1957, after two years of marriage.
Godsell married her second husband, Alan Joseph Orchard (born 4 December 1924),England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2007: OCT 1924 8c 972 CHORLTON — Alan J Orchard in Hampstead, London, in January 1964.England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005: JAN 1964 5c 1880 HAMPSTEAD — Nancy E Selway = Alan J Orchard She was widowed in April 1979, after 15 years of marriage.England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: APR 1979 (aged 54) 12 1529 HAMMERSMITH — Alan Joseph Orchard
Death On 2 April 1990, Godsell was found dead at age 67, lying naked in an empty bathtub at her North Kensington home. Her body was discovered by police after neighbours of Scrubs Lane, complained of the putrid odor coming from her home. Her funeral service and cremation took place on 17 April 1990 at Mortlake Crematorium.
The inquest into Godsell's death was held at Hammersmith Crown Court in early November 1990,England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007: OCT 1990 (aged 66) 12 1534 HAMMERSMITH — Nancy Evelyn Orchard and heard from her brother-in-law, Francis Atcheson, that she had been prone to drinking heavily. Coroner John Burton reported that her body was in such a state of decomposition that her cause of death could not be ascertained. Burton recorded an open verdict.
Filmography Stage YearTitleRoleProductionLocation1942GaslightNancyBarry O'Brien and Roy LimbertKing's Theatre, Edinburgh and Opera House, Manchester1944The Corn Is GreenBessie WattyDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1944Jane EyreWolverhampton Repertory CompanyGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton1944Laburnum RoadElsie RadfernDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1944Hattie StowesElsie PetersDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1945The Late Christopher BeanAda HaggettDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1945ClaudiaJulia NaughtonDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1945A Soldier for ChristmasMillie SmithDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1945Little WomenAmyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1945Worm's Eye ViewThelmaDerek Salberg's Repertory CompanyAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1948TrespassMrs AmosWolverhampton Repertory CompanyGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton1948Lovers' LeapHelen StorerWolverhampton Repertory CompanyGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton1948Tons of MoneyLouise AllingtonGrand Theatre, Wolverhampton1949Tomorrow is a Lovely DayWindsor Repertory CompanyTheatre Royal, Windsor1949Jane Steps OutJaneWindsor Repertory CompanyTheatre Royal, Windsor1951A Streetcar Named DesireBlanche De BoisDevonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne and Palace Pier Theatre, Brighton1956Mister LearViolet DanefieldWorthing Theatre CompanyConnaught Theatre, Worthing1957The Reluctant DebutantSheila BroadbentWorthing Theatre CompanyConnaught Theatre, Worthing1957An Air for MurderMrs EltnerWorthing Theatre CompanyConnaught Theatre, Worthing1958Daddy-O!Maud HopkinsonWorthing Theatre CompanyConnaught Theatre, Worthing1958Summer of the Seventeenth DollOliveWindsor Repertory CompanyTheatre Royal, Windsor1958A Touch of the SunMargaret LesterWindsor Repertory CompanyTheatre Royal, Windsor1959All in the FamilySylvie SauvinHenry Sherek LtdStrand Theatre, London, Grand Theatre & Opera House, Leeds, and other locations1960–1961The Lion in LoveBristol Hippodrome1961The Pinedus AffairThe LadyPembroke Theatre CroydonPembroke Theatre, Croydon1961Life Worth LivingMaisieAlexandra Repertory Company with Basil Dean Productions LtdAlexandra Theatre, Birmingham1965The Night of the IguanaMaxine FaulkBernard Delfont, Clement Scott Gilbert, Hugh Wonter, New Pembroke Theatre LtdSavoy Theatre, London, Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, and other locations1970The Wild DuckMrs Bertha SorbyThe Play Company of LondonCriterion Theatre, London1971The AnniversaryMumNewpalm ProductionsPrincess Theatre, Tourquay, Cambridge Arts Theatre, and other locations1973The Starving RichEsther FisherTom Arnold Presentations LtdTheatre Royal, Brighton, The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare, and other locations1974The Morgan YardCarrie MorganMercury Theatre CompanyMercury Theatre, Colchester1974Blue, White and RedMadame RenoirBirmingham Repertory CompanyBirmingham Repertory Theatre1975She Stoops to ConquerMrs HardcastleNottingham Playhouse CompanyNottingham Playhouse1975Major BarbaraLady BritomartNottingham Playhouse CompanyNottingham Playhouse1975Habeas CorpusMuriel WicksteedLiverpool PlayhouseLiverpool Playhouse1977George and MildredEthel PomfreyPier Theatre, BournemouthPier Theatre, Bournemouth1978Funny PeculiarMrs BaldryNottingham PlayhouseNottingham Playhouse1979Saturday Sunday MorningRoyal Lyceum CompanyRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh1981Habeas CorpusMuriel WicksteedRoyal Lyceum Theatre EdinburghRoyal Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh
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