Victoria Dawn Addams (21 September 1930 – 7 May 1985) was an English actress. She worked steadily in American films during the 1950s, and was later a regular on British television. She married into the noble Italian Massimo family in 1954, and held the title Princess of Roccasecca dei Volsci.

Early years Dawn was the daughter of James Ramage Addams (1904-1990England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019 (findmypast)) and his Irish wife Ethel Mary Hickie (1903-1936), born in Suffolk on 21 September 1930.England & Wales Births 1837-2006 (findmypast)1939 Register (Esher, Surrey, RG101/1890E/009/27/1890E/9; findmypast) Her father was a Flight-Lieutenant in the RAF,Royal Air Force Lists 1919-1945 (findmypast) and son of artists Clifford Isaac Addams and Inez Eleanor Bate,1911 Census For England & Wales (Hendon, Middlesex, RG14/7127; findmypast) and after Ethel's death he married the actress Arline Judge. Dawn's mother was a native of CorkThe People, 'My Amazing Life - by Dawn Addams' (p.7, 18 January 1970; British Library Newspaper Archive) and was married to Arthur ThistlethwaiteEngland & Wales Marriages 1837-2005 (findmypast) until they divorced in 1927; she died in April 1936 when Dawn was just five years old.

Career

Addams' face and physique attracted the attention of talent agents. In December 1950, she signed a seven-year contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios. Her film career began with a role in Night into Morning (1951), and her subsequent MGM films included Singin' in the Rain (1952), Plymouth Adventure (1952), Young Bess (1953) and the female lead opposite Peter Lawford in The Hour of 13 (1952). She played David Niven's daughter in The Moon Is Blue (1953). She also embarked on a USO tour the same year to help entertain troops in Korea. She worked steadily in films during the remainder of the 1950s, including a heavily publicised role as Richard Carlson's model girlfriend in the science fiction film Riders to the Stars (1954) and the female lead opposite actor-director-filmmaker legend Charlie Chaplin in his final comedy to star himself, A King in New York (1957). During the 1960s and 1970s, she appeared mainly in British TV shows and French films.

She was a semi-regular on the instructional series En France (1962) and the leading lady in several episodes of The Saint (1962–69), which starred Roger Moore as Simon Templar. In 1968 she guest starred in the episode Handicap Dead of the classic spy-fi series Department S.

Among her last film credits were two British horror films, The Vampire Lovers (1970) and The Vault of Horror (1973), and she was also a regular in the British sitcom Father, Dear Father (1971–1973). One of her last television roles was in the science fiction serial Star Maidens (1977). Addams retired in the early 1980s, dividing her remaining years between Europe and the United States.

Personal life She married Italian nobleman Don Vittorio Emanuele Massimo, Prince of Roccasecca dei Volsci, in 1954; the wedding was the subject of a cover story in Life magazine. Their son, Prince Stefano, married Atalanta Foxwell, daughter of film producer Ivan Foxwell and Lady Edith (Lambart), granddaughter of the 9th Earl of Cavan.

Death Addams died in 1985 in a London hospital at age 54 from lung cancer.

Legacy A biography of Addams edited by James Pepper, based on an interview of Addams by John Francis Lane, was published in May 2024 as Dawn Addams - My Life As Chaplin's Leading Lady.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1951 Night into Morning Dotty Phelps The Unknown Man Ellie Fansworth1952 Singin' in the Rain Teresa Uncredited The Hour of 13 Jane Frensham Plymouth Adventure Priscilla Mullins1953 Young Bess Kate Howard The Moon Is Blue Cynthia Slater Die Jungfrau auf dem Dach The Robe Junia1954 Riders to the Stars Susan Manners Mizar Mizar The Bed Janet Return to Treasure Island Jamesina 'Jamie' Hawkins Khyber Patrol Diana Rivington The Count of Bragelonne Hélène de Winter1955 Rommel's Treasure Sofia I quattro del getto tonante Moglie di Rovi 1956 The House of Intrigue Mary 1957 A King in New York Ann Kay 1958 The Silent Enemy Third Officer Jill Masters, W.R.N.S.1959 The Scarlet Baroness Szaga de Bor Temptation Island Victoria Pensione Edelweiss Nadia Rakesy Prisoner of the Volga Irina Tatyana The Treasure of San Teresa Hedi von Hartmann The Black Chapel Tilla Turner Secret professionnel Dr. Catherine Langeac Come Dance with Me Anita Florès1960 Die zornigen jungen Männer Irene The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll Kitty Jekyll The Thousand Eyes of Dr. Mabuse Marion Menil1961 House of Sin / The Liars Norma O'Brien Follow That Man Janet Clark 1962 Sentimental Education Catherine Dambreuse 1963 Come Fly with Me Katie Rinard 1964 The Black Tulip Marquise Catherine de Vigogne 1965 Ballad in Blue Gina Graham 1966 Where the Bullets Fly Felicity 'Fiz' Moonlight 1969 Zeta One Zeta 1970 The Vampire Lovers The Countess 1971 Sapho ou la Fureur d'aimer Marianne 1973 The Vault of Horror Inez

Television Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Alan Young Show Kay Prindall Sketch comedy 1953 Racket Squad Betty Grant Episode: "The Case of Lady Luck" 1955 Sherlock Holmes Doreen Meredith Episode: "The Case of the Careless Suffragette" 1956 I Tre moschettieri Alvina - Countess of Aragon Episode: "The Hapsburg Hare"1959 Sunday Night Theatre Epifania Fitzfassenden Episode: "The Millionairess" The Third Man Eva Episode: "Barcelona Passage" ITV Play of the Week Jane Lockridge Episode: "Sweet Poison" 1962 Edgar Wallace Mysteries Maxine Hagen Episode: "The £20,000 Kiss" 1963-66 The Saint Magda Vamoff, Countess Audrey Morova, Queen Adana Episode: "The Fellow Traveller", "The Lawless Lady", "The Queen's Ransom"1964 Danger Man Martine/Gerdi Episodes: "The Battle Of The Cameras" and "Fish on the Hook" 1967 Emergency Ward 10 Diane Parker Episode: "Second Sight"1969 Department S Dianne Lynne Episode: "Handicap Dead" Playhouse Alma Rostalba Episode: "Romans and Friends"1970 Armchair Theatre Margo Episode: "A Room in Town" Ryan International Francoise Albert Episode: "Evidence of Murder" 1971 Armchair Theatre Cynthia Fenton Episode: "The Bargain Hunters" 1971-73 Father, Dear Father Georgie Thompson Series regular1972 The Troubleshooters Lady Diana Episode: "Whatever Became of the Year 2000?" Crime of Passion Therese Episode: "Therese" Sez Les 1 episode 1973 The Adventurer Lady Anne Benson Episode: "The Case of the Poisoned Pawn" 1974 Dial M for Murder Sybil Willis Episode: "Murder on Demand" 1976 Star Maidens Clara 5 episodes 1977 Crossroads Katherine Lambert 1 episode 1983 Triangle Mrs. Landers Recurring role

References

External links