Molly Weir
| Molly Weir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
17 March 1910 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died |
28 November 2004 (aged 94) Pinner, London, England |
| Years active | 1946–1999 |
| Spouse(s) | Sandy Hamilton (1939–1997) (his death)[1] |
Mary Weir, known as Molly Weir (17 March 1910 – 28 November 2004) was a Scottish actress,[2] most notable for her role as the long-running (1977–1984) character Hazel the McWitch in the BBC TV series Rentaghost.[3]
She was the sister of naturalist and broadcaster Tom Weir.[4]
Biography
Born in Glasgow and brought up in the Springburn area of the city, Weir began in amateur dramatics. In her early professional career, she was a well-known radio actress, featuring in many comedy shows, such as ITMA.[5] She made her film debut in 1949, and had a regular role as the housekeeper, Aggie McDonald, in the radio and television sitcom Life With The Lyons.[6] During the 1970s and early 1980s she became famous as a writer, with several volumes of best-selling memoirs, notably, Shoes Were For Sunday. She also appeared in a series of television advertisements for Flash the household cleaning agent.[7] In 1969 she appeared in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring Dame Maggie Smith.[8] She and Helena Gloag played the Kerr sisters, the sewing mistresses of Marcia Blaine School for Girls.[9] In 1970 Weir and Gloag reprised their collaboration in Scrooge, playing old sisters in debt to Mr Scrooge, played by Albert Finney.[7]
In the 1970s she was one of the presenters of Teatime Tales, a television series broadcast by STV in which she recalled her childhood. The series also featured Lavinia Derwent and Cliff Hanley.[10] In the 1980s, she lampooned this homely image in the comedy series Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and appeared in a pop video for the Bluebells 1983 hit Young At Heart.[11]
After her death, Molly Weir's ashes were scattered on the banks of Loch Lomond, a favourite holiday location; and almost all her estate (of nearly £1.9 million), was bequeathed to charities.[12][13]
Selected filmography
- Something in the City (1950)
- The Lyons in Paris (1955)
- Carry On Regardless (1961)
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969)
- Scrooge (1970)
- Bless This House (1972)
- Assassin (1973)
- One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975)
Books
- Shoes Were For Sunday - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1970
- Best Foot Forward - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1972
- A Toe On The Ladder - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1973
- Stepping into the Spotlight - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1975
- Walking into the Lyon's Den - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1977
- One Small Footprint - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1980
- Spinning Like a Peerie - Originally published: Edinburgh: Wright, 1983
External links
- Molly Weir at the Internet Movie Database
- Obituary in The Guardian
- Obituary at BBC News (with photos in and out of character)
References
- ↑ "Molly Weir leaves £1.8m to charities".
- ↑ "Molly Weir". BFI.
- ↑ "BBC NEWS - Entertainment - Obituary: Molly Weir".
- ↑ "University of Glasgow".
- ↑ "Obituary: Molly Weir". the Guardian.
- ↑ "BBC NEWS - Entertainment - Obituary: Molly Weir".
- 1 2 "A beloved Scots star for generations Molly Weir, actress and writer, dies, aged 94". Herald Scotland.
- ↑ "Detail view of Movies Page".
- ↑ "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie".
- ↑ Lavinia Derwent. "Lavinia Derwent". Goodreads.
- ↑ Evening Times. "MEMORIES: Molly helps collar four-legged fan". Evening Times.
- ↑ "Molly Weir (1910 - 2004) - Find A Grave Memorial".
- ↑ "Molly Weir leaves £1.8m to charities".
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