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Joyce Grenfell, born February 10, 1910 - died
November 30, 1979, was a British film and
television actress, comedienne, and
singer-songwriter.


Born Joyce Irene Phipps in London, she was the
daughter of architect Paul Phipps and an eccentric
United States|American mother, Nora Langhorne, the
daughter of an American railroad millionaire and
sister of Nancy Astor. As such, Joyce Phipps grew
up around money and privilege. Wanting to pursue a
career in the theatre, she made her stage debut in
1939 in the "Little Revue." In 1942 she wrote what
became her signature song, "I'm Going to See You
Today."

During World War II, Grenfell toured India,  North
Africa, and the Middle East with a company
performing for British troops. In 1989 her wartime
journals were published under the title The Time
of My Life: Entertaining the Troops. Her singing
and comedic talents on stage led to offers to
appear in motion picture comedies. Although she
performed in a number of films, she continued with
her recording career, producing a number of
humoristic albums as well as books.

As a writer at the BBC during and just after the
World War II|war, she collaborated with Stephen
Potter in writing the "How" series of 30 satirical
programs from "How to Talk to Children" to "How to
Listen". During the 1950s she made her name as a
sidekick to such comedy greats as Alastair Sim and
Margaret Rutherford in films such as The Happiest
Days of Your Life (1950) and the St Trinian's
series.

Grenfell is now best remembered for her one-woman
shows and monologues, in which she invented roles
including a harassed nursery teacher (George,
don't do that).  She gained additional popularity
as a result of her frequent appearances on the
BBC's classical music quiz show, Face the Music.

Diagnosed with cancer, she retired from performing
and passed away in 1979. Her autobiography, The
Time of My Life was published in 1990. In 1998,
the British government memorialized Joyce Grenfell
with her image on a List of people on stamps of
the United Kingdom|postage stamp as part of a
series of stamps celebrating "Heroes of Comedy".

In 2002, her friend and author Janie Hampton
published the book Joyce Grenfell.

In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian,
she was voted amongst the top 50 comedy acts ever
by fellow comedians and comedy insiders.
 
==Filmography==

*The Yellow Rolls-Royce (1964) 
*The Americanization of Emily  (1964) 
*The Old Dark House  (1963) 
*The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's (1960) 
*Blue Murder at St. Trinian's (1957) 
*Happy Is the Bride (1957) 
*The Good Companions (1957) 
*Forbidden Cargo (1954) .
*The Belles of St. Trinian's (1954) 
*Genevieve (film)|Genevieve (1953) 
*The Million Pound Note (1953)  
*The Pickwick Papers (1952) 
*The Magic Box (1951) 
*The Galloping Major (1951) 
*Laughter in Paradise (1951) 
*Alice in Wonderland (1950)  
*The Happiest Days of Your Life (1950) 
*Stage Fright (1950) 
*Poet's Pub (1949) 
*A Run for Your Money (1949) 
*While the Sun Shines (1947) 
*The Demi-Paradise (1943)  
*The Lamp Still Burns (1943) 
*A Letter from Home (1941)