Fenella Fielding, the vamp of Carry On, dies aged 90
CARRY On star Fenella Fielding has died at the age of 90.
The husky-voiced actress, who was known as the ‘first lady of the double entendre’, was forced to retire from acting last month after suffering a severe stroke.
She passed away ‘with her eyelashes on’ in hospital yesterday afternoon, friend Simon McKay said. In a statement on the actress’s website, he added: ‘It’s hard to imagine, but that bright twinkling star faded slowly and has actually gone out.
‘Since her stroke on August 25, Fenella has been in hospital where she remained calm, comfortable and divine throughout.
‘To quote Fenella’s GP, “I have known her for 30 years and she would wish to take a graceful bow and leave the stage like the lady she is”. She did just that. Fenella Fielding OBE passed away this afternoon peacefully. She died with her eyelashes on!’
Born Fenella Feldman, the film star trained as a typist before embarking on a 66-year acting career. She is best known for her appearance in the 1966 cult comedy Carry On Screaming, where she played a vampire named Valeria who delivered the line, ‘Do you mind if I smoke?’, as smoke rose from her body.
She used the quip as the title of her autobiography.
The actress had previously appeared in the 1961 film Carry On Regardless, and appeared in four episodes of the Morecambe and Wise Show. Miss Fielding was awarded an OBE for services to drama and charity in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.