Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
The 1950s ‘Jordan’ partied with Sinatra & Elvis, dated the famous & had her bust insured for £100,000... but died a recluse a year ago
shop opening in Sheffield. When Zec met her in 1955, he said: “What sort of career the good-natured, strapping Sabrina will have is anybody’s guess. But I think she’ll have a lot of fun and make a lot of money finding out.”
He was right. She had singing, dancing, acting and elocution lessons and was in eight films, including 1957 comedy Blue Murder at St Trinian’s.
In 1959, Sabrina went on tour with her own cabaret and arriving in Perth, Australia, 10,000 fans caused part of the airport roof to collapse.
In the US, she was known as the “British Bosom Lady”. She spent an evening with Elvis and was pals with Sammy Davis Jr and Dick van Dyke.
Ever aware of a good photo op, Sabrina was ejected from the Royal enclosure at Ascot for her unsuitable attire, and made sure she was seen out on the town with male celebs.
She was briefly engaged to US singer Sonny King, joking he was the ideal match as they had the same chest size so she could borrow his jumpers. She also dated Prince Christian Oscar of Hanover after duping him into kissing her in front of photographers.
She later regretted it and said: “He was simply another rung on the ladder to the top. I learnt early I had to fight my own way. I’ve used men as playthings to achieve my ends and have, in turn, been ruthlessly exploited by them.” But Sabrina left the spotlight as swiftly as she entered it. In 1967, she wed gynaecologist Harold Melsheimer, gave up showbiz and moved into his mansion in Encino, California.
She threw lavish parties and enjoyed the yacht and sports cars. But the marriage ended 10 years later and Sabrina moved into a less salubrious part of Hollywood. Having suffered back pain all her life she had several ops, one of which left her partially paralysed. In 1990, her mother moved to look after her, dying five years later.
Sabrina then became a virtual recluse, relying on a lodger, neighbour and a few close friends for support.
But did they know her incredible story? Because when she died of blood poisoning in LA on November 24 last year, it took almost a year for the news to come out.
Now, her figure is once again in the limelight. But perhaps she regretted the way she exploited it for fame?
Asked in 1973, she said: “It made me a sex symbol, which I’m not. And it made me a household name, like Tide, which I am – a clean girl from the sticks. But people seem to forget I was, at one time, the junior breaststroke champion of Manchester.”