Kemp-Welch, Joan (1906–1999)

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Kemp-Welch, Joan (1906–1999)

British actress and director. Born Joan Kemp-Welch Green in Wimbledon, England, Sept 23, 1906; died July 5, 1999, in England; dau. of Vincent Green and Helen (Kemp-Welch) Green; attended Roedean; m. Ben H. Wright (div.); m. Peter Moffatt.

Began career as a character actress, making stage debut in Maya (Gate Theater, 1927); was director at Buxton Repertory (1944), Colchester Rep (1945–48), Wilson Barrett Co. in Scotland (1948–51), New Theater Bromley (1953–54), Pitlochry Festival (1968–69); directed over 250 plays including Hedda Gabler, The Cherry Orchard, Winterset, A Streetcar Named Desire, Desire Under the Elms, An Ideal Husband, Miss Hargreaves, and Vicious Circle; for tv (1950s), directed over 200 programs, including features, dramas, and series episodes for "Upstairs, Downstairs" and "Life with the Lyons," among others. Won numerous awards, including a tv Oscar for "Cool for Cats" (1958), Prix Italia for "The Lover" (1963), Desmond Davis Award for service to tv (1963), and Wilkie Baird award for creative work on tv.

See also Women in World History.