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Shani Wallis

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Shani Wallis
Born (1933-04-14) 14 April 1933 (age 91)
Tottenham, London, England
CitizenshipUnited Kingdom
United States
Alma materRoyal Academy of Dramatic Art
Occupation(s)Actress, singer
Years active1952–2006
Spouse
Bernie Rich
(m. 1968; died 2016)
Children1

Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933[1]) is an English actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is known for her roles in the West End and for the role of Nancy in the 1968 Oscar-winning film musical Oliver!

Biography

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Wallis was born in Tottenham, London,[1] and made her first stage appearance at the age of four. She later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.[2]

She made her theatrical debut in a lead role as young princess Maria in Call Me Madam at the London Coliseum in March 1952.[2] Wallis sprang to global fame when appearing as Nancy in the Oscar-winning[1] musical film Oliver! in 1968,[citation needed] starring alongside Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes, Ron Moody as Fagin, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger, and Mark Lester as Oliver.[1] Afterwards, Wallis received an offer to star in the television series The Brady Bunch, but turned it down because she wanted to do more musicals.[1]

Wallis is a naturalised citizen of the United States, where she has lived for more than 40 years. She married her agent, Bernie Rich, on 13 September 1968;[citation needed] the couple have one daughter and two granddaughters.[1] Wallis is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America.[3]

Selected credits

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Film

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Selected TV

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Theatre

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Recordings

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  • Call Me Madam – original London stage recording (1952)
  • Wish You Were Here – original London stage recording (1953)
  • Shani! EP (1960) – Philips BBE 12337 ("Personality", "Please Don't Say No", "Don't Take Your Love Away from Me", "There Goes My Heart")
  • A Time for Singing (1966) – original Broadway cast recording
  • I'm a Girl! LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3472
  • Look to Love LP (1967) – Kapp Records KS-3527
  • Oliver! (1968) – original film cast recording
  • As Long As He Needs Me LP (1968) – Kapp Records KS-3573
  • The Girl from Oliver LP (1969) – Kapp Records KS-3606

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "I would have liked a bit more from my career after Oliver says Shani Wallis". sundaypost.com. 5 January 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Unsung heroines - Shani Wallis". musical-theatre.net. 4 July 2015. Archived from the original on 27 February 2001.
  3. ^ "Our Treasured Patrons", The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America (online). Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  4. ^ Princess Theatre, Melbourne theatre programme (1958)
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