Dorothy Irene Boucher, a captivating actress known as Britain's answer to Hollywood's Clara Bow, the 'It Girl', was often referred to as 'Britain's first female sex symbol', reflecting her initial casting as vamps or flappers.
Born Dorothy Irene Boucher, she started her career as a typist, before joining her brother at Harrods department store, where she worked as a fashion model. After being a finalist in a Daily Mirror beauty contest, she became a photographer's model, and eventually transitioned into acting.
Until 1934, she was billed in some of her films as 'Dorothy Bouchier', but by then had adopted her stage name 'Chili', derived from a popular novelty song, 'I Love My Chili Bom Bom', by the Savoy Havana Band in 1923.
On screen from 1927, Chili was under contract to Herbert Wilcox at British & Dominions, where she made a few moderately successful films, including Venetian Nights in 1931. However, her position as the studio's pre-eminent leading lady was eventually usurped by new discovery Anna Neagle, who was diligently mentored by Wilcox and later became his wife. This marked the decline of Chili's film career.
The situation was not improved by an unhappy interlude in Hollywood, which was a stipulation of her 1935 contract with Warner Brothers. Finding herself essentially unemployed, she returned to Britain, but was subsequently relegated to appearing in second features. She spent the war years entertaining troops as part of ENSA.
Chili remained a busy performer on the London stage, continuing to work until her eighties, interspersed with occasional character parts on screen until 1960.
