Dulcie Gray's biography:
Dulcie Winifred Catherine Bailey was born on November 20, 1915, in British Malaya (now Malaysia),to a lawyer father. She was sent to boarding school in England at an early age. Initially interested in art and dance, she later discovered her passion for theatre and worked as a governess before attending the Webber Douglas Drama School, where she met her future husband, Michael Denison.
Dulcie made her professional stage debut in 1939 in "Hay Fever" and gained repertory theatre experience between 1940 and 1941. She appeared in numerous stage productions, including Shakespearean plays, and won London stage stardom after her West End debut in "The Little Foxes" starring Richard Attenborough.
In the 1940s, Dulcie transitioned to film, making her debut in the Welwyn Studio comedy "Banana Ridge" (1942). She went on to star in a host of lady-like melodramas for Gainsborough Studios, including "Two Thousand Women" (1944),"Madonna of the Seven Moons" (1945),and "A Place of One's Own" (1945).
Throughout her career, Dulcie continued to rise to prominence in the film ranks, appearing in features such as "Wanted for Murder" (1946),"A Man About the House" (1947),and "Mine Own Executioner" (1947). She also shared the screen with her husband Michael in numerous films, including "My Brother Jonathan" (1948),"The Glass Mountain" (1949),and "The Franchise Affair" (1951).
In addition to her film work, Dulcie remained committed to the stage, appearing in scores of plays, including "Dear Ruth" (title role),"Tea and Sympathy," and "The Seagull." With Michael, she appeared in numerous theatre vehicles, such as "Queen Elizabeth Slept Here," "The Four Poster," and "Private Lives."
In the mid-1950s, Dulcie began to focus on television, appearing in anthologies such as "BBC Sunday Night Theatre," "Somerset Maugham Hour," and "London Theatre." She later turned to writing, authoring 24 mystery books, most of which involved intrepid sleuth Inspector Cardiff.
Dulcie earned TV success in the late 1980s with her role in "Howards' Way" (1985),and she was awarded Commander of the British Empire in 1983. She continued to work in theatre and television until her passing, making her final appearance in "The Ladykillers" (1999) and "The Lady Vanishes" in the late 1990s.
Dulcie Gray passed away from bronchial pneumonia on November 15, 2011, just a few days before her 96th birthday.
