Hazel Douglas enjoyed a remarkable career spanning eight decades, marked by her versatility and talent in playing a wide range of characters, from scatter-brained matriarchs to strong and complex women.
Born Hazel Mary Smith on November 2, 1923, in Fulham, London, England, Douglas spent her early years in Jersey and Aldershot before briefly evacuating to Newbury during World War II. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and worked as an assistant stage manager before joining the Women's Royal Naval Service.
After the war, Douglas made her West End debut in 1948 at the Whitehall Theatre in Michael Pearson's "Against the Tide." She went on to appear in numerous productions, including "See How They Run" at the Queen's Theatre, Hornchurch, and "Dry Rot" at the Whitehall Theatre, where she worked with Brian Rix's resident company.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Douglas was a regular fixture on the British stage, appearing in productions such as "Change for the Angel," "Trelawny of the Wells," and "She's Done It Again." She also had a successful career in television, appearing in shows like "The Sack Race" and "The Family Reunion."
In the 1970s and 1980s, Douglas continued to work in theatre and television, appearing in productions such as "The Sack Race," "Relative Values," and "Rockefeller and the Red Indians." She also had a successful stage career, appearing in shows like "Who Killed Hilda Murrell?" and "All in Good Time."
Douglas's screen career began in the 1940s and continued throughout her life, with notable roles in shows like "Where the Heart Is," "At Home With the Braithwaites," and "Psychoville." She also appeared in films like "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" and "Vicious."
Throughout her long and distinguished career, Douglas was known for her sharp wit, her ability to bring complex characters to life, and her dedication to her craft. She passed away on September 8, 2016, at the age of 92.
