Jill Adams, born Jillian M.M.J. Siggins, was a talented actress and model who began her career in the 1950s. She was the daughter of Molly Adair, an Irish-American silent film actress, and Arthur James Siggins, a New Zealand writer.
Arthur Siggins had a fascinating life, having sailed from the Antipodes to Africa as a young man to fight in the Boer War. He served with the Matabele Mounted Police and later represented the ANZACs at Cecil Rhodes' funeral in 1902. His first wife was from Mozambique, and he met his second wife, Jill's mother, in Tanganyika (now Tanzania),where he was working with the High Commission.
Jill was born in London and grew up in North Wales, where her family had two working farms during World War II. After the war, the family returned to London, and Jill began her modeling career. She married a US Navy officer, James Adams, in 1951, and they had a daughter, Tina, in 1952.
Jill's career flourished, and she became known as Britain's answer to Marilyn Monroe. She made a string of popular films for J. Arthur Rank, including light-hearted comedies like "Doctor at Sea" and "Brothers in Law." She also made films in the US and Australia.
In 1957, Jill married Peter Haigh, a well-known BBC radio and TV personality, and they were considered the "It" couple. They had a daughter, Peta Louise, in 1962. Jill also starred in the popular TV series "The Flying Doctor," which lasted for 39 episodes.
After her marriage to Peter ended, Jill continued to work in radio and on stage, although she was no longer getting the bigger roles. She eventually retired from show business and moved to the Algarve in Portugal with her husband. When that marriage ended, Jill spent several years with Michael Johnson, a former British radio host and musician, with whom she ran two businesses.
Jill eventually went solo and met Alan "Buster" Jones, with whom she moved to Spain. After Jones' death in 1996, Jill returned to Portugal to be nearer to family. She continued to paint even after being diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and passed away on May 13, 2008, at the age of 77.
