Phyllis Hannah Bickle was born in Chelsea in 1915 and studied dancing at the Margaret Morris school of dance, until an injury forced her to give up dancing and turn instead to acting. Her 70 year film career began with a bit part in _The Arcadians . In the 1980s she concentrated more on television, only appearing twice on stage. Her final play was in 1994, film in 1997, and TV appearance in 2000.
Worked in Hollywood for 7 years without success and returned to Britain.
Daughter Ann Auriol born 1943, son Piers born 1954.
In the 1940s she was Britains second most popular actress, coming less than 900 votes behind winner Margaret Lockwood in one poll.
Often typecast as the virtuous victim, but proved to be more versatile than previously expected by the 1950s. Her role in Mandy (1952) has often been regarded by critics and fans alike as a high point in her career, in that the film allowed her the opportunity to demonstrate a range that all too often went untapped earlier in her film career.
Mostly known for her rather lightweight film roles in drawing-room comedies or costumed melodramas, she subsequently played weightier roles on the stage, such as Jean Anouilh s "The Rehearsal" in 1961 and Anton Chekhov s "The Cherry Orchard".
Met husband, actor Peter Murray-Hill , during the run of a West End production of "Punch Without Judy" in 1939. He later became a well-respected antiquarian bookseller specializing in 18th-century books.
