Betty Henderson (1907–1979) was a Scottish actress. She was a founding member of the Glasgow Unity Theatre, with whom she played Peggie in both the stage and screen versions of The Gorbals Story. She later appeared as Gran Crombie in High Living. She was married to actor John Cook "Jack" Hislop.
Selected stage performances
Year | Title | Author | Theatre | Role | Director / Company |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1943 | Song of Tomorrow | John Kincaid | Queens Theatre, Glasgow | Glasgow Unity Theatre | |
1944 | The Two Mrs Camerons | Winifred Carter, Edith Carter | Glasgow Empire Theatre | Anna | |
1945 | When the Boys Come Home | James Barke | Glasgow Athenaeum | Mary Cochrane | Glasgow Unity Theatre |
1946 | Juno and the Paycock | Seán O'Casey | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | Juno Boyle | Glasgow Unity Theatre |
1947 | The Laird O’ Torwatletie | Robert MacLellan | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | The Laird's sister | Glasgow Unity Theatre |
1947 | The Plough and the Stars | Seán O'Casey | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | Bessie Burgess | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1947 | The Gorbals Story | Robert McLeish | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | Peggie | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1947 | Starched Aprons | Ena Lamont Stewart | Adam Smith Hall, Kirkcaldy | Matron | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1947 | The Lower Depths | Maxim Gorki | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | Kvashnya | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1948 | Wee Macgreegor | J.J. Bell | The Pleasance Little Theatre, Edinburgh | Mrs. Robinson | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1948 | The Gorbals Story | Robert McLeish | Garrick Theatre, London; New Theatre Oxford | Peggie | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1948 | Men Should Weep | Ena Lamont Stewart | Theatre Royal, Glasgow | Maggie Morrison | Glasgow Unity Theatre Players |
1951 | Pygmalion | George Bernard Shaw | Embassy Theatre (London) | Mrs Pearce | Michael Langham |
1951 | Common Property | Matthew Service | Embassy Theatre (London) | Robert Mitchell | |
1951 | Women of Twilight | Sylvia Rayman | Embassy Theatre and Vaudeville Theatre (London) | Nurse | |
1955 | Suspect | Edward Percy and Reginald Denham | Lyceum Theatre, London; Royal Court Theatre | Goudie | Flora Robson |
1959 | Marigold (musical) | Book and lyrics by Alan Melville, based on the play by Francis R. Pryor and Lizzie Allen Harker | His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen; Savoy Theatre | Beenie | Murray Macdonald |
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1950 | The Gorbals Story | Peggie Anderson | |
1951 | Home to Danger | Mary Williams – Housekeeper | Uncredited |
1952 | Women of Twilight | Nurse | |
1954 | The Love Lottery | Minor Role | Uncredited |
1954 | The Maggie | Campbell's Secretary | |
1956 | Black Limelight | Jemima | Part of Sunday Night Theatre |
1959 | The 39 Steps | Mrs McDougal | |
1959 | Upstairs and Downstairs | Bridget | |
1959 | Emergency Ward 10 | Night Sister | 1 episode |
1960 | Probation Officer | Jessie Logan | 1 episode |
1962, 1964, 1968 | Dr. Finlay's Casebook | 4 characters | 4 episodes |
1963 | Suspense | Mima Porteous | Episode Diversion to Danger |
1968 | High Living | Gran Crombie | 6 episodes |
References
- ^ "Obituary: Betty Henderson". The Stage. 18 October 1979. p. 32. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "Deaths". The Stage. 8 February 1962. p. 17. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "Glasgow Theatres. New Play". Daily Record. 9 November 1943. p. 7. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
The dramatic value of the play may be a matter for debate, but Donald M'Bean, Betty Henderson, Archie Duncan and Maurice Khan did justice to its performance.
- ""The Two Mrs Camerons". Empire Thriller". Motherwell Times. 29 September 1944. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "Glasgow and West. Unity Theatre Success". The Scotsman. 22 June 1945. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "In the Provinces. Edinburgh. Little". The Stage. 1 August 1946. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Peter Donaldson as the blustering Paycock gives a fine performance, and Betty Henderson is outstanding as his wife.
- "The Theatres. Little" "The Laird of Torwatletie"". The Scotsman. 2 January 1947. p. 5. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
ere, in the colloquy between two women of different type - the Presbyterian sister of a Jacobite laird and a Kirk elder's wife, "wi' the langest neb i' the parish" - was first class acting. It was not only that the Scots came trippingly to the tongue, ... but that these two actresses (Betty Henderson and Sybil Thomson) were using every fibre of the body. There was rare expression in their faces, and their very sitting and walking denoted differences of character.
- "The Theatres. Little: 'The Plough and the Stars"". The Scotsman. 7 January 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
There were masterly studies of Mrs. Cogan and Bessie Burgess by Marjorie Thomson and Betty Henderson.
- "The Theatres. Little: 'The Gorbals Story'". The Scotsman. 21 January 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Howard Connell ... and Marjorie Thomson are examples of acting at its best. So is Betty Henderson's Peggie, one of the most skilfully-drawn characters in the play.
- "Glasgow Unity Theatre. Brilliance of Starched Aprons". Fifeshire Advertiser. 20 December 1947. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "Scotland in Russia. A Gorki Adaptation". The Scotsman. 28 August 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson, as Kvashnya, and Betty M'Gregor, as Natasha, succeeded in holding our interest all the time.
- "The Theatres. Little: "Wee Macgreegor"". The Scotsman. 6 January 1948. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
There were several excellent studies among these native fantastics, the best of them being the Robinsons of Andrew Gray and Betty Henderson ...
- Courtenay, John (3 March 1948). "Plays in Brief". The Sketch. p. 20. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "The Garrick. "The Gorbals Story"". The Stage. 26 February 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson gives a well-defined and convincing performance as Peggie, the lady of easy virtue.
- "On Stage and Screen". Bucks Advertiser & Aylesbury News. 23 April 1948. p. 5. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- Irving, Gordon (17 August 1948). "Showtime". Daily Record. p. 3. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
Outstanding are Betty Henderson (Maggie Morrison) and Jack Stewart (her husband) around whose family the story revolves.
- "'Pygmalion'". Hampstead News. 1 February 1951. p. 6. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson gives a very human portrait as the housekeeper.
- "A Dream comes true at the Embassy". Hampstead News. 29 March 1951. p. 2. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- Our Drama Critic (25 October 1955). "The Theatres. Lyceum: "Suspect"". The Scotsman. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson's old retainer, Goudie, as dour as she is leal, is a perfect piece of Scottish character acting.
- R.E.L. (17 November 1955). "Actress With An Axe". The Stage. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson makes the most of a small part as the vaguely sinister maid.
- R.B.M. (4 June 1959). "Sweetness and Charm in Musical 'Marigold'". The Stage. p. 11. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "'Marigold' on Way to Town". The Stage. 14 May 1959. p. 18. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- "In the Gorbals". Birmingham Daily Gazette. 18 July 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Among the players, Howard Connell ..., Marjorie Thomson ..., Russell Hunter ... and Betty Henderson (the warm-hearted mother and sister to all in the neighbourhood) are notable recruits to the ranks of British screen actors and actresses.
- "Film with a Glasgow Cast". Dundee Evening Telegraph. 7 October 1950. p. 3. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
Betty Henderson sorts out the worries of all the neighbourhood.
- McArthur, Colin (2002). Whisky Galore! and The Maggie: The British Film Guide 4. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 2. ISBN 9780857717894. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
- "Suspense play by Coffey and Steven". The Stage. 23 May 1963. p. 10. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
The play ... centres round an elderly Glasgow couple, Tam and Mima, who refuse to leave their home in a condemned street. Mima ... is played by Betty Henderson, who has appeared on BBC tv in "Dr. Finlay's Casebook".
- "Hope of new vehicle for Scots actors". The Stage. 5 December 1968. p. 11. Retrieved 12 January 2025.
- Wishart, Ruth (7 March 1969). "'High Living' quirks put STV nearer tthe top". Daily Record. p. 22. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
the individual characters and their quirks are coming over now, Majorie Thomson's garrulous Mrs Gauld and Betty Henderson's Granny in particular.
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