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Last updated on the 25 June 2024 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: June 7, 1915, Hampstead, London, England.
Patricia Roc, born Felicia Miriam Ursula Herold, was an acclaimed English film actress, celebrated for her roles in the Gainsborough melodramas of the 1940s. Her early life was marked by a complex family dynamic; she was born in Hampstead, London, to unmarried parents and later adopted by her mother’s second husband, Dutch-Belgian stockbroker André Magnus Riese.
Patricia Roc’s education was diverse and cosmopolitan, attending private schools in London and Paris. Her artistic inclinations led her to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1937 before being discovered by West End theatre producer Sydney Carroll. It was Carroll who suggested she change her name to Patricia Roc, a moniker that would become synonymous with British cinematic elegance.
Her film career began with small roles, but her talent quickly propelled her to stardom. Roc became a household name with standout performances in films like “Madonna of the Seven Moons” (1945) and “The Wicked Lady” (1945).
Despite her success in Britain, her foray into Hollywood with “Canyon Passage” (1946) was met with less enthusiasm. Nevertheless, she remained a beloved figure in British cinema, known for her beauty and poise, which J. Arthur Rank, the head of her studio, described as the “archetypal British beauty.
Patricia Roc was married multiple times, with her second marriage to André Thomas producing a son. Her life after cinema was quieter and she made only sporadic television appearances, such as in the first episode of “The Saint”. Roc’s later years were spent away from the public eye until her passing on December 30, 2003, in Locarno, Switzerland.
Patricia Roc’s legacy is that of a wartime beacon of hope and glamour, a star who shone brightly during some of Britain’s darkest days. Her performances captured the hearts of many and continue to be a testament to her talent and the enduring allure of the classic British film era.
Suggested viewing
Millions Like Us (1943)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8 During World War II, a young woman leaves her family life behind to contribute to the war effort in a munitions factory. There, she joins a diverse group of women from various social backgrounds who forge a strong bond as they tackle the challenges of factory work and wartime anxieties. Amidst this, she finds love with a pilot but must face the hardship of separation and uncertainty as he goes off to fight. Top cast: Patricia Roc, Eric Portman, Gordon Jackson, Anne Crawford, Moore Marriott, Basil Radford, Naunton Wayne, Joy Shelton, John Boxer, Valentine Dunn, Megs Jenkins. |
The Wicked Lady (1945)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.8 The film follows a beautiful noblewoman who rebels against her restricted life in 17th century England. She indulges in reckless behaviour, marrying a man she doesn’t love and then turning to gambling to escape boredom. This leads her to a life of crime as a masked highwaywoman, but her double life becomes even more complicated when she encounters another thrill-seeker on the road. Top cast: Margaret Lockwood, James Mason, Patricia Roc, Griffith Jones, Michael Rennie, Felix Aylmer, Enid Stamp-Taylor, Jean Kent, Francis Lister. |
Madonna of the Seven Moons (1945)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.2 A seemingly ordinary wife and mother grapples with a dark secret. A traumatic event from her youth triggers dissociative episodes, causing her to lead a double life. While fulfilling her role in her wealthy family life, she also transforms into a passionate, free-spirited woman involved with a criminal in another city. Her daughter, unaware of this hidden life, embarks on a search to find her missing mother, leading to a dangerous entanglement with the world her mother desperately tries to conceal. Top cast: Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger, Patricia Roc, Peter Glenville, John Stuart, Reginald Tate, Peter Murray-Hill, Dulcie Gray, Alan Haines. |
The Perfect Woman (1949)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 5.9 In need of quick cash, a down-on-his-luck man and his butler agree to escort a seemingly perfect woman for an evening. Unbeknownst to them, the woman is actually the scientist’s robotic creation, designed to be the ideal companion. However, things get complicated when the robot malfunctions and the scientist’s niece steps in to impersonate her, leading to a whirlwind of comedic chaos. Top cast: Patricia Roc, Stanley Holloway, Nigel Patrick, Miles Malleson, Irene Handl, Anita Sharp-Bolster, Fred Berger, David Hurst. |
Two Thousand Women (1944)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5 Set in a German-run internment camp in France during World War II, Two Thousand Women tells the story of a group of British women who find themselves imprisoned together. Their situation takes an unexpected turn when they manage to hide three downed British airmen. Now, the women must work together to outsmart the guards and help the airmen escape while facing the dangers and challenges of life in a wartime internment camp. Top cast: Phyllis Calvert, Flora Robson, Patricia Roc, Renee Houston, Reginald Purdell, Anne Crawford, Jean Kent, James McKechnie, Robert Arden, Carl Jaffe, Muriel Aked. |
Something Money Can’t Buy (1952)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 6.0 The film explores how happiness isn’t found in material wealth. A returning soldier struggles to adjust to his wife’s success and his own unfulfilling job. He attempts various ventures with his friends, but true fulfillment comes not from financial gain but from rediscovering his purpose and reconnecting with his loved ones. Top cast: Patricia Roc, Anthony Steel, Moira Lister, A.E. Matthews, David Hutcheson, Michael Trubshawe, Diane Hart, Charles Victor. |
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