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Last updated on the 21 June 2025 by Maeve
Mini Biography
Born: 18 December 1925, Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales.
Peggy Cummins was born into a family with a strong Irish heritage and a theatrical inclination. Her parents were Dublin natives who had travelled to Wales, where she entered the world. Her father, Franklin Bland Fuller, descended from architect James Franklin Fuller, while her mother, Margaret Cummins, was herself an accomplished actress who appeared in various film productions. The family soon relocated to Ireland, where young Peggy spent her formative years in the affluent Dublin suburb of Killiney, receiving her early education there before eventually moving to London.
Peggy Cummins discovered her calling for performance at a young age, beginning her theatrical journey at twelve years old at Dublin’s prestigious Gate Theatre. This early start provided her with invaluable stage experience that would serve as the foundation for her later success. Her breakthrough came in 1943 when she wowed West End audiences by playing a twelve-year-old character in “Junior Miss” despite being seventeen herself.
The petite actress achieved her greatest screen immortality as the trigger-happy bank robber Annie Laurie Starr in the 1950 film noir classic “Gun Crazy,” a role that demonstrated her ability to embody dangerous femininity with compelling intensity. Her filmography included notable works such as “Curse of the Demon,” “The Late George Apley,” “Hell Drivers,” and “Escape,” establishing her as a versatile performer capable of handling both dramatic and suspenseful material with equal skill.
Peggy Cummins balanced her professional achievements with a fulfilling personal life, marrying London businessman Derek Dunnett in 1950. The couple raised two children together, son David and daughter Diana. She made the decision to retire from acting in the mid-1960s, choosing to focus on family life. Cummins lived until December 2017, passing away in London at age 92, leaving behind a legacy as one of cinema’s most memorable femme fatales.
Suggested viewing
Gun Crazy (1950)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 7.6
A restless factory worker with a lifelong fascination for firearms finds his perfect match in a carnival sharpshooter. Their shared passion ignites a whirlwind romance that quickly escalates into a life of crime. They embark on a series of daring bank robberies, fuelled by their dangerous love and the thrill of the chase.
Top cast: Peggy Cummins, John Dall, Berry Kroeger, Morris Carnovsky, Anabel Shaw, Harry Lewis, Nedrick Young, Trevor Bardette.
Curse of the Demon (1957)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.4
In 1950s England, a sceptical American psychologist investigates a mysterious death linked to a demonic cult. As he delves deeper, he uncovers ancient rituals, cursed parchments, and a terrifying entity that stalks him relentlessly. Logic clashes with the supernatural in a chilling battle for survival against an unseen evil.
Top cast: Dana Andrews, Peggy Cummins, Niall MacGinnis, Maurice Denham, Athene Seyler, Liam Redmond, Reginald Beckwith, Ewan Roberts.
Hell Drivers (1957)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 7.2
Ex-convict Tom Yately takes a job at a cut-throat haulage company where drivers race to deliver gravel at breakneck speeds. Determined to go straight, Tom clashes with the ruthless top driver, Red and uncovers a web of corruption and sabotage. As tensions rise, friendships are tested, secrets unravel and a deadly showdown looms on a treacherous shortcut road.
Top cast: Stanley Baker, Herbert Lom, Peggy Cummins, Patrick McGoohan, William Hartnell, Wilfrid Lawson, Sid James, Jill Ireland.
Escape (1948)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 6.5
A former RAF officer, unjustly imprisoned after a tragic altercation, escapes custody and flees across England. 1. A young woman offers him surprising support and compassion as he flees an unrelenting pursuit. Torn between freedom and conscience, he must decide whether to keep running or face the consequences of his past.
Top cast: Rex Harrison, Peggy Cummins, William Hartnell, Norman Wooland, Jill Esmond, Frederick Piper, Marjorie Rhodes, Betty Ann Davies.
Street Corner (1953)
Bftv 9.0 / IMDb 6.7
Three intertwined stories follow women police officers in postwar London as they confront society’s hidden struggles. From a young mother drawn into crime, to a deserter entangled in bigamy, to a neglected child in danger, each case reveals the quiet heroism and emotional toll of those upholding justice behind the scenes.
Top cast: Peggy Cummins, Terence Morgan, Anne Crawford, Rosamund John, Barbara Murray, Ronald Howard, Eleanor Summerfield, Michael Medwin.
Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953)
Bftv 8.5 / IMDb 5.9
A television set, gifted as a retirement present, begins a strange journey through various households, subtly warping the lives of its owners. As each new recipient succumbs to obsession, vanity or discontent, a devilish figure watches with glee. This satirical tale explores how technology can amplify human folly and desire.
Top cast: Stanley Holloway, Peggy Cummins, Jack Watling, Barbara Murray, Joseph Tomelty, Humphrey Lestocq, Gordon Jackson, Jean Cadell.
The Captain’s Table (1959)
Bftv 8.0 / IMDb 5.9
A seasoned cargo ship captain is unexpectedly promoted to command a luxury ocean liner. Though skilled at sea, he’s unprepared for the social whirl of cocktail parties, beauty contests and scheming crew. Confronting eccentric passengers and onboard scandals, he must stay afloat in a world where charm matters more than charts.
Top cast: John Gregson, Peggy Cummins, Bill Kerr, Reginald Beckwith, Nadia Gray, Donald Sinden, Maurice Denham, Richard Wattis.
