A charismatic actress with tremendous personal glamour, Googie Withers was the sweetheart of an era and remains much loved by cinema-goers of a certain age. Now, 15 years after her final starring role, she has died.
Born in Karachi to british and Dutch parents, Withers studied acting in Italy before making her début on the London stage. She was soon snapped up by film studio talent spotters, taking on a series of small roles (including one in early Hitchcock thriller The Lady Vanishes) before finding her way to the forefront. She will be remembered as the bold resistance fighter of One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing and the deadly femme fatale of Night And The City.
Alongside film, Withers enjoyed an impressive stage career in the West End and on Broadway. She was made a CBE by the Queen in 2002. After moving to Australia in 1958, she fell in love with the country and made it her permanent home, going on to receive one of its most prestigious awards. She is survived by her three children, including the actress Joanna McCallum.
