Madge Ryan


Madge Winifred Ryan was an Australian actress, known for her stage roles in the United Kingdom, including London productions of Entertaining Mr Sloane, Philadelphia, Here I Come, and Medea. She also starred in the Broadway production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. Her film appearances included Summer Holiday, A Clockwork Orange, Frenzy, and Who Is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?.

Early life

Ryan was born in Townsville, Australia. Her daughter Lyn Ashley is also an actress.

Career

Already an established theatre actor in Sydney, Australia, Ryan emigrated to the United Kingdom in 1957 and starred in many British stage shows. She made over sixty appearances in films and on television.

Theatre

In 1958, Ryan appeared in a Broadway-theatre production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll. In 1964, she played Kath in the original London production of Joe Orton's Entertaining Mr Sloane. The Independent wrote, "as the dreadful Kath, ageing seductress and murderous landlady...Madge Ryan's cruel, cool but undeniably comic acting provoked one critic to describe her work...as 'something very close to perfection'."

Death

Ryan died in London in 1994, the day after her 75th birthday. In their obituary, The Independent wrote, "what set her apart from the others was a certain, often powerful, independence of spirit and humour...It was a fulfilled career."

Selected filmography