Naomi Sim
| Naomi Sim | |
|---|---|
as a maid in Wedding Group (1936)
|
|
| Born |
30 November 1913 Bedford |
| Died | 3 August 1999 (aged 85) Newnham Hill |
| Nationality | United Kingdom |
| Notable work | Dance and Skylark |
| Spouse |
Alistair Sim (m. 1932–1976) (his death) |
| Children | Merlith McKendrick |
Naomi Merlith Sim (née Plaskitt; 30 November 1913 – 3 August 1999) was an English actress and writer.
Naomi Plaskitt was born in Bedford in 1913. Her parents, Hugh and Norah Plaskitt, were cousins. Her parent's marriage was poor and in time Norah took custody of her daughters. Hugh Plaskitt was a solicitor who was addicted to alcohol. He served as a soldier during World War One where he caught and died of malaria in 1917.
She was taught initially in Bedford and later in Scotland. When she was twelve she met Alistair Sim whilst appearing in a play, The Land of Heart's Desire, organised by Scottish Community Drama Association. Sim was an elocution teacher at an Edinburgh school and was 28 when they met. Plaskitt left school at fourteen and joined Sim's school of drama as his secretary after her mother gave her permission. Meanwhile, Alistair was the Fulton lecturer in elocution at New College, Edinburgh.
In 1932 she had completed two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art under a scholarship when she replaced her ambition for drama with her love for Alistair. They married and they appeared in one film together, Wedding Group, in 1936.
In 1947 they built a house, Forrigan, near Henley on Thames. Naomi would help Alistair and give him advice, and he called her his "director". Together they unofficially adopted several boys who generally came from unhappy homes. The most noted of these was George Cole, who went on to have his own acting career. Cole appeared with Alistair in 11 films, and in time he bought a house near Forrigan.
Alistair died in 1976 and she decided to write an autobiography featuring their life together. Dance and Skylark was published in 1988 and afterwards she wrote articles for the Oldie magazine.
Sim died in Newnham Hill in 1999.
...
Wikipedia