Joan Sims

Daughter of a Railway Station Master, John Henry Sims (1888-1964), from Laindon, Essex, England. Known as John or Harry, he had served during WWI.

Joan Sims, the "First Lady of Carry On", was born Irene Joan Marion Sims on 9 May 1930. The daughter of an Essex railway station master, Joan was interested in pursuing show-business, and soon became a familiar face in a growing number of amateur productions.

In 1946, Joan first applied to RADA, her audition was unsuccessful. She did succeed in being admitted to the academy's preparatory school, and finally, on her fourth attempt, trained at RADA.

She graduated in 1950 at the age of nineteen.

A cameo appearance in Doctor in the House (1954) as the sexually repressed Nurse Rigor Mortis led to Joan being first spotted by Peter Rogers; Rogers' wife Betty E. Box was the producer of the Doctor series, in which Joan herself became a regular.

A few years later, in 1958, Joan received another script from Peter Rogers, it was Carry on Nurse (1959). The film had been a huge success at the box office and in the autumn of that year Rogers and Gerald Thomas began planning a follow up. She went on to appear in 24 of the films, making her the longest serving female member of the team.

She first starred in the following three Carry On films: Carry on Teacher (1959), Carry on, Constable (1960) and Carry on Regardless (1961), before taking a break from the next four films to concentrate on stage work.

While filming the wine-tasting party scene in Carry on Regardless (1961), the director Gerald Thomas switched the water in her glass for neat vodka. Her reaction to the drink is obvious during the scene, however she refused to give in to the director's practical joke. The producer Peter Rogers made Gerald Thomas cut a few times, so that she had to keep sipping on the neat vodka.

She rejoined the team with Carry On Cleo (1964) and remained all the way through to Carry on Emmannuelle (1978) in 1978. Ironically, she was never proclaimed Queen of Carry On. This title went to saucy Barbara Windsor, even though she had only appeared in nine Carry On films. One could argue that her final performances in the Carry On films were rather sentimental, as though she knew that the series was coming to an end and two scenes come to mind.

Her favourite character that she played in the Carry On films was 'Belle Armitage' in Carry On Cowboy (1965).

Went to Columbia in 1966 to promote the "Carry On..." films.

The only actress to appear in the only emotive scenes to be found in the "Carry On..." films. These scenes are unique as they did not rely on the usual innuendo or comedy. These scenes featuring her are found in Carry on at Your Convenience (1971) in which she discusses the morals of relationships and love with Sidney James [Filmed on 29 April 1971 as a night shoot, on location scene]; Carry on Behind (1975) with Peter Butterworth in which she discusses marriage and Carry on Emmannuelle (1978) with Victor Maddern, where she dances romantically in a laundrette.

Good friend of David Kernan. She went on holiday with him to the south of France after the filming of Carry on Abroad (1972).

Lifelong friend of actress Norah Holland, who was also her stand-in in the Carry On films. Holland's appearance is obvious during Carry on Girls (1973).

The scene in which she plays cards with Peter Butterworth in Carry on Behind (1975) in his caravan late at night, and also in the launderette where she dances with an early Carry Oner Victor Maddern in Carry on Emmannuelle (1978). Both of these are memorable sentimental film scene stealers.

With the end of the Carry On series in 1978, Joan went on to become a familiar face on TV screens, with ongoing roles in a number of highly successful sitcoms On the Up (1990) and As Time Goes By (1992) and the BBC's prestigious classic drama adaptations such as Martin Chuzzlewit (1994).

Between 1979 and 1981 Joan had to deal with the deaths of her agent and mentor Peter Eade, her best friend Hattie Jacques and her mother. In 1982 she suffered a nervous breakdown and spent two months in a psychiatric hospital.

Joan did not like attending funerals. She did not attend the funerals of her good friends and 'Carry On' colleagues Hattie Jacques in 1980 and Kenneth Williams in 1988. The funeral of producer Betty E. Box in 1999 was a rare exception.

Was cast in a new "Carry On..." due to film in 1988, "Carry On Again Nurse" along with Barbara Windsor, Kenneth Williams, Jack Douglas and Charles Hawtrey. The film centered around hospital due for closure and an oddball set of characters who went about saving the institution. Joan Sims was cast as the Matron; a role synonymous with 'Carry On...' legend Hattie Jacques, who had died in 1980. There was due to be a reminder of Hattie's performances as Matron in a small tribute. Joan Sims was due to turn a photograph of her around after the hospital had been saved and say, "Well, did I do alright?" The production was scheduled to start in June 1988, however the film was plunged into chaos following the death of "Carry On..." starts Charles Hawtrey and Kenneth Williams and was eventually cancelled.

The roles of King and Queen of Spain in Carry On Columbus (1992) were originally offered to Sims and Frankie Howerd. The parts finally went to fellow Carry On stars June Whitfield and Leslie Phillips.

She was turned down for the part of Mrs Gamp in Martin Chuzzlewit (1994) in favour of Elizabeth Spriggs but was offered the smaller part of Betsy Prig.

She had a part in A Village Affair (1995) but fell from a bicycle during filming and cracked a rib. She was replaced by Rosalie Crutchley.

She was turned down for the part of Miss Crawley in Vanity Fair (1998).

Suffered with Bell's palsy in 1999, which caused depression and alcoholism.

Joan's autobiography, High Spirits, was released in 2000. She complains in the last few pages of her book at the lack of information on her on the IMDB trivia page, something that was only significantly expanded after her death. In her later years she became a cult figure and something of a British National Institution as the only surviving major Carry On star from early days. However, years of heavy drinking took their toll and she suffered in her later years with ill health.

She was admitted to Hospital in Chelsea in London in mid 2001 and slipped into a coma.

A plaque dedicated to her memory was unveiled where she lived at Thackeray Street, Kensington, London in September 2002 by Barbara Windsor. She was joined by other stars of the classic Carry On film series including Liz Fraser. A celebratory lunch followed the unveiling which included other old friends, including John Inman.

A plaque in her memory was unveiled in June 2005 at Laindon railway station in Essex. She lived in the station house for 22 years where her father Harry was station master.