Shani Wallis

A popular musical name noted on film for one delightfully feisty Cockney lass, Shani Wallis was born in 1933 in Tottenham (North London), England, and initially studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a scholarship. On stage from age 4 and performing in repertory as an early teen, she became one of the brighter young singing voices of her day.

In addition to her participation in the soundtrack album from the movie "Oliver!", her recording career included several singles (released on 78 and 45 RPM) on the Philips label in England in the 1950s and 1960s, and one single released in the USA on London Records in 1963. Also, several LP records on the Kapp label in the USA in the 1960s.

She made her West End musical debut at age 18 with "Call Me Madam" at the Coliseum in 1952, and immediately established herself in the role of Princess Maria, the leading ingénue.

Following other starring roles in the mediocre musicals "Happy as a King" and "Wish You Were Here," she scored again in "Wonderful Town" (1955) playing a comic soubrette, and as another spirited ingénue in "Finian's Rainbow" (1958). In between were a number of musical revue shows.

A few inconsequential film roles had come her way earlier in England, including The Extra Day (1956) and Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956), not to mention a minor singing bit in Charles Chaplin's A King in New York (1957).

In 1960 she replaced Tony-winner Elizabeth Seal in the title role of "Irma La Douce" at London's Lyric Theatre. After the show closed, few offers seemed to come her way so she decided to try her luck in America. She went about rebuilding her name on the cabaret, concert and club circuits, and added more musical roles such as "South Pacific," "The King and I" and "Bells Are Ringing" to her credits.

Other than assorted variety show appearances and a televised performance supporting Carol Burnett in Once Upon a Mattress (1964), she found only a modicum of on-camera work.

She finally made it to Broadway in 1966, co-starring with the legendary Tessie O'Shea in "A Time For Singing," a musical version of "How Green Was My Valley. " Backed by three strong numbers, she had a chance to shine in the Maureen O'Hara colleen role, but the show closed after a disappointing run of 41 performances.

All the more astounding then when she nabbed the role of a lifetime as the ill-fated Nancy in the Oscar-winning picture Oliver! (1968). Successfully replacing the seemingly irreplaceable Georgia Brown, Shani made a durable marquee name for herself while giving her all in the rousing "Oom-pah Pah" number and putting her own indelible stamp on the show-stopping "As Long As He Needs Me," now considered her signature song. Having never played the part before, she went on to perform Nancy on the theatre stage as well.

Gave birth to her only child at age 38, a daughter Rebecca Rich on November 25, 1971. Child's father is her husband, Bernard Rich.

Shani was seen only sporadically in films following this breakthrough, including the horror opus Terror in the Wax Museum (1973), for the live stage was still her first love.

Over the years she has gamely performed in a number of musical staples, including "42nd Street" and "Follies," and toured with Liberace for five years during the 1980s.

In 1996, she returned to England to appear in the musical "Always" at the Victoria Palace Theatre.