Shani Wallis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 14 April 1933 |
| Citizenship | United Kingdom United States |
| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
| Years active | 1952–2006 |
| Spouse | Bernie Rich (m. 1968;died 2016) |
| Children | 1 |
Shani Wallis (born 14 April 1933 [1] ) is an English retired actress and singer, who has worked in theatre, film, and television in both her native United Kingdom and in the United States. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she is known for her roles in the West End and Broadway and for the role of Nancy in the 1968 Oscar-winning film musical Oliver!
Writer and critic Kenneth Tynan described her as... the English Judy Garland [2]
Wallis was born in Tottenham, London, [1] and made her first stage appearance at the age of four. She studied ballet and dance, before gaining a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. [3]
She made her theatrical debut in a lead role as young princess Maria in Call Me Madam at the London Coliseum in March 1952. [3] Wallis sprang to global fame when appearing as Nancy in the Oscar-winning [1] musical film Oliver! in 1968, [4] starring alongside Oliver Reed as Bill Sikes, Ron Moody as Fagin, Jack Wild as the Artful Dodger, and Mark Lester as Oliver. [1] Afterwards, Wallis received an offer to star in the television series The Brady Bunch , but turned it down because she wanted to do more musicals. [1]
Wallis is a naturalised citizen of the United States, where she has lived for more than 40 years. She married her agent, Bernie Rich, on 13 September 1968; [2] the couple have one daughter and two granddaughters. [1] Wallis is a patron of the theatre charity The Music Hall Guild of Great Britain and America. [5]
