The 78-year-old actress explained how her parents hadn't chosen a moniker for her immediately after she was born, but a chance meeting with a woman who claimed to communicate with spirits led to them settling on calling her Judith
Noël Coward knew just âhow potent cheap music isâ, as he says in his play
Private Lives, but he also understood the power of striking a pose. His sophisticated stage dialogue was always delivered in matching style.
Now admirers of this towering talent â he was acknowledged in his day as âthe Masterâ â will have the chance to see glamorous costumes, designs and props, along with letters and photographs gathered from his long career. A rare collection goes on show in London next month and will feature two of the flamboyant dressing gowns he wore on stage.
âHe did love his dressing gowns, at home, as well as when he performed,â said Alan Brodie, chair of the Noël Coward Foundation. âHis sense of style was important to him and he was hugely influential, with friendships among the leading names in art and fashion, but he was also, of course, able to make fun of himself.â