Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson (31 December 1899 – 28 August 1982), known professionally as Nan Marriott-Watson, was an English actress and dramatist. She appeared on Broadway.

Nan Marriott-Watson
Marriott-Watson in 1922
Born
Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson

(1899-12-31)31 December 1899
Died28 August 1982(1982-08-28) (aged 82)
Puttenham, Surrey, England
Other names
  • Margaret Marriott-Watson
  • Marriott Watson
Occupation(s)Actress, dramatist
Years active1916–1978
Relatives

Biography

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Early life

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Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson was born in West Derby, Lancashire, England on 31 December 1899,[1][2][3] as the only child to Frank McDonald Watson (1865–1944), an actor, and his wife,[4] Florence Reviere (née Brown; 1872–1956), also known by her stage surname, Edwin. She was born on the last day of the 19th century.[5] She was baptised at St Mary's, Grassendale on 26 January 1900.[6] Her paternal uncle was H. B. (Henry Brereton) Marriott Watson, an author, and his wife, Rosamund Marriott Watson, a poet, was her aunt, by marriage.[5]

Death

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Marriott-Watson died in Puttenham, Surrey on 28 August 1982. She was 82.[5]

Career

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Marriott-Watson volunteered with the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment during World War One. She worked at military hospitals in Gateshead and Bishop Auckland. She also worked in nursing at Victoria Hospital in Keighley.[7]

Marriott-Watson began her professional career in theatre in July 1920.[8][9] She appeared on Broadway.[10] She co-wrote Lass o' Laughter, with Edith Carter. The original production opened at the Comedy Theatre in New York City on 8 January 1925 and ran until 1 February.[11] She played A Lady in Fashion in If. The original production opened at the Little Theatre in Rochester, New York on 25 October 1927 and ran until 1 November.[12] She played Mabs Kellet in Diversion. The original production opened at the 49th Street Theatre in Manhattan on 11 January 1928 and ran until 1 March.[13]

Marriott-Watson started working for the BBC on 1 September 1930. She appeared in numerous radio productions.[14]

The script for the comedy crime film Miss Tulip Stays the Night (1955) was based on a radio play by Marriott-Watson that had been performed on Australian radio in 1948.[15][16]

Marriott-Watson was the original choice to play Ena Sharples in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in the second unaired pilot episode in 1960. The character was recast to Violet Carson prior to the recording of the first episode.[5] Notably, she earlier originated another core soap character, voicing matriarch Doris Archer in the BBC Home Service radio soap opera The Archers, for the pilot episode on 29 May 1950. This character was also recast, with Gwen Berryman going on to voice Doris for almost three decades.[17]

Marriott-Watson retired in 1978, after 62 years in the industry.[14][18]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1951 The Man in Armour Mrs. Topping-Banger Episode: "Armour for Sale!"
1956 Tomorrow May Be Fine Bessie Thompson Television film
1956 Tearaway Mrs. Molden Television film
1956 Without Love Old woman Television film
1957 Joyous Errand Glad Episode: "Episode #1.4", credited as; Marriott Watson
1957, 1958, 1959 BBC Sunday-Night Theatre Bertha, Washerwoman, Meg 3 episodes
1957 Aladdin Aladdin's mother Television film
1958 Angel Pavement Charwoman Episode: "Episode #1.4"
1958 The Invisible Armies Madame Meister Episode: "Episode #1.4"
1958 Television Playwright Alice Hesketh Episode: "Red Rose for Ransom"
1958 Champion Road Grandma Pilling 3 episodes
1959 The Wanderer Mrs. Wilkinson Episode: "Detective Story"
1959 The Gay Dog Aunt Minnie Television film
1959 A Ride on the Donkeys Mrs. Jackson Television film
1960 BBC Sunday-Night Play Gran Tatlock Episode: "Summer Theatre: June Evening"
1960 An Age of Kings Mother Jordan Episode: "Part Ten: The Fall of a Protector", credited as: Nan Marriott Watson
1960, 1961, 1963 Maigret Madame Trochu, Concierge 3 episodes, credited as; Nan Marriott Watson
1960 Tales from Dickens Innkeeper's wife Episode: "Christmas at Dingley Dell"
1960 Coronation Street: Second Dry Run Ena Sharples Television film
1961 They Met in a City Mrs. Livingstone Episode: "Ladies from a Spa"
1961 Four Winds Island Headmistress
1961 On the Boundary Mrs. Hackitt Television film
1961 Hurricane Matron Episode: "Part 1"
1961 Jack's Horrible Luck Jean
1961 The Train Set Gran Television film
1963 Jane Eyre Grace Poole 4 episodes
1963 The Saint Mrs. Whicker Episode: "The Sporting Chance", credited as; Nan Marriot-Watson
1964 Dr. Finlay's Casebook Mrs. Clegg Episode: "My Late Dear Husband"
1964 Madame Bovary Madame Bovary 2 episodes
1964 Sherlock Holmes Annie Episode: "The Speckled Band"
1964 Detective Annie Episode: "The Speckled Band"
1964 ITV Play of the Week Market woman Episode: "Crime and Punishment"
1965 199 Park Lane Janet Redell 9 episodes
1965, 1975 Z Cars Mrs. Jameson, Sally 2 episodes
1966 Dixon of Dock Green Hilda Butler Episode: "S for Squealer"
1966 Mr. John Jorrocks Gypsy Episode: "If We Encourage Vulgar People Coming Here, We Might Not the Matter End?"
1966 Thirteen Against Fate Madame Canut Episode: "The Survivors"
1967 No Hiding Place The Landlady Episode: "The Price on My Head"
1967–1968 Crossroads Motel Nora/Norah Gillingham 17 episodes
1968 Theatre 625 Jeannette Episode: "The Fanatic"
1968 The First Lady Amy Tarrant Episode: "A Time of Fear"
1969 Thirty-Minute Theatre Aunt Episode: "These Men Are Dangerous: Hitler"
1969 On the Run Charwoman
1969 The Wednesday Play In Ulster Episode: "Blodwen, Home from Rachel's Marriage"
1974 Within These Walls Milly Jones Episode: "Prisoner by Marriage"

Source: [19]

References

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  1. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: JAN 1900 8b 691 WEST DERBY — Hannah M Marriott-Watson
  2. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915: JAN 1900 8b 691 WEST DERBY — Hannah Margaret Watson
  3. ^ "Nan Marriott-Watson". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  4. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1837-1915: OCT 1898 8a 971 BIRKENHEAD — Frank Marriott Watson = Florence Reviere Brown
  5. ^ a b c d "VAD Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson". Men of Worth. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  6. ^ Liverpool, England, Church of England Baptisms, 1813-1919: 26 JAN 1900 Grassendale, St Mary, Lancashire — Hannah Margaret Marriott Watson
  7. ^ "VAD Hannah Margaret Marriott-Watson". Men of Worth. 22 January 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  8. ^ "Jul 27, 1920, page 2 - Coventry Evening Telegraph at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. 27 July 1920. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  9. ^ "Nan Marriott-Watson". IBDB. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  10. ^ "Nan Marriott-Watson". Playbill. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  11. ^ "Lass O'laughter". Playbill. 8 January 1925. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  12. ^ "If". Playbill. 25 October 1927. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  13. ^ "Diversion". Playbill. 11 January 1928. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Nan Marriott Watson". BBC. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  15. ^ "The Week in Wireless". The Age. No. 29057. Victoria, Australia. 12 June 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 10 July 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Comedy Thriller Over 2GB". ABC Weekly. Vol. 10. 8 May 1948. p. 22.
  17. ^ "Rare early Archers' scripts, including Episode 1, set to sell at auction". Cuttlestones Auctioneers & Valuers. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  18. ^ "Jun 03, 1976, page 2 - The Birmingham Post at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. 3 June 1976. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  19. ^ "Nan Marriott-Watson". IMDb. Retrieved 24 October 2024.