Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Joan Sims
Joan Sims Facts
| Sign | Taurus |
| Born |
May 9, 1930 Laindon, Essex |
| Died |
Jun 28, 2001 Chelsea, London |
| Age | Died at 71 |
| Total Facts | 41 |
Joan Sims and Sid James appeared in 17 Carry on films together. This is a record in movie history. Three were as husband and wife (Up the Khyber, Henry and Abroad) and three as the main 'love interest' (Camping, Loving and At your Convenience). They were dubbed First Lady and King of Carry On respectively.
Anthony Asquith once told her that she couldn't play a serious role because she had such a happy cheery face.
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.
Appeared in 24 Carry On films and was the longest serving female cast member of the Carry On team. Other long serving members were Sid James; Kenneth Williams; Charles Hawtrey; Bernard Bresslaw; Patsy Rowlands; Hattie Jacques; Kenneth Connor; Jim Dale; Peter Butterworth; Barbara Windsor; and Terry Scott.
Became a good friend of Katharine Hepburn during the filming of Love Among the Ruins (1975) (TV). Hepburn allowed her to use her caravan during filming breaks, although she did tick her off for smoking. Sims later described working on this film as one of the high points of her whole career.
Claimed to have never married because the right person had not come along.
Daughter of a Railway Station Master from Laindon, Essex, England.
Developed a drink problem in the early 1980s after the death of her good friend, Hattie Jacques, her agent and her mother. She eventually had to go into hospital to recover from her alcoholism.
During Upstairs and Downstairs (1959) she bruised her leg during a scene after falling over a suitcase. The pain got worse during the filming of Carry on Teacher (1959), she developed thrombo-phlebitis, and had her bad leg propped up on off-camera cushions during filming. The first-aid unit were not able to treat the condition and she was then hospitalised for 10 days causing filming to be rescheduled.
For most of the "Carry On" movies she appeared in, she was only paid a fee of £2,500 per film.
Fractured her hip in 2000 and spent two weeks in the Conquest Hospital in Hastings, England. She was provided with a replacement hip and recovered well.
Good friend of David Kernan. She went on holiday with him to the south of France after the filming of Carry on Abroad (1972).
Good friend of the Two Ronnies, Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett.
Had a relationship with Anthony Baird but her parents intervened to end the relationship after they found that she was living with the actor in 'sin'. They sent her a frankly worded letter even though she was in her late 20s and she obeyed her parents command. She blamed her loneliness later in life on this experience, where she was unable to commit to a relationship without her parents approval.
Had a short relationship with Hollywood star Tyrone Power.
Her ashes were scattered at Putney Vale Cemetery, London.
Her character in Carry on Henry VIII (1971), Queen Marie, is in love with garlic during the film. In rehearsals, peppermint was used for the garlic. However on one occasion, director Gerald Thomas replaced the peppermint with real garlic. This remained in the film: Joan's reaction on screen is obvious.
Her father was a station master, she spent much of her childhood entertaining passengers with impromptu stage routines on the station platform and befriending any poor soul who missed their train and became stranded there. Such diversions sparked an interest in pursuing showbusiness and Joan soon became a familiar face in a growing number of amateur productions.
Her favourite character that she played in the Carry On films was 'Belle Armitage' in Carry on Cowboy (1966).
Her first Carry On film was Carry on Nurse (1959) and her last was Carry on Emmannuelle (1978). She also appeared in The Ship Was Loaded (1957), however this film is not considered to be a part of the Carry On series.
In 1946, Joan first applied to RADA, but one of the adjudicators was not overly keen on her rendition from Winnie the Pooh.
In her early career she was often confused with Dora Bryan, due to their likeness.
Life-long friend of fellow "Carry On..." star Dilys Laye. Dilys and Joan first knew one another during childhood. They both remained close until Joan's death in 2001.
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).
Portrayed by Chrissie Cotterill in Cor, Blimey! (2000) (TV) and by Beatie Edney (daughter of former Joan Sims co-star Sylvia Syms) in Kenneth Williams: Fantabulosa! (2006) (TV).
She and Frankie Howerd had difficulty working together, because they could not stop laughing. During scenes, they would have to look at one another's forehead in order to avoid eye contact and avoid more laughter.
She and Norah Holland were once accosted by a woman in a butcher shop who demanded to know whether Joan was looking after Carry-On film on-screen husband Sid James.
She entered hospital in November 2000. However complications of a routine operation caused her to slip into a coma. Her lifelong friend Norah Holland has spoken of the doctors' amazement at her strength and courage throughout her final illness. Ten minutes before Joan died, Norah spoke to her gently about Kenny (Kenneth Williams, Hattie (Hattie Jacques), and their time on the 'Carry On...' films. Joan died with Norah holding her hand.
She was offered the chance to star in a spin-off series based on her character of "Gran" from "Till Death Us Do Part" (1965), but she turned it down, saying she thought the character was "too depressing".
Slipped into a coma in the last weeks of her life while hospitalised at the Kensington and Chelsea Hospital in central London.
Sold her more substantial home in Fulham several years earlier, complaining of money problems and expressing fears that she would be bankrupt.
Spent her first salary of £25 on kitchen utensils from Selfridges.
Suffered with Bell's palsy in 1999, which caused depression and alcoholism.
The closing pages of her autobiography actually mentions her trivia page on IMDB. She complains that there is not much information, however following her death it was dramatically expanded.
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 Sid 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.
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.
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.
Went to Columbia in 1966 to promote the "Carry On..." films.
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.
Won the £10 Mabel Temperley prize for grace and charm of movement while at RADA.