Actress Honor Blackman delighted an audience of specially invited guests, including Lord Rix, Stephanie Moore MBE, Mike Gapes, MP for Ilford South, philanthropist Jack Petchey, and the Mayors of Barking & Dagenham, Redbridge and Waltham Forest, at the University of East London (UEL) on Thursday, 29th January, with her dazzling one woman show entitled Wayward Women.
Honor Blackman is one of Britain's best-loved and versatile actresses, with her most renowned performances including leather-clad karate expert Cathy Gale in The Avengers, and the unforgettable Pussy Galore in Goldfinger.
In 2000, Honor Blackman was awarded the degree of Honorary Master of Arts at UEL, in recognition of her lifetime of achievement. She has since been generous in support of UEL and last year agreed to perform her acclaimed one-woman show at a special event.
Wayward Women, which has successfully toured nationwide, raising funds for charities including the Stroke Association, is a sparkling entertainment with songs which takes as its theme women who set about making changes in the way the world saw them and the way they saw the world.
Over one hundred guests enjoyed the performance, held at UEL's Docklands campus. Lord Rix, Chancellor of the University of East London, who celebrates his 80th Birthday this year, welcomed Ms Blackman and said how proud he was to be introducing such a close personal friend.
Ms Blackman opened her performance by saying: "Wayward is an important word for me - it was what teachers wrote at the bottom of my school reports!" The theatre was filled with laughter and applause as she brought to life some of the worlds most influential women in her own unique and inimitable style. With quick changes of costume and accent she covered over five centuries of women including Eleanor Roosevelt, Queen Elizabeth 1, Dorothy Parker, Edith Sitwell, Barbara Cartland, and Marlene Dietrich. The show ended with a presentation of flowers and a much deserved curtain call.
Professor Michael Thorne, UEL Vice-Chancellor, said: "We are privileged to welcome such a brilliant performer, and to witness her personality and acting talent blossom on stage here at UEL. We are very honoured to be associated with Honor Blackman, and follow her achievements with tremendous pride."
Stephanie Moore MBE, widow of Sir Bobby Moore, founder of the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research and Honorary Fellow of UEL said: "It was a superb evening. She so easily conjured an atmosphere of both laughter and tears. She was ribald, majestic, gentle, strong, soft and feminine. She is the most gifted performer."
The Worshipful, the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham, Cllr Kay Flint said: "I was delighted to be invited to the performance and enjoyed the evening enormously. It was lovely of Honor Blackman to come and great that the show has raised so much money for charity nationwide."
Ends/.
For more details and pictures, contact Patrick Wilson, Press Officer, UEL Phone: 020 8223 2061, Fax: 020 8223 2900, Mobile: 07951 797 975.
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