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Kay Walsh

Kay Walsh

Actor, also writer · Died April 16, 2005, aged 93 · Chelsea, London, England, UK

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Kay Walsh  (born Kathleen Walsh, 15 November 1911,Chelsea, London, England; died 16 April 2005, Chelsea, London) was an English actress and dancer. She grew up in Pimlico, brought up by her grandmother. She began her career as a dancer in West End music halls. Walsh made her film debut in How's Chances? (1934) in a small part, and had a larger role in another 1934 film, Get Your Man. She continued to act in "quota quickies" films for several years. Walsh first met David Lean, then a film editor, in 1936, during the filming of Secret Of Stamboul. They began a relationship and Walsh broke off her engagement to Pownell Pellew. Walsh and Lean married on 23 November 1940. She moved on to higher-prestige films with appearances in two Noel Coward-scripted films, In Which We Serve (1942) and This Happy Breed (1944), both directed by Lean. Walsh had campaigned for Lean to receive co-director credit on In Which We Serve. Walsh contributed dialogue to the 1938 film of Pygmalion, and also devised the scenario for the closing sequence of Lean's film adaptation of Great Expectations (1946), for which she received a writing credit on the latter film. She also devised the opening sequence of Lean's adaptation of Oliver Twist (1948), as well as performing the role of Nancy. Walsh and Lean divorced in 1949, on grounds of infidelity based on Lean's relationship with Ann Todd. Walsh continued to work as a character actress in films through the 1950s, including films with Alfred Hitchcock and Ronald Neame. Her own favourite film role was that of the barmaid Miss D. Coker in Neame's 1958 film of The Horse's Mouth, with Alec Guinness. Between films, she appeared regularly in plays and farces at the Strand and Aldwych Theatres, directed by Basil Dean. She was a semi-regular on the 1979 Anglo-Polish TV series Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. She remained active in films until her retirement in 1981, after the film Night Crossing. Walsh later lived in retirement in London. She died at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital from multiple burns, following an accident, aged 93. Her second marriage was to the Canadian psychologist Elliott Jaques, and they adopted a daughter, Gemma, in 1956. This marriage also ended in divorce. Description above from the Wikipedia article Kay Walsh, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 15, 1911
Died
April 16, 2005 (aged 93)
From
Chelsea, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
23 on MovieCove · 63 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 30% in 30 days

What are Kay Walsh's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Power.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 87th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 88th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
29%
Power
22%
Self
21%
Morality
18%
Society
4%
Survival
4%
Ideas
2%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 8 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 5 · Charged 6 · Intense 5

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 7 · Shifting 9 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 9 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 6 · Affecting 4 · Heavy 6

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
2 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6
Herald
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6
Threshold guardian
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
8
Warm
5
Hopeful
6
Thrilling
2
Other
11

How their films linger

Bittersweet8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet11
  • Tragic2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Kay Walsh's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 16 of their 23 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Kay Walsh's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

63 credits, 23 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • Walt Disney Treasures - Dr. Syn: The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Mrs. Waggett (archive footage)

  • Night Crossing(1982)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 24 episodes · as Mrs. Watson

  • The Ruling Class(1972)

    as Mrs. Piggott-Jones

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Scrooge(1970)

    as Mrs. Fezziwig

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Virgin and the Gypsy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Aunt Cissie

  • Connecting Rooms(1970)

    as Mrs. Brent

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Taste of Excitement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Miss Barrow

  • Journey to the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Joan Walker

  • Journey to the Unknown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Joan Walker

  • Bikini Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    as Harriet Pembroke

  • The Witches (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    as Stephanie Bax

  • ABC Stage 67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Greta

  • A Study in Terror(1965)

    as Cathy Eddowes

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • He Who Rides a Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    as Mrs. Woodley

  • Gideon's Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harriet Bright

  • The Beauty Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Mrs. Freeman

  • The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Waggett

  • Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow(1963)

    as Mrs. Waggett

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • 80,000 Suspects (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Matron

  • The Human Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Kross

  • The L-Shaped Room(1962)

    as Prostitute (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Reach for Glory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Mrs. Curlew

  • Lunch Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as The Manageress

  • Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog(1961)

    as Mrs. Brown

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Tunes of Glory(1960)

    as Mary Titterington

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Horse's Mouth(1958)

    as Dee Coker

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Now and Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Miss Muir

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Morgan

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Cast a Dark Shadow(1955)

    as Charlotte Young

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs. Waggett

  • Lease of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Mrs. Vera Thorne

  • The Rainbow Jacket (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Barbara Crain

  • Gilbert Harding Speaking of Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Priscilla

  • Young Bess(1953)

    as Mrs. Ashley

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Meet Me Tonight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Lily Pepper

  • Hunted (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Mrs. Sykes

  • The Magic Box (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Hotel Receptionist

  • Encore(1951)

    as Miss Molly Reid

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Magnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mrs Brent

  • Last Holiday(1950)

    as Mrs. Poole

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Stage Fright(1950)

    as Nellie Goode

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Oliver Twist(1948)

    Writer · as Nancy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Vice Versa(1948)

    as Florence 'Fanny' Verlane

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The October Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Molly Newman

  • Great Expectations(1946)

    Screenplay

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • This Happy Breed(1944)

    as Queenie Gibbons

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • In Which We Serve(1942)

    as Freda Lewis / Freda

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Middle Watch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Fay Eaton

  • The Chinese Bungalow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sadie Merivale

  • The Second Mr. Bush (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Angela Windel-Todd

  • All At Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Diana

  • Sons of the Sea(1939)

    as Alison Devar

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Missing People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Peggy Gillette

  • The Mind of Mr. Reeder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Peggy Gillette

  • Meet Mr. Penny (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Peggy Allgood

  • I See Ice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Judy Gaye

  • Pygmalion(1938)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Keep Fit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Joan Allen

  • All That Glitters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Eve Payne-Coade

  • The Secret of Stamboul (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Diana

  • The Luck of the Irish (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Eileen O'Donnell

  • A Little Bit of Bluff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Enid's Friend (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 62 titles from 1935 to 2008; peak year 1960.

Biggest box office

Night Crossing (1982)

$8M worldwide

Highest rated

Oliver Twist (1948)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow (1963)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19352008

Peak 1960 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 4 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting61 of 62: 61 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score82ndWriting1 of 62: 1 only writing, 0 with another role

By decade

1930s10 · acting1940s10 · 9 acting · 1 crew1950s16 · acting1960s19 · acting1970s5 · acting1980s1 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
425262

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Kay Walsh's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 83rd percentile, the median of all 22; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 75th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

85thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 23 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th1

Shape of the crowd

15 of their 23 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Crowd Pleaser15
  • Broadly Agreed1

Most divisive · actor

Connecting Rooms (1970)

54th percentile spread · 11% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor, writer

Oliver Twist (1948)

Midcredits 96th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 79/100 in their films, across 16 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 46. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Kay Walsh work with?

People who share at least 2 of Kay Walsh's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Ronald Neame shares the most, 6.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers