Mrs Henderson Presents is at the Noel Coward Theatre. The Windmill lasted until 1964 when it closed because of competition from private strip clubs. She had such an impact on the real Windmill Girls' lives too.'Īs had been her wish, on the day Mrs Henderson died in 1944 - bequeathing the theatre to Van Damm - the show went on as usual. Maureen grows under Mrs Henderson's influence. 'It's a very feminist story which is brilliant because musical theatre is male-dominated and women tend to be simpering love interests. She says the show is basically two strong women's stories: Mrs Henderson's, which is based on fact, and Maureen's, which is fictitious. When you strip the body down to the bare essentials it's amazingly empowering. I really wish I hadn't had that last slice of toast." But the strangest thing was when we previewed the show, for possibly the first time in my adult life I wasn't on a diet because I'd learned to love my body, and myself. 'You think, "All those people are seeing my naked body. Emma admits to nerves about going nude on stage. Ian Bartholomew is Van Damm and Emma Williams is Maureen, a shy stagehand who, with Mrs Henderson's encouragement, blossoms into the star of the show.
In the new show Mrs Henderson is played by double Olivier Award-winner Tracie Bennett. Mr & Mrs Vivian Van Damm onboard the Queen Mary at Southampton in 1949 She was lovely.' Elizabeth Taylor never forgot their friendship, and Maggie treasures a 92nd birthday card from her with the message, 'Happy Birthday and many more. 'So I sailed back on the Queen Mary and who do you think was my companion? Marlene Dietrich. But the marriage ended after eight years.
RITA DANIEL BRITISH THEATRE ACTRESS TV
After she married the 1950s film star Michael Rennie, who played Harry Lime in The Third Man TV series, they moved to Hollywood where she had a son and mixed with the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and Humphrey Bogart. 'And I had lots of dates - I didn't waste my time,' says Maggie with a twinkle in her eye. They had to get his permission to go on dates and tell him where they were going - he insisted they take their tin helmets too. It was pure innocence: naughty but nice.'Īt least Vivian Van Damm, a disciplinarian, was protective of his girls. Nobody could really see anything, because we used ostrich-feather fans for modesty. You stood on a stage and you remained like that. 'Because of the discreet way it was done. 'I put on my tin helmet and with another Windmill Girl, Anne Singer, went into the stables, got six panicking horses out, and led them into Piccadilly Circus.'Ĭlearly not one to shirk a challenge, did she not feel daunted by the idea of appearing naked in front of audiences? 'No,' she says firmly. 'We did what we could to help,' says Maggie. One night two fire-bombs landed on stables near the theatre and set them ablaze, killing three people. We'd hear the buzzing of the doodlebugs overhead, but we still carried on.' 'If I could have that time again I'd do it like a shot. 'The war years at the Windmill were the best of my life - and boy have I had a life!' says Maggie as she's known. Now a spirited 97-year-old, she joined at 17 and performed there for five years. The exterior of the Windmill Theatre pictured in 1973 In 1942 Life magazine named her the Windmill's No 1 Glamour Girl and she was also known as the theatre's Blonde Bombshell of the Blitz. The oldest surviving Windmill Girl is Margaret McGrath. We used to whisper together, planning what we would do later.' 'But we had to conduct our romance behind the stage while the main act was on. 'I lived for the Windmill and so did my husband John because we met there - he was the choreographer,' says Margaret. She danced at the Windmill for ten years from 1948 - her speciality was the Can-Can. Margaret Cooper certainly found a few little corners. There was always a little corner where you could have a secret get-together.' Fraternisation among the boys and girls in the cast was forbidden, but trying to keep us apart didn't work. To find yourself at 15, naked on a pedestal, I loved it. 'Those of us still alive are so proud of what we did. I don't know how I had the cheek!' But Van Damm soon told her to go and finish her education, and she couldn't wait to turn 15, the schooleaving age then, and step onto the Windmill stage again. 'I saw the sign for the Windmilstage door, so I went in and asked for an audition. 'I started when I was only 14,' says Jill. Vivacious, convent-educated Jill, now 72, was a Windmill Girl for five years from 1959 and is one of six former dancers who've joined young Emma Williams, who stars in the new musical, for our photoshoot. The Windmill Girls in 1940. Margaret McGrath, now 97, is on the far left
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