Cherry Balfour

Dame Celia Elizabeth Johnson (1908-1982) was a distinguished English actress with a career spanning stage, television, and film. She gained significant recognition for her performances in seminal films such as "In Which We Serve" (1942), "This Happy Breed" (1944), and the highly acclaimed "Brief Encounter" (1945), for which she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Her stage career began in 1928, leading to success in both London's West End and on Broadway. Throughout her life, she remained active in theatre, though much of her later work was in television, earning her a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress in 1973 for "Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont."

Johnson's early life included a public performance in 1916 and studies at St Paul's Girls' School, where she played the oboe under Gustav Holst, and later at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She also studied in Paris under Pierre Fresnay. Her professional debut was in George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara" in 1928. Despite family responsibilities, she balanced her acting career with her personal life, marrying journalist Peter Fleming in 1935 and raising three children. Her contributions to the arts were recognized with a CBE in 1958 and elevation to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1981. She passed away in 1982 following a stroke.

Born in 1908, Celia Johnson's early life hinted at a future in the arts. Her first public appearance occurred in 1916, participating in a charity play to support soldiers returning from the First World War. She attended St Paul's Girls' School, where she was a member of the orchestra, playing the oboe under the direction of the renowned composer Gustav Holst. Although she acted in school productions, her formal acting training began at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1926. She later refined her skills with a period of study in Paris under Pierre Fresnay at the Comédie Française. Johnson reflected on her career choice, noting her inclination towards acting as the "only thing I was good at" and a path that seemed "rather wicked."

Celia Johnson's professional acting journey commenced in 1928 with her stage debut as Sarah in George Bernard Shaw's "Major Barbara." Her career quickly progressed, leading to roles in London's West End and eventually a trip to New York City in 1931 to perform as Ophelia in "Hamlet." After returning to London, she achieved a significant two-year run in "The Wind and the Rain" (1933–35). During World War II, she prioritized family, taking on less time-intensive film and radio roles that allowed her to manage her domestic responsibilities. This period saw her appear in acclaimed films like "In Which We Serve" (1942) and "This Happy Breed" (1944), both collaborations with director David Lean and writer Noël Coward. The iconic "Brief Encounter" (1945), also directed by Lean, solidified her cinematic legacy, earning her critical praise and an Academy Award nomination.

Following the war, Celia Johnson focused on raising her three children, with her acting work becoming secondary for a decade. However, she returned to the stage, appearing in productions such as "The Flowering Cherry" (1957) and "The Grass is Greener" (1958). She also became a member of Laurence Olivier's National Theatre Company, taking on roles in "The Master Builder" (1964) and "Hay Fever" (1965), which she later reprised for television. Her performance in "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (1969) earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Johnson's significant contributions to the performing arts were acknowledged with her appointment as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1958 and her elevation to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1981.

“I thought I'd rather like it. It was the only thing I was good at. And I thought it might be rather wicked.”