Molly Weir

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Molly Weir
Actress Molly Weir.jpg
Born (1910-03-17)17 March 1910
Glasgow, Scotland
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Pinner, London, England
Years active 1946-1999
Spouse(s) Sandy Hamilton (1939-1997) (his death)[1]

Mary Weir, known as Molly Weir (17 March 1910 – 28 November 2004) was a Scottish stage actress,[2] most notable for her role as the long-running (1977–1984) character Hazel the McWitch in the BBC TV series Rentaghost.[3]

She was the sister of naturalist and broadcaster Tom Weir.[4]

Biography

Born in Glasgow and brought up in the Springburn area of the city, Weir began in amateur dramatics. In her early professional career, she was a well-known radio actress, featuring in many comedy shows, such as ITMA.[5] She made her film debut in 1949, and had a regular role as the housekeeper, Aggie McDonald, in the radio and television sitcom Life With The Lyons.[6] During the 1970s and early 1980s she became famous as a writer, with several volumes of best-selling memoirs, notably, Shoes Were For Sunday. She also appeared in a series of television advertisements for Flash the household cleaning agent.[7] In 1969 she appeared in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie starring Dame Maggie Smith.[8] She and Helena Gloag played the Kerr sisters, the sewing mistresses of Marcia Blaine School for Girls.[9] In 1970 Weir and Gloag reprised their collaboration in Scrooge, playing old sisters in debt to Mr Scrooge, played by Albert Finney.[7]

In the 1970s she was one of the presenters of Teatime Tales, a television series broadcast by STV in which she recalled her childhood. The series also featured Lavinia Derwent and Cliff Hanley.[10] In the 1980s, she lampooned this homely image in the comedy series Victoria Wood As Seen On TV and appeared in a pop video for the Bluebells 1983 hit Young At Heart.[11]

The Scottish Rock band The Vaselines song Molly's Lips which was famously covered by Nirvana was said to be inspired by Weir.[12][13]

After her death, Molly Weir's ashes were scattered on the banks of Loch Lomond, a favourite holiday location; and almost all her estate (of nearly £1.9 million), was bequeathed to charities.[14][15]

Selected filmography

Books

  • Shoes Were For Sunday - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1970
  • Best Foot Forward - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1972
  • A Toe On The Ladder - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1973
  • Stepping into the Spotlight - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1975
  • Walking into the Lyon's Den - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1977
  • One Small Footprint - Originally published: London: Hutchinson, 1980
  • Spinning Like a Peerie - Originally published: Edinburgh: Wright, 1983

External links

References

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