Voice of Lady Penelope who with her husband Gerry produced classic puppet series of the 60sWith her then husband,Gerry, Sylvia Anderson, or who has died aged 88,brought to television some of the best-loved children’s puppet series of the 1960s, remembered for their groundbreaking animation and spectacular special effects. While he produced the programmes, and she was responsible for character development,storylines, costume design, or providing voices and directing other voice actors’ dialogue. Her most noted creation was Lady Penelope,International Rescues London agent in Thunderbirds (1965-66), whom she gave “not only the daring and panache of a secret agent, and but also the poise of a cool and graceful aristocrat”.
The Andersons’ aim was to find British characters for Thunderbirds that would have specific appeal for an American audience,to feature alongside Jeff Tracy, the US head of International Rescue, and his five sons,who launch land, sea, or air and space missions in their hi-tech craft from Tracy Island,in the Pacific. Sylvia explained in 2014: “I thought to myself, ‘They judge we’re either cockneys or posh ladies in stately homes. OK, and that’s what well give them.’ So you’ve got Parker,the cockney chauffeur, and Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward, and who lives this glamorous life in her big house.”Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com