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Lucille Lisle (1908–2004) was an Australian actress. She began her stage career aged eight and continued to appear as an actor and dancer throughout her childhood. She had been cast in two silent films and was performing as a dancer in revue shows by age seventeen. In the following years Lisle took on acting roles in Australian productions and joined a touring comedy company. In 1930 she departed for America and found moderate success in New York and touring productions. In 1932 Lisle left New York for London, where she eventually found success in the theatre in several long-running West End productions. During the 1930s she was cast in six films made in the United Kingdom. During the war years and afterwards Lisle mainly focussed on radio drama.
Lucille attended the Kincoppal School at the Sacred Heart Convent in Rose Bay. She received her secondary education at St. Vincent's College at Potts Point. Aust. Actress Weds Englishman, The Daily Telegraph (Sydney), 1 March 1942, page 2.
Lucille made her stage debut in 1916, aged eight, as a dancer in the pantomime Dick Whittington at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne. Australian Star Gets Unusual Stage Role, The Daily News (Perth), 2 November 1938, page 6. When she was ten years old, as Miss Lucille Jonas, she appeared in Eyes of Youth starring Emélie Polini. Theatres, Sunday Times (Sydney), 1 December 1918, page 14. In 1919 Lucille appeared in a dramatised prologue, staged prior to the film Daddy Long Legs (starring Mary Pickford) at the Lyceum Theatre in Sydney. "Daddy Long Legs", The Sun (Sydney), 21 September 1919, page 20. Miss Lucille Hunter-Jonas, Sunday Times (Sydney), 5 October 1919, page 25. In the following years she appeared in a number of pantomimes and charity events, encouraged and supported by her mother. For a period in the early 1920s Lucille was a pupil of Mary MacNichol, a drama teacher and elocutionist.
From September 1925 Lisle performed as one of the six Australian Tivoli girls (also referred to as the "Beauty Ballet"), selected in a competition, as part of Maurice Diamond and "his big girl show" at the Tivoli theatres in Sydney and Melbourne. Tivoli Theatre, Sydney Morning Herald, 17 September 1925, page 2. The Theatre Land, Referee (Sydney), 16 September 1925, page 15. Lucille Lisle, Table Talk (Melbourne), 12 November 1925, page 28. During 1926 Lisle was in the chorus of the musical comedy Katja which played in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. In October 1926 she successfully auditioned for the lead female role as 'Phyllis' in a production of John Galsworthy's Old English at King's Theatre in Melbourne. Young Sydney Actress Gets Big Part in "Old English", Sunday Times (Sydney), 17 October 1926, page 2. Lisle was a cast member of J.C. Williamson's pantomime Aladdin, that commenced its season at Sydney's Grand Opera House in late December 1926. "Aladdin", The World's News (Sydney), 18 December 1926, page 7.
From April 1927 Lisle was a supporting cast member in The Cradle Snatchers, a popular American farce comedy. In a company featuring touring English and American actors, Lisle played 'Anne Hall', described as "an ingénue role". Cradle Snatchers, Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 18 April 1927, page 6. To Play in "Cradle Snatchers", Sunday Times (Sydney), 17 April 1927, page 23. The production played successful seasons in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane until early in 1928. "Cradle Snatchers", Brisbane Courier, 14 December 1927, page 7.
From about August 1928 to early 1929 Lisle toured with Maurice Moscovich's company of actors as understudy to Bertha Riccardo in The Silent House. Moscovitch's son, Noel Madison, was also in the play. In February 1929 Lisle was playing alongside Ashton Jarry in a dramatic sketch at the Tivoli Theatre in Melbourne. In March 1929 Nat Madison made his debut on the vaudeville stage at the Tivoli in a one-act play titled You Can't Beat Them ("a comedy dealing with the domestic side of life in a flat"), playing alongside both Lisle and Riccardo. Lucille Lisle, Sunday Times (Sydney), 10 February 1929, page 24. Tivoli Theatre, The Age (Melbourne), 2 March 1929, page 27.
In May 1929 Lisle joined the American Comedy Company formed by Benjamin and John Fuller. She was cast as "the spoilt and impulsive Lydia" in the "farcical comedy" The Baby Cyclone, first performed in Australia at Sydney's St. James Theatre and during August 1929 at the Empire Theatre in Brisbane. "The Baby Cyclone", The Brisbane Courier, 31 July 1929, page 10. Amusements: The "Baby Cyclone" is a Side-Shaker, Daily Standard (Brisbane), 8 August 1929, page 9. During September 1929 the company presented a production of Saturday's Children at the Empire, with Lisle in the cast. Empire Theatre, The Brisbane Courier, 24 September 1929, page 24. During October and November the American Comedy Company performed The Baby Cyclone and Whispering Friends in Perth and later in Adelaide. "The Baby Cyclone", The Daily News, 31 October 1929, page 9. American Comedy Company: New Entertainment, The Advertiser (Adelaide), 9 November 1929, page 13.
In December 1929 Lisle was one of eighteen performers of the American Comedy Company travelling by the steamer ship Manuka from Melbourne to Dunedin in New Zealand. In thick fog on the night of 16 December the vessel struck rocks at Long Point, south of Dunedin. Manuka: A Total Wreck, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 December 1929, page 15. All the passengers and crew were able to get to shore by lifeboats, but their personal belongings and cargo was lost (including the company's scenery and costumes). Shipping Disaster, Wairarapa Daily Times, 17 December 1929, page 5. Despite the disaster the company were able to perform as advertised, opening at Dunedin's Princess Theatre on Boxing Day 1929 with a production of The Family Upstairs, with replacement scenery and costumes brought from Wellington. New Zealand Premiere, Evening Star, 23 December 1929, page 7; Amusements, Evening Star, 24 December 1929, page 11.
In May 1930 Lucille Lisle and her mother departed for the United States aboard the SS Sonoma.
In New York Lisle was cast in a play written by Kenyon Nicholson titled Stepdaughters of War, about female ambulance drivers in the British army who served during World War I. The production opened at the Empire Theatre on Broadway theatre in October 1930 and closed after twenty-four performances. Stepdaughters of War, Broadway and Hollywood Movies, December 1930, page 36. Stepdaughters of War, Variety, 8 October 1930, page 63. Stepdaughters of War, The Billboard, 5 September 1931, page 52. In early 1931 Lisle performed in the comedy Art and Mrs. Bottle, in a touring production of US and Canadian east coast cities. In November 1931 Lisle was a cast member of A Widow in Green at the Cort Theatre in Manhattan. The Play, New York Times, 21 November 21931, page 21. In March 1932 she was cast in a revival of Alice Sit-By-The-Fire (written by J. M. Barrie), at the Playhouse Theatre on Broadway. Playhouse, The Billboard, 19 March 1932, page 16.
Lucille Lisle and her mother left New York for England in July 1932.
Lisle was cast in the film After Dark directed by Albert Parker, a 'quota quickie' filmed at Walton Studios at Walton-on-Thames and released in Britain in January 1933. After Dark, IMDb website; accessed 23 August 2025.Steve Chibnall (2007), page 266.
In 1933 Lisle was cast in a lead role, as the young ingénue 'Susan Haggett', in the comedy drama The Late Christopher Bean, an English adaptation of a French play. The play opened at the St James's Theatre in London in May 1933 and ran for 488 performances.'St James's Theatre', The Times (London), 17 May 1933, page 12; 'St. James's Theatre has its Longest Run', The Times, 6 January 1956, page 3.
By March 1935 Lisle was cast in Lady Precious Stream, the successful play based on Chinese folklore written by Hsiung Shih-I, at the Little Theatre in London. Australians Abroad, The Australasian (Melbourne), 2 March 1935, page 14. During 1935 she played the part of 'Marian Steele', one of the leading roles in the film Expert's Opinion directed by Ivar Campbell, a 'quota quickie' made at Imperial Studios for release by the British subsidiary of Paramount Pictures (released in November 1935). Expert's Opinion, IMDb website; accessed 23 August 2025.Steve Chibnall (2007), page 283.
Lisle had a leading role in Twice Branded, a prison melodrama film directed by Maclean Rogers and released in May 1936. Twice Branded, IMDb website; accessed 23 August 2025. She also had a leading role in Midnight at Madame Tussaud's, directed by George Pearson and filmed during 1936. Midnight at the Wax Museum, IMDb website; accessed 25 August 2025.David Quinlan (1984), British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928-1959, London: B. T. Batsford, page 113. In about July 1936 Lisle replaced Jessica Tandy as 'Anna' in a production of Anthony and Anna at London's Whitehall Theatre. Australian Success, The Sun (Sydney), 2 July 1936, page 44. In total Anthony and Anna ran for 750 performances, closing in October 1937, with Lisle in a leading role for its final fifteen months.'Entertainments Index', The Times (London), 2 October 1937, page 12. More Australians Make Good by Jean Black, Smith's Weekly (Sydney), 6 November 1937, page 23. Lisle played the role of 'Angela' in the film The Minstrel Boy, released in Britain in September 1937. The Melody Maker, IMDb website; accessed 25 August 2025. "Minstrel Boy", The Era, 2 September 1937, page 16.
In March 1938 Lisle was in the cast of Marcia Gets Her Own Back performed by the Repertory Players.'Repertory Players', The Times (London), 28 March 1938, page 12. From June 1938 she was cast in the farce comedy Sexes and Sevens which played at Newcastle and the Vaudeville Theatre in London. Lucille Lisle's Progress, The Age (Melbourne), 16 July 1938, page 6.
In November 1938 Lisle was chosen for the part of 'Maria' in Michel Saint-Denis' production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End. Shakespearean Part for Melbourne Girl, The Herald (Melbourne), 2 November 1938, page 12.'Phoenix Theatre', The Times (London), 2 December 1938, page 12. The critic for London's Daily Telegraph praised her performance, writing: "She made a notable Maria, and was lively and clear-spoken". Australian Actress's Success, Sunday Mail (Brisbane), 4 December 1938, page 36. The production of Twelfth Night was filmed by the BBC and broadcast in January 1939. Twelfth Night, IMDb website; accessed 27 August 2025.
At London's Richmond Theatre Lisle performed in a production of Behind the Curtain in April 1939 and had a leading role in Juggernaut in May 1939.'Richmond Theatre', The Times (London), 18 April 1939, page 12; 'Richmond Theatre', The Times, 9 May 1939, page 12. She joined the BBC repertory company in 1940 with which she was associated for the following five years. Lucille Lisle: Biography by Howard Mutti-Mewse, IMDb website; accessed 24 August 2025.
On 24 February 1942 at Tewkesbury, county Gloucestershire, Lucille Lisle married Lieutenant Nicholas Harris, a Royal Navy officer and son of Sir Percy Harris, the Liberal member of parliament for Bethnal Green.'Marriages', The Times (London), 27 February 1942, page 1. The couple had a son named Antony, born in 1943.'Deaths', The Times (London), 28 September 2004, page 33.
During the war years Lisle's performances were confined to radio drama, which she continued to perform in until her retirement in 1958.
During the 1950s Lisle played roles in several television series made by the BBC: the character of 'Mary Bold' in The Warden (1951, three episodes) and 'Mrs. Cholmondley' in Villette (1957, three episodes). In 1958 she played 'Mrs. Farrington' in The Sound of Death, part of The Vise television series, an anthology of filmed plays produced by The Danzigers. Lucille Lisle, IMDb website; accessed 26 August 2025.
Stage career
By 1924, aged sixteen, Lucille was using the stage name of Lucille Lisle. She was cast as 'Margie' in a comedy silent film Hullo Marmaduke, featuring the English comedian Claude Dampier and written and directed by Beaumont Smith. The film was released in November 1924. Hullo Marmaduke, IMDb website; accessed 23 August 2025. Lisle was cast as 'Olive Lennox' in Painted Daughters, directed by F. Stuart Whyte and released in May 1925. The film, described as "a romantic melodrama about high society and the flapper generation", was successful at the box-office.Andrew Pike & Ross Cooper (1998), Australian Film 1900–1977: A Guide to Feature Film Production, Melbourne: Oxford University Press, pages 125-126.
New York
After arriving in America Lisle and her mother lived in Hollywood for ten weeks, staying with Nat Madison and his wife. Lucille had worked on stage with Madison in Australia. Miss Lucille Lisle, The Herald (Melbourne), 27 February 1933, page 14. During her time in Hollywood Lisle performed in a series of short films made by Brown-Nagel Productions. "Variety" Bulletin Condensed, Variety, 9 July 1930, page 15.
Britain
After arriving in London Lisle found work as the understudy for Edna Best in the play Another Language, written by Rose Franken, at the Lyric Theatre. In about February 1933 Best left the production "for family reasons" and the actress chosen as her replacement, Celia Johnson, was unable to take up the engagement until a week later. Lisle, as the understudy, "got her big chance in the meantime, and attracted much attention because of her creditable performance".
Later years
Lucille Lisle (Harris) died on 23 September 2004, aged 96, at Burrswood Hospital, Tunbridge Wells in county Kent, England.
Selected filmography
Radio
Notes
External links
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