For Immediate Release:
LONDON 11/11/2025

FENELLA FIELDING FOUNDATION LTD

 

EXHIBITION FENELLA FIELDING: ONSTAGE, OFFSTAGE (GALLERY 286)

31 October to 13 December 2025 (286 Earls Court Road, London SW5 9AS) £5 admission

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/fenella-fielding-onstage-offstage-exhibition-of-the-actress-own-items-tickets-1634509524989 

 

A look at Fenella’s life through her personal possessions that asks, “Was there really much difference between Fenella onstage and offstage?” Curated by Fenella’s biographer, Simon McKay, one space is dedicated to performance and another is more homely. Exhibits include Fenella’s photos, posters, wallpaper, wigs, eyelashes, frocks, childhood treasures, dressing table and the blood-red ring worn in Carry On Screaming.

 

Fenella Fielding OBE is popularly remembered for her sexy, dipped in honey voice and starring in Carry On Screaming as the vamp dressed in a long red velvet dress. She was a huge star throughout the 1960s, who still retains a strong cult status – often described as a Gay Icon or Goth Queen. She’s famous for her on-screen sexpot roles, but also much admired for powerful dramatic stage work. The Times said her Hedda Gabler ‘must be counted among the theatrical experiences of a lifetime’. In 2018, after a 67 year career, she was awarded an OBE. Sadly, she passed away weeks before going to the Palace.

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NEW BIOGRAPHY TIES IN WITH EXHIBITION

Dear  Fenella… 90 Years, 90 Letters by Simon McKay is a new biography of actress Fenella Fielding OBE (1927-2018) telling the story of her 90 year life and career through a narrative based on 90 letters and a feast of unseen Fenella photos – all sourced from the late actress’ personal archive. The book includes lots of Fenella speaking, as spoken to the author, quotes from past publications and her own diaries and journal notes. This book is a celebration of a fascinating life that, very lovingly, touched many others.

 

Choosing from thousands of letters, the book opens with Fenella’s first play – she’s 13! When we reach the final letter, she’s invited to the Palace to collect her OBE – she’s 90. The story between those two points is remarkable. Lots of famous contributors, including; Kenneth Williams, a larky Harold Pinter, Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, John Cleese wanting his old scripts back to reuse in Monty Python, Cecil Beaton, Gyles Brandreth ‘you do weave spells’, a 14-year old fan called Matthew Bourne, Quentin Crisp, Leigh Bowery, Jane Birkin, Kate O’Mara and Peter Wyngarde. Some terrific stories from unknown letter writers too.

Fenella was a rare talent, a remarkable wit, but was also deeply empathetic and caring about people. Did she piss a few people off too? You bet!

 

A4 Hardback. 216 pages including more than 200 photos. RRP £30.

Published by Quoit Media (distributed by Gardners Books)

 

CONTACT:        PDF of Dear Fenella available upon request
Simon McKay 07471303623 | simon_mckay@hotmail.com | fenellafielding.com
Rick Davy 07801 512646 | quoit@quoitmedia.co.uk | quoitmedia.co.uk

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