Margaret Scudamore

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Daisy Bertha Mary Scudamore (13 October 1884, Portsmouth - 5 October 1958, London) was an English actress, who began in ingenue roles.

She married the actor Roy Redgrave in 1907 and their son Sir Michael Redgrave carved a distinguished cinema and theatre career.

Her grandchildren Corin Redgrave, Lynn Redgrave and Vanessa Redgrave and great-grandchildren Jemma Redgrave, Joely Richardson, Natasha Richardson and Carlo Nero have successfully followed the family tradition into acting.

Upon her second marriage to Captain James P (Andy) Anderson, by whom she had a daughter Peg, she adopted the name of Margaret Scudamore and continued acting in character roles.

[edit] Early Life

Daisy was born the daughter of William George Scudamore, a shipwright at HM Portsmouth, and the youngest of five children. The family resided at 7 Melborurne Place, Southsea.

Daisy left home aged 18 with the words thank God you're no child of mine ringing in her ears (source Debretts) and found her way to the offices of theatrical agent Sir John Denton. Sir John, mistaking her for Mary the young daughter of a well known actor Frank Scudamore, gave her Scudie's address at Castelnau Mansions, Barnes. Daisy promptly presented herself as a long lost daughter, apparently unaware that he too thought his name (Frank Davis) lacked pedigree and had changed it to Fortunatus Augustine Davis Scudmore. Scudie maintained the charade and flung his arms around her with the words if you are not my daughter I don't know whose daughter you might be. And so Daisy was introduced to the theatrical scene.