Doreen Wells

Ashley Lawrence and Doreen Wells in 1964

Doreen Wells, Marchioness of Londonderry (born 25 June 1937)^[1] is a British former ballet dancer.

Career

Born in London, Wells received her early dance training at the Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts, continuing her studies at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School. She is a winner of the Adeline Genee Gold Medal from the Royal Academy of Dance. She made her professional stage debut in pantomime, before ultimately joining the Sadler's Wells Theatre Ballet.^[2]

In theatre, she has performed roles in West End musicals, including the leading role of Vera Baranova in On Your Toes at the Palace Theatre and Maggie Jones in 42nd Street at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She has also made television appearances including the 1985 Royal Variety Performance and a BBC Christmas Extravaganza.

On 1 December 2009, she made an appearance on The Paul O'Grady Show, performing a dance routine with male backing dancers. She was then interviewed by O'Grady and spoke of her continued love for dance and about how she still performs regularly.^[3]

In March 2010, Wells took part in a retrospective of her career at the London Jewish Cultural Centre.^[4][5]

Personal life

Wells married the 9th Marquess of Londonderry (often known simply as Alistair Londonderry), son of the 8th Marquess of Londonderry and Romaine Combe, on 10 March 1972.^[6] Together, they have two sons: Frederick Vane-Tempest-Stewart, 10th Marquess of Londonderry (born 1972), and Lord Reginald Alexander Vane-Tempest-Stewart (born 1977). The couple divorced in 1989. However, Wells retains the title of Marchioness of Londonderry.

Awards

• Adeline Genée Gold Medal

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Doreen Wells.

• Doreen Wells at the Internet Movie Database