Dame Penelope Keith, who died on June 29 aged 86 after a battle with cancer, landed her breakthrough role in BBC's The Good Life due to a surprising reason: she was cast after the writers saw her in a cigarette advert.
How a Cigarette Ad Led to a Sitcom Classic
On Monday night (June 29), Channel 5 aired a tribute to the late star, entitled Farewell Penelope Keith. In the repeat show, the star was seen speaking in archive footage about her famous turn as Margo Leadbetter in the sitcom. In the hour-long special, it was revealed she was actually cast after the writers John Esmonde and Bob Larbey saw her in a Benson and Hedges Mellow Virginia cigarette advert.
Although she was an experienced and respected stage actress, she hadn't done much television prior to her role as Margo. However, the pair were convinced she was perfect for the part after seeing her in the advert. They mentioned her to the then BBC Head of Comedy, Jimmy Gilbert. Coincidentally, he revealed he had seen her on stage recently in the West End.
A Coincidence That Sealed the Deal
This coincidence confirmed their feelings that she would be ideal for the fledgling sitcom project. Confirming this, the star smiled: "Wasn't it good? I got The Good Life from that."
The much-loved actress, who became a household name through that role and later To the Manor Born, died at her home in Surrey. Her family confirmed the sad news in a statement, revealing that she had been living with cancer before her death. They said: "We are deeply saddened to announce that Dame Penelope Keith died peacefully whilst living with cancer at her home in Surrey, where she had lived for more than 50 years."
Family Statement and Legacy
They added: "The family is grateful for the care and support she received throughout her treatments, and ask that their privacy be respected at this time."
Dame Penelope enjoyed a distinguished career spanning decades across television, theatre and film, becoming one of Britain's best-loved actresses. She starred in a number of hit comedies, including No Job for a Lady, Law and Disorder and Sweet Sixteen.
Alongside her acting career, Dame Penelope fronted a number of television documentaries and programmes exploring Britain's villages, stately homes and heritage, earning a loyal following long after her sitcom success. She succeeded Lord Olivier as president of the Actors' Benevolent Fund after his death in 1989, and was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to the arts and to charity.
