Lot Essay
Helen Cherry (1915 - 2001) was the wife of the internationally celebrated actor Trevor Howard, and a noted actress in her own right. After making her debut as an actress in northern repertory she began to develop a distinguished Shakespearean career and was spotted by Robert Atkins, the actor/manager of the Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park. After numerous successful roles, Cherry was to discover her favourite part in the Summer of 1943 when she played Rosalind in As You Like It. Whilst working at Alec Clunes's Arts Theatre Club she found herself acting alongside the young Trevor Howard and they were married in 1944. Their union was to last for over 40 years and although Howard's fame was to eclipse her own after the release of his most famous film, Brief Encounter in 1945, Cherry continued to develop as an actress and appeared in over 20 films, mostly derived from stage plays. She also worked in television appearing in many productions including single plays, series and panel games right up until the early 1990s.