Peggy Cummins, by photographer Bob Landry, Hollywood, 1940s
The UK may brag about Helen Mirren, born 1945 and still looking like she’s a bit of life in her, but did you know that Ireland has its own Helen Mirren, albeit one largely unacknowledged by the city in which she grew up?
Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce you to Dubliner Peggy Cummins, born in 1926 and still going strong in her mid-eighties (the clip below is from 2010).
In profile (photo at start of post) the young Peggy looked a bit like the Irish writer Maeve Brennan, dearly beloved of at least two of my commenters, who featured in a previous post. Full-face photos like the one below (from the Ballybane Enterprise Centre’s excellent Irish actors’ website) show an almost contemporary look, like a prettier, more natural version of the British celebrity Amanda Holden.
Peggy’s birth in Wales was a mere accident of fate, due to a storm – both her parents were Irish, and she was brought up in Dublin. In fact it was while standing at a Dublin tram stop that she was first discovered by the actor Peter Brock (though the fact her mother Margaret had been an actress herself does make one wonder whether or not this was a complete coincidence).
Peggy started her career with the Gate Theatre Company and went on to perform in London; during her time in the West End she caught the eye of Darryl F Zanuck of Twentieth Century Fox. Invited by him to Hollywood, she subsequently dated Howard Hughes and John F Kennedy before marrying a British businessman.
The 40s was the heyday of Irish actresses in Hollywood and film noir their métier (even the American born stars of film noir, like Gene Tierney, tended to be of Irish origin). Peggy was no exception, as you can see from her best-known film ‘Gun Grazy‘ (1949) (clip below, entire movie available on you tube here). Warren Beatty definitely stole a few ideas from this movie when making ‘Bonnie and Clyde.’
Great to see Peggy still around today and in such fine fettle. It’s just a shame that her city of upbringing has so far failed to give her the recognition she deserves.
You are a great blogger Sibling… it’s a pleasure to come across the nuggets of information you post, well researched and with your interesting and engaging viewpoint… if you want any votes for the irish web awards let me know and i’ll gladly chip in a vote… i think you deserve kudos for your blog..
Aw, thank you very much, Holbrook, very kind of you. Votes always welcome.
She looks like how I imagine you might look. I realise that’s open to interpretation regarding what age I mean, but I think you prefer it that way
Oh lor’, Gammagoblin. I wish. I really really do.
Although not the monster of Glamis Castle, I am of considerably more mournful mien.
She looks great at both ages (best-looking 85 year old I’ve ever seen).
But I am VERY CHUFFED that my commenters’ vision is of someone so charming lol.
You just don’t see such soft, lithe femininity anymore. You’ve mammied me now, with that one, you have. I’ll watch Gun Crazy this coming weekend. Cheers again lass.
You’ve mammied me now
Story of my life, sigh
, but delighted to be of help, and thank you for sending me in the direction of the incredible Ms Cummins, whom I would never have found otherwise.
Feel free to add your views on ‘Gun Crazy’ to this thread when you get round to watching it.
I’m not sure the UK actually brags about Helen Mirren. The Daily Mash was accurate as always: http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/85%25-of-men-have-no-idea-how-to-react-to-helen-mirren-in-a-bikini–200807171103/
“The 40s was the heyday of Irish actresses in Hollywood and film noir their métier”. Can you expand a bit with examples? I find with film noir I usually don’t remember the names of the female leads, altho I record all FNs that are shown on TV and usually even get around to watching them.
It may be a generational thing, but I don’t think this lovely lass ever appeared in anything as caustic and disturbing as “The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover.” The darkest film noir from the 40s is like Disney by comparison. Dame Helen is definitely still attractive in her 60s, but in her heyday she was a 5-alarm sexpot. Russian roots- what can you say.
I agree, she has a very feminine face that is still unique. Usually now , the uniqueness and beauty is still there, but in a masculinized version.
the young peg had nice perkyparts
and a gullible face – just my type
i’d show HER some Cummins
I’ve banned @Louislefronde from reading this blog.
Ah, the Short Leash policy. A high stakes game, with a man of that ilk. I wish you luck.
I suppose you’re following him around all the time, too? Making sure his every waking hour is occupied and all that? Possibly, even doing his laundry?
I KNEW you’d been TALKING, SALOPE..
No reconnaissance…. I was young once too, my child….
*nostalgically adjusts dentures*
@LaFrondeuse
The question you need to ask, in all sincerity, is this:-
If you have to go to all that trouble to hang on to him, is he really worth it lol?
And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject.
*removes dentures and puts in real teeth again*
Of course “La Frondeuse”, wearing a pink beret is a giveaway that you are NOT in actuality French.
I remember visiting my former French in-laws in Paris some years ago, and asking where I could buy a beret. They smiled and asked if I meant a hat, and when I insisted on a beret, her ex’s Dad asked, “What type?”. When I said the, “Usual type worn by Frenchmen”, there was guffawing all around. So I was told that this is a “Beret Basque”, and is not worn by Frenchmen at all, but by Basques. I insisted anyway that I wanted to buy one. My ex took me to a prominent department store in Paris, and initially they said they didn’t stock them, then a manager took he to s special “Tourist only” area of the store where they had them in a drawer…
I wore my beret around Paris, and was one of the only people doing so!
I guess it would be like going into Brown-Thomas on Grafton St., and asking for a Shillelagh!
@Sibby,
*removes dentures and puts in real teeth again*
Are you morphing into your grandma??
@That Guy
I suspect La Frondeuse is a nice South Dublin girl at heart, quite young, possibly mid-twenties or so….?
are you morphing into your grandma
There comes a point in every girl’s life when she has to hang up her heels and put on her Dr Scholls alas. We don’t have the shelf life of you men.
Think of me as Granny Daedalus from now on.
Of course there are grannies… and then there are grannies…
But they are still GRANNIES.
Well, there’s glamis
then…
there’s glamourous
ah…but the jenesequois
of a French girl
who cant cook maccaroni
nowthere’s a keeper
@Sibby,
So which type of Granny are you?
sibs is The Kind of Granny Who:
likes to treat her grandsons to
sporadic whippings
@That Guy @Firepower
I’m going to be a NICE granny, no wooden spoon & lots of hugs.
Ten euro notes hidden inside the wrapper of a Club Milk so the Mammies don’t see me giving it to the kids and all that.
I’m working on the wardrobe. Tartan slippers, knee length thermal combinations and, possibly, a pipe. The classic Peig Sayers look.
So will Granny Sibby allow people to sit on her knee and suck milkshakes?
I must say, I never thought I’d be getting so much attention as a pensioner….
as long as a pension covers my bar tab,
i’m all for petting
a gray cat
I’m particulary fond of
a patent peterson meerschaum
all cats are gray in the dark, Firepower
we can compare pipes lol.
Well you it cumming, all the talk of removing dentures had me thinking gumjobs
Actually I was having my dinner.
It can get quite messy when things get stuck in the old dentures alright. Pork is particularly tricky.
It’s great to be at the age where one doesn’t have to worry about saying something improper and leading young men on too much.
this discussion has turned
tawdry and lewd.
*ahem*
having recently re-veiewed Excalibur, I was struck by Mirren’s stark, malevolent appreciation of Morgana le fey vis a vis (oops, francais…) Nicol Williamson’s (god rest his recently departed soul) bombastic-bravura portraly of Merlin. That, and her pendulous rackery burbling with milky white skin.
wha? you irish can still afford the luxury of pork – e’en after the downgrades and debt? we yanks thouhgt dinner in eire was retrograded to “brisket of grecian infant”
I thought Mirren was very good as Morgana. She acts with her tits, but what acting. Wow.
She was the best thing in the film (the guy who played her son was also good, not sure what happened to him).
I wasn’t overly impressed with Nicol Williamson, but it was Arthur who was the real disappointment in that movie.
You might be interested to know that ‘Excalibur’ was filmed in Ireland. Just down the road from here, in fact. @Louislefronde country (sorry LaFrondeuse)
HOW DO YOU KNOW IT’S @LOUISLEFRONDE COUNTRY?
Well, obviously Louis’s natural habitat, like most lounge lizards, is the South of France, but I believe that Exalibur country is where his Irish base is situate.
He even did a post on it: “Wicklow, where men are men and sheep are called ‘my partner’” Too lazy to look it up now, but quite pithy.
Finally, a reason to appreciate overacting.
Mostly what I remember from “Excalibur” is the surreal, dreamlike editing and the accompanying Wagner score- usually well-suited to the action. Unique in that regard- I suppsoe it deserves its minor cult status.
Also, this granny stuff is a little off-base, methinks. Perhaps we could go back to imagining SD as Peggy circa 1955, not 2010.
@Firepower
A clever granny can always find meat if she knows where to look (this aged thing is GREAT, I don’t even have to censor my own comments any more).
Now I must adjourn with candle and nightcap – all this lively banter with young ‘uns, whilst flattering, is very tiring for a woman of my age. I feel quinsical.
@Maurice
Sorry, but I’m enjoying this withered crone thing too much to give it up.
Please excuse me while I brush out my hair. It’s sitting on the chair over there looking at me like a lonely poodle.
Oops, sorry, that actually was the poodle.
Eyesight on the way out now it seems. Roll on senility.
I guess this means you would like to morph into the actual Granny Daedalus, whom you’ve quoted affectionately in this space over the years. All in due course- but not for many years.
Can imagine all the lollies on Carnaby Street in the 60′s going LSDelicious on this one.
Whilst not a boob man, this would’ve made me change my stance.
@SDaedalus, who are you calling a lounge lizard?
Btw. I see that ‘nutter’ has migrated to your site!
ah, Helen Mirren’s D-Cups AND Excalibur. It’s like the Louislefronde bat signal….
give us your sophisticated French view on both please.
PS I don’t think @LaFrondeuse is going to take kindly to you calling her a nutter.
She’s already picked out the Baby Bjorn, so to speak. Pink I’m sure.
Do you get out on your own these days at all at all…
Very funny article about Helen’s boobs and Michael Winner here (it’s not what you think)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-502035/Michael-Winner-tells-Helen-Mirren-Calm-dear-I-trying-saggy-boobs-support.html
@LaFrondeuse,
I don’t know this Louis LaFronde, but I do know it’s not your country
I didn’t realize, but after posting that clip
somebody should check on maurice to ensure he knows it’s not interractive – and, to pull up his pants before hittng W street.
I hesitate to click on that clip in the office, as I suspect it may be NSFW, but.. I am sure I’ll enjoy it at home. Baby Bjorns can look good on a man, you know. Also the babies love them.
HA! FP knows me too well. I am certainly too mature and seasoned (and otherwise provided for) to pleasure myself to a clip of an actress, however well endowed. But I’ll enjoy the view for sure.
“hitting W street”- is that a euphemism for lobbyists wanking in DC? Brillant if so.
I wondered if Club Milks were like Penguin but they look chunkier
http://www.nicecupofteaandasitdown.com/biscuits/previous.php3?item=164
They are actually lighter than Penguins, Lily, not a heavy biscuit at all and a lighter chocolate coating.
The gold foil wrapper makes them ideal to hide money for kids in, like Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.
hmm. I want to try one now. I always thought I’d go to Ireland for the linen, and here it is the chocolate.
no really, they are delish. Amazed you don’t have them where you live. Did not know that.
Have been googling about Irish food in shops or online.
Guess will have to go to Ireland.
Don’t worry, I’ve been to countries for more frivolous things.
lol
lol ALL the girls HATE me now for posting that vid
of Britain’s Most Distingushed Feminist Actress
Dame Helen Mirren-Mounds
lol grrlz
will be
grrlz
@FP- actually, I looked at the clip yesterday, and it’s kind of weird- looks like a very strange movie. I’ve seen Dame Helen look way sexier in any number of other films.
@SD- funny article about the meeting with the director about the photos. Good advice too- she should have the sense to know it as well, all those years later.
@Lily- traveling to Ireland for chocolates? Not even linen or crystal. Well be sure to sample some Guinness as well…
On the subject of boobs, what in the name of bejasus did Roissy do to his blog header… it’s like something from the cover of a seventies’ edition of ‘Joy of Sex’. With *shudders, and not in a good way* candles.
http://www.heartiste.wordpress.com
I called him on that in a comment when it first appeared- the only thing saving it from being something from a perfume commercial (and links it to the Chateau of the blog’s inspiration) is the handcuffs attached to the bed, in the foreground. I never liked the old picture very much either- the art isn’t really the reason for that blog, though, to be fair. Your taste in art is vastly superior, I think we can all agree…
Ah. I didn’t notice the handcuffs, just the general cheeseclothy ambience
well a little cheese can go a long way in seducing women- with a little danger/spice added, so much the better.
Peggy Cummins was just gorgeous in her 20s. I’m giving her a ten in that first black and white photo. (Admittedly super soft lighting, etc.)
Yeah.
http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&rlz=1B3GGLL_en___US396&biw=1003&bih=674&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=5ICw7fHpxQdhgM:&imgrefurl=http://www.butterfunk.com/image-12/helen%2520mirren.htm&docid=hs9L2G2t4XBAyM&imgurl=http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k19/jet100dragons/helen-mirren-012.jpg&w=800&h=594&ei=XWkoT6DpKsfl0QGW8r3vAg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=99&vpy=66&dur=4350&hovh=193&hovw=261&tx=144&ty=93&sig=117619406920471959623&page=3&tbnh=143&tbnw=179&start=43&ndsp=24&ved=1t:429,r:18,s:43
Saw Helen Mirren in the recent remake of Arthur staring that brit who was briefly married to Katy Perry. (Not a very good movie.) She wasn’t just handsome, but still actually had some sex appeal.
Uhhh, I meant the second black and white pic of her, the face shot.
Whatever happened to your promised post about white girls (some of them Irish) abducted by Barbary Coast pirates, and sold as slaves in the Cashbahs of North Africa, and their lives in such condition? I ask with some eagerness, heh.
I am still working on it lol, thanks for reminding me.
@Doug1 @Sibby,
For this upcoming post, I suggest this image:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_stba8KheB9I/S1USrWawrzI/AAAAAAAAAVA/qQGn5kHJAdM/s400/son-of-the-sheik.jpg
With Valentino playing the Sheik…