Adventures of a Jelly Baby: A Memoir

by Judy Cornwell

Judy Cornwell is an award-winning actress who has been delighting audiences for nearly fifty years. In this charming memoir, she describes her childhood growing up in Britain during the war, and then in Australia where her family emigrated. She describes the many people she has worked with, painting a colourful picture of the characters, cameraderie, and rivalries of life backstage. Warm and witty, this is a delightful journey through a life lived on stage and screen.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[R · Rating 2 out of 5]

As good an actress as she is, I was thinking this work would be more interesting for me, but it was a dissapointment. I just skipped through to the movies I was interested in (thanks to the index!) and called it quits.

[Karen Smithson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judy Cornwell' s autobiography is a fascinating look behind the scenes of a sought after English actress. From her early life in Australia where she fulfills her dreams as a dancer to England where her intrepid spirit leads her to become a household name as a stage, screen, and television actress. I recommend this memoir to those who'd like to know more about the woman behind her varied characters including Daisy in "Keeping Up Appearances", Queenie Trott in "EastEnders" and Anya Claus in the 1985 film, "Santa Claus: The Movie".

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

The start of the book which relates her life as a young child I found to be an extraordinary piece of literature and is IMO five stars all day long. I'm now about two thirds through the book and it is becoming somewhat repetitive, being mostly brief descriptions of almost every role she was ever in and the people she worked with. However her excellent sense of humor still shines through at times as does her deeply empathic nature. Enjoy.

[Trevor Harvey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pleasant, anodyne stroll through Cornwell's extensive career in films, television and theatre.

[Elvis2 · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's dull mostly, peppered with a few interesting facts here and there. I became bored with interminable recitations of names of British actors, plays, and films that I had never heard of but kept on going. Unfortunately, the author's disdain for America shines through and should have been left out of the book since her success, in part, is due to the American audience of Keeping Up Appearances and Britain's very existence is a result of the blood shed by a lot of our young men and women. The book was not the place to criticize the 1960s Hollywood that wanted to give her a chance or Americans for loving a winner, something that is not true.

Having just read Michael Caine's superb and heartfelt books and David Jason's equally charming biographies I was shocked at how lifeless this biography is. When I am skipping through a book or can easily put it down there is no better indication of how interesting it is.

[Maureen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish. I hadn't realised what an accomplished and hardworking woman Judy Cornwell is.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is much more to Judy Cornwell than Daisy. Interesting life.