To Play the Queen

In 1988, the late Queen Elizabeth II appeared in the popular American comedy film The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! The film's storyline saw the monarch imperilled by an assassination plot during the Californian leg of her US tour. The queen was twice endangered, once when she was leapt on by an overzealous Los Angeles police detective at a state dinner and again when the very same detective, Lieutenant Frank Drebin (Leslie Nielsen), saved her from an armed baseball player who had been transformed into a potential assassin by hypnosis during the queen's visit to a baseball game.
Needless to say, the queen did not play the role herself. Indeed, much of the film would not have been possible without the performance of Jeannette Charles, a Briton who for 40 years took on the role of royal lookalike in a wide variety of films and television performances.
Jeannette's striking physical resemblance to the monarch provided the basis for her entire career.
By an interesting coincidence, the lives of Jeannette and Elizabeth II almost completely overlapped with both women living to the age of 96. Jeannette was born in October 1927, 18 months later than the future queen, and dying in June 2024, 21 months after our longest reigning monarch.
Jeannette was born in London. Her father Albert Cook had served as a personal cook to a field marshal while in the army and went on to become a restaurateur.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Best of British.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 2024-Ausgabe von Best of British.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 9.500 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden

Grand Designs
Sandra Blemster looks at how the work of William Morris continues to resonate

POSTCARD FROM NORFOLK
With his Austin Cambridge long consigned to the great garage in the sky, Bob Barton enjoys a scenic journey by bus through Nelson's County

The Serious Side of Ken Dodd
Philip Williams and David Williams look back on the comedian's prolific and fruitful recording career

The Sport of Kings (and Queens)
Michael Montagu looks back on the history of Royal Ascot and Henley Royal Regatta

The Sound of Silver
Barry Collings on the rediscovery of the rare single Lost Summer Love

The Need for Steed
Chris Hallam remembers The Avengers star Patrick Macnee

Stairway to Success
Chris Hallam celebrates the acting and writing talents of Upstairs, Downstairs co-creator Jean Marsh

Question time
Send us your questions and we'll track down the answers

DOON THE CLUB
John Stoker recounts the perils faced by comedians in the working men’s clubs of the north-east

THE CHARITY THAT BEGAN WITH HOMES
William Sutton’s legacy founded The Sutton Trust. David E Norris recounts its groundbreaking work