Meet the maid: An interview with Theresa Derrington Cozens-Hardy

Some time ago, I did a blog post about the actress who played Fred's maid in the 1951 version of A Christmas Carol, known in Britain as Scrooge. I wrote that viewers loved her, but no one seemed to know who she was. Recently, commenter Paul Tollet told me that he knew: She's his sister's mother-in-law. At the time she appeared in the film, he reported, her name was Theresa Derrington.

I e-mailed Paul, who put me in touch with Theresa's son Matthew Hepenstal, and the two of them supplied some information about her life and career. Her nickname is "Trip," as she was one of triplets. She attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, and played only a few roles onstage and in films before marrying in 1951. She and her husband had five children. She was widowed and later married again; her last name is now Cozens-Hardy. 

Matthew was kind enough to give me his mother's phone number and encourage me to call her. He also sent me a picture of her taken about 20 years ago (see below). I spoke with another of her sons, Tom, and then finally with Theresa Cozens-Hardy herself. She was delighted to hear that people love her work in Scrooge, and glad to talk about it.

She recalls of the audition, "I didn't have to do anything. . . . I only had to say my name." The filmmakers decided that she had the right look for the part; the only obstacle was her short hair. But with the cap she ended up wearing, that wasn't such a big problem.

Theresa worked on the film for one day. "It was all just sort of mime . . . but it took quite a long time to do," she says. The difficult part was when Scrooge was about to walk into the party. Though she was supposed to be looking at Alastair Sim, who was standing off-camera, he wasn't looking at her, which threw her off. Apparently he wasn't in a very encouraging mood; she recalls that he asked her, in a "sneering" way, "Is this your first film?" She came back with "No, it's my second film!" having previously played a goose girl in an American film version of Robin Hood that was made in England.

(Based on what she told me, and after doing some research, I think this must have been Disney's The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, released in 1952. The filming dates and location look right. But I haven't yet had a chance to watch the film and see if I can spot her!)

She "got on quite well" with other members of the cast, however, and "enjoyed doing the film." She was originally also in the party scene, walking around with drinks. (There were towels placed on the floor, she recalls, to show her where to go.) But this part didn't make it into the film. Also, she was asked to do some voiceover work for one of Scrooge's children -- "I think probably bits of it had gone wrong," she speculates when asked why -- but she doesn't know if her voice was actually used in the end.

Scrooge was Theresa's final film. As mentioned earlier, she married later that year, and concentrated on raising her family and teaching art. After about 13 years, she got her degree in art history and then started teaching that subject to adults. She taught well into her 70s, and though now officially retired, she still does a little teaching and lives an active life in Norfolk, England.

I had a lovely time talking with Theresa and hearing her reminiscences. I want to thank her for making time for me, and also to thank Paul Tollet, Matthew Hepenstal, and Tom Hepenstal for helping set up the interview.

(First image copyright Renown Films. Second image copyright Matthew Hepenstal.)

UPDATE:

I'm revisiting this post (in 2018!) to clear up a couple of points. First of all, I was mistaken when I said that Theresa's part of the party scene at Fred's house was cut. I recently rewatched the movie, and you can in fact see her carrying drinks at the party at Fred's house. Second, I've now seen The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men, and I did not spot her. It's possible I may have missed her, but I don't think so. So we're still not sure which version of Robin Hood she was in. If you have any information on this point, please let us know!

Comments

[Jim]

Does Theresa sell autographed photos? I would love to obtain one. Does she have contact info?

[Gina Dalfonzo]

As far as I know, she doesn't.

[Christopher Kelk]

Since the second voice is supposed to be Mrs. Cratchit's I suspect it's the voice of Hermione Baddeley, not Theresa Derrington's.

[John F]

I have watched this film SO many times over the past 50 years, and I fall in love with Fred's maid every time I see her. She is SO beautiful (and played her part so well), that I am amazed she didn't go on to be a major actress of her day! I am not at all surprised to see so many people making the comments above.
Thank you, Theresa. This is a truly wonderful film, and you were the icing on the cake!

And a very big THANK YOU to you, Gina, for finding Theresa!!

[Dom Del Prete]

The scene, for me, has been a tear-jerker on many occasions, becAuse it shows the timid maid becoming the confident reassurer of the once-confident protagonist now needing that support. So many positive messages about life can be gleaned by this simple, silent but ever-so-powerful short scene.

[Bonnie Eden]

I love this version of the Christmas CarolI. I was also interested in this character. Please keep me posted on Ms Derrington. Best wishes

[kel s.]

OMGoodness
Thank you, Theresa Derrington Cozens-Hardy! What tour de force performances in a 'seconds' of screen time.
-kel

[Richard Wieder]

What makes a good film in to a great film? The details, the scene between Scrooge and the maid seems like a throw away scene, but it adds so much to the flow of the movie. It is perfection!!

[David Henderson]

Another Xmas has come and gone, but a Xmas Carol still reigns--best ever !! I must have watched it a hundred times as I have the DVD. Alastair Sim and Theresa are great and add so much to the movie.
My best wishes to Theresa and her family, she must be proud that so many people fell in love with her.
Love from British Columbia Canada