Imogen Hassall

British actress Imogen Hassall was best known for her striking beauty and her appearances in over 40 roles on both television shows and films of the 1960s and 1970s. Born on 25 August 1942, in Woking, Surrey, England, she was named after Cymbeline's daughter in Shakespeare's memorable play which was produced around 1611.  Imogen came from a family steeped in the arts, her grandfather, John Hassall and her aunt, Joan Hassall, worked as illustrators, while her father, Christopher Hassall, was a poet, dramatist and lyricist. Her mother, Margaret Hassall, was a stage designer, and this artistic environment nurtured her early interest in performing, and she was drawn to acting from a young age.

Hassall's education was diverse; she boarded and attended Elmhurst Ballet School, Camberley 1952–1954 and the Royal Ballet School, White Lodge, Richmond Park 1955–1958. Later in 1958 (aged 16) she studied in New York City, then returned to live with family in the Vale of Health by Hampstead Heath, London, where she attended the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and in the early sixties she studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), illustrating her talent and versatility. After completing her training, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company for one season and soon after, she found work in British television and film, making her small screen debut in a 1963 ITV Television Playhouse presentation titled Adam's Apple, which also starred Terence Alexander (Bergerac), Amanda Barrie (Carry On Cleo, Coronation Street), Susan George (Straw Dogs), Gemma Jones (The Duchess of Duke Street) and Jack Hedley (Colditz).

Before the end of the 1960s, Imogen appeared on a number of Britain's best loved series which included The Dickie Henderson Show, The Scales of Justice, No Hiding Place, The Avengers and The Champions, as well as appearing as 3 different characters in 3 different episodes of The Saint, between 1964 and 1968.

In 1965, she appeared fleetingly and uncredited in the Beatles film Help! but her breakout role came in the 1966 film The Long Duel, where her exotic looks and on-screen charisma made her stand out. Often cast in roles that highlighted her physical allure, she became a regular feature in British cinema during the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Among her notable film appearances are When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth (1970), a cult classic in which she played a cavewoman, and Carry On Loving (1970), part of the famous Carry On series, where her comedic timing was on full display. Despite her growing popularity, Hassall became frustrated with the limited and often superficial roles she was offered. Her beauty, while a significant part of her appeal, also became a double-edged sword, pigeonholing her into specific types of characters. Imogen earned the nickname "The Countess of Cleavage" from the British tabloids due to the type of roles she was frequently given—glamorous, seductive, and often scantily clad.

She continued to appear on television in the 1970s in The Persuaders, Jason King and in ...And Mother Makes Three, but her personal life was often turbulent. She married twice, first to actor Kenneth Ives in 1969, and they had a daughter, Melanie Ives Hassall, who tragically died after just four days. Their marriage ended in divorce soon after. She was briefly married to Andrew Knox, a Scottish actor, but they separated after a few months and Imogen lost the baby she was expecting. She dated Alan Whitehead from the pop group Marmalade between 1976 and 1977, but soon after, the pressures of typecasting, along with her personal struggles, took a toll on her mental health. There were several failed suicide attempts, but on 16 November 1980, Imogen was found dead at her Wimbledon home, having taken her own life at the age of 38.

Though her career was brief, Imogen Hassall left a lasting impression. Her beauty and talent, coupled with the tragic circumstances of her life, have made her a memorable figure in the history of British film and television.