Vanda Godsell

Nancy Evelyn Orchard (née Godsell, formally Selway; 17 November 1922 – c. 2 April 1990), known professionally as Vanda Godsell, was an English actress. With a career that spanned 46 years, she was best known for her role as Katie Heenan in the BBC One soap opera The Newcomers (1966–1969).

Hal Erickson writes in AllMovie, "Vanda Godsell specialised in playing disheveled housewives, busybody landladies and blowsy domestics."^[2]

Nancy Evelyn Godsell was born in Bognor Regis, Sussex,^[1] England, on 17 November 1922,^[3] as the youngest child to Reginald Godsell,^[4][5] a[retired Royal Navy commander who served in the Battle of Jutland,^[1][6] and his wife,^[7] Muriel Wilfreda Rachel Ellington (née Abbott or Jacob),^[8][9] an author, who was the sister of Naomi Jacob, a novelist.^[1][6]

She had two elder sisters, Muriel Felicia Mary Atkinson^[10] (née Godsell),^[11] an actress,^[1] and Audrey Rosemary Nina "Audrie" Atcheson^[12] (née Godsell, formally Young)^[13],^[14][15] an editor in the publishing world.^[1]

Godsell began her career as an actress when she joined the Bristol Repertoire in 1937, at the age of 14. She made her stage debut on 10 August 1942, portraying Nancy in Barry O'Brien and Roy Limbert's production of Gaslight.^[16] She made her television debut on 3 April 1949, with the role of Mirabelle in the television film My Mother Said.^[17]

She made her broadcasting debut on 4 March 1950, as the voice of Lulu Smith in the BBC Home Service production of the BBC Television series Sunday Night Theatre.^[18] She made her film debut in November 1953, with the role of Angela Neilson in the second feature ('B') crime film Flannelfoot.^[19]

Godsell portrayed Hilda Wardle in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in 14 episodes from 25 January 1961. The character was a lady friend of Christine Hardman's uncle Edwin Mason, who came to make sure Christine has enough money to live on following her mother's sudden death.

Godsell portrayed Katie Heenan in the BBC One soap opera The Newcomers from 1966 to 1969.^[20][21]

Godsell retired on 5 September 1983, following her role as Woman in the debut episode of the ITV television series Reilly, Ace of Spies.^[22]

Godsell married her first husband, George Selway,^[23][24] an actor, in Marylebone, Middlesex in October 1954.^[25] The couple divorced in 1957, after two years of marriage.

Godsell married her second husband, Alan Joseph Orchard (born 4 December 1924),^[26] in Hampstead, London, in January 1964.^[27] She was widowed in April 1979, after 15 years of marriage.^[28]

Godsell was found lying naked in an empty bath at her North Kensington home on 2 April 1990, at the age of 67.^[29] Her body was discovered by police after neighbours, of Scrubs Lane, complained of the smell coming from her home.^[30][31] Her funeral service took place on 17 April 1990 at Mortlake Crematorium, where she was cremated.^[32]

The inquest into Godsell's death was held at Hammersmith Crown Court in early November 1990,^[29] and heard from her sister-in-law, Frances Atcheson, that she had been prone to drinking heavily. Coroner John Burton heard that her body was in such a state of decomposition that her cause of death could not be ascertained. Burton recorded an open verdict.^[33]

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