Rachel Roberts

Rachel Roberts (20th September 1927 - 26th November 1980) was a Welsh actress noted for her fervour and passion; Roberts is best remembered for her forthright screen performances in two key films of the 1960s, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning and This Sporting Life, in both of which she played the older mistress of the central male character. In Australia, she is remembered for her performance as Mrs. Appleyard in Peter Weir's Picnic at Hanging Rock. She married firstly Alan Dobie (1955-1961), then Rex Harrison (1962-1971). Both marriages ended in divorce. Her alcoholism and depression increased after her divorce from Harrison in 1971. Devastated over their divorce, she moved to Hollywood in 1975 and tried to forget the relationship. In 1980 a final, futile attempt to win Harrison back proved unsuccessful. Impulsive and insecure, she committed suicide by taking an overdose of barbiturates and alcohol on 26th November 1980 at her home in Los Angeles.