Belinda Lee - Britain's Lost Starlet

I first became aware of Belinda Lee after watching a film called "Eyewitness" on ITV one afternoon in the late 1970s or early 80s. In those days before specialist programming the three channels used to fill their schedules with old British B-Movies from the 1950s and 60s, mostly as i recall in black and white. I was struck by her beauty and remember reading a review of the film in the TVTimes that mentioned she had died young in a car crash, which instantly made her more fascinating to me. As the years went by I managed to see a few more of her films, "Who Done It?" with Benny Hill being the most notable, or at least the most often repeated. However, I was unable to find out anything much about her; she seemed a person trapped in her own time, whose fame had not outlasted her death, an almost ethereal presence. It wasn't until the advent of the internet that I was able to piece together a few facts and the following biography is the result, adapted and compiled from various sites and articles. I posted the original version as a blog on a Belinda MySpace page that i clumsily put together about five years ago. This is just a brief outline. I am adding to it all the time and am working on a full length biography of her. If you have any information about this wonderful, sadly underrated actress that you would care to share it would be very gratefully received.

Belinda Lee was born on 15th June 1935 in Budleigh Salterton in Devon, England to Robert Cumond Lee, a former army Captain and owner of The Rosemullion Hotel, and Stella Mary Graham, a florist. As a child she attended The Rokesbury Park Preportory School for well to do children in Fareham, Hampshire. She was then sent to St Margarets, a boarding school in Exeter, Devon. It had a reputation for breeding "good manners and development of personality" amongst its pupils. Belinda played on the right wing for the school hockey team and went by the nickname of Billie.
Her best friend was Sally Moulding who was also an army officers daughter and she recalled; "We spent most of our time reading plays in which we often took dozens of parts each. Billie even then said she would be an actress."
With her sights seemingly set Belinda pestered her parents to send her to drama school and they agreed. She enrolled in The Tudor Arts Academy in Surrey. Whilst there her parents separated and Belinda and her mother moved into a flat in South Kensington, London.

Little is then known until she joined The Nottingham Playhouse Repetory Company for a year in 1952, where she won a scholarship to RADA in London. By the next year she had made her stage debut in the play "Point Of Departure".

In 1954, whilst appearing in a RADA production she was spotted by director Val Guest who cast her in the Frankie Howerd vehicle "The Runaway Bus". At this time she became good friends with fellow actress Anne Kashfi and the two of them shared a flat together. Whilst continuing to play Rep in Nottingham Guest sent Belinda to have publicity stills taken for "The Runaway Bus" and she began a relationship with photographer Cornel Lucas, with whom she soon became engaged. They were married in June of 1954 and told friends that they wanted at least four children and that they had already chosen the names.

After making another film with Val Guest Belinda accepted the offer of a seven year contract from The Rank Organisation. To help generate publicity for their new starlet thousands of photographs were distributed to newspapers and magazines around the world. She was also asked to make personal appearances and at one, introducing a singer on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, she claimed that she was so nervous that she couldnt remember whether she actually said anything. Interest in her was obviously being generated however as she was chosen by the U.S. Navy as "Miss Deep Ocean 1954". More Photo opportunities emerged in 1955 when she appeared at the Cannes and Venice film festivals posing in a white swimsuit. Later that year she also attended the Royal Film Performance of "To Catch a Thief" at London's Leicester Square with other Rank stars.

In January 1956 she was in Helsinki for British Film week. Showbiz columns reported that she tried her hand at cross country ski-ing and that whilst having cocktails at the Monte Carlo restaurant she bemoaned her "difficult hair" and how she was looking for a good hairdresser.
In February Bob Hope gave several British starlets a break in America by making a TV film featuring Belinda with Maureen Swanson and Julia Arnall. They were all photographed in rehearsal with Douglas Fairbanks and Elsa Martinelli. American exposure continued in April when her photograph appeared in newspapers with the caption; "something new under the sun, wearing one of the latest lines in swimwear fashions for next summers beauties, Belinda Lee smilingly anticipates the new season..."

Back in England there were more appearances; attending the premiere of "Richard III" and visiting Battersea Park Fair with other actors, photographers in tow. She also returned to the Cannes and Venice film festivals and was seen at the Variety Club All Star Gala in London. In Venice, at an aristocratic party at Doges Palace, she took off her shoes to find that the floor was ice cold and apparently almost screamed in shock. As the whirlwind continued her features began to grace more and more magazine covers.
There is no indication that Belinda objected to the publicity machine. Robert Giles, one of four people whose job it was to plan personal appearances for the Rank starlets and to act as escort and chaperone if necessary, said of her; "She is absolutely indefatigeable as far as energy is concerned and comes through the most arduous functions without complaint".
Being a blonde it was perhaps inevitable that she would be compared to Marilyn Monroe, Jayne Mansfield and Diana Dors. This prompted her husband to advise her that perhaps she should stop bleaching her hair in order to forge her own identity. She had the opportunity to meet Marilyn Monroe, as well as Brigitte Bardot, at the Royal Command Premiere, where she was presented to Queen Elizabeth II.

Entertainment columns were far more innocent in the mid 50's than they are today and both editors and readers were satisfied with studio controlled snippets of likes and dislikes and little tidbits of their favourite stars every day lives. In December 1956 they reported that Belinda had enjoyed preparing christmas dinner for her husband and friends; turkey with all the trimmings with christmas pudding to follow.
In February 1957 it was written that she had a large collection of jazz and classical records and that her hobby was arranging parties and setting the table with chinese porcelain. An appearance on the BBC's "Desert Island Discs" that October illustrates the depths of Belinda's musical taste. Her eight choices being; Bing Crosby singing "Bali Ha'i", "Song Of The South Seas" by Richard Rodgers (performed by the NBC Symphony Orchestra), Judy Garlands' "The Man Who Got Away", "Piano Concerto No. 2 In C Minor" by Sergey Vasilievich Rachmaninov, "Guaglione" by Roberto Morolo, Puccini's "Un bel di vedremo" ("One Fine Day") from "Madame Butterfly" sung by Maria Callas, Sergey Vasilievich Rachmaninov again with "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini", and lastly "The Banana Boat Song" by Harry Belafonte. Incidentally, as her luxury item Belinda chose language-teaching records for all languages.

On 27th April 1957 Belinda was seriously injured when her hair caught fire on set at Pinewood Studios. Her recovery was helped though when she was voted one of the U.K.'s top money making stars in the Motion Picture Herald poll. To celebrate she and Lucas set about decorating their house. They both shared a similar taste for bright colours and nature and their dining room walls were carmine with red and white stripes whilst the living room was yellow and green with big windows facing the garden. With her movie earnings rising and advertising revenue from advertising products such as Lux Soap and Vitapointe Shampoo, she and Louis Jordan, her co-star in "Dangerous Exile" visited the Montmatre in Paris looking for a new painting for her living room, where a Matisse copy already hung.

At this point in her life everything seemed stable and the future was bright and uncomplicated. A mixture of career and domesticity. However, things were about to change. In September 1957 she went to Venice again for the film festival and also to shoot "La Venere Di Cheronea" on location and met Prince Fillipo Orsini, head of the Orsini family. The Orsini's were one of the oldest and most powerful families in Italy, with a tree that boasted popes and generals in its lineage. He was in his late 30's, intelligent and handsome, with many titles to his name, including that of Assistant to the Papal Throne. He had been highly decorated in World War II and was married to Franca Contessa Bonacossi, with whom he had two sons, and lived in splendour with in a palazzo at the Vic Panama. What followed is open to speculation but Belinda soon became a frequent guest of Orsini's at the fashionable Capprico nightclub.

Back in England later that summer she was offered the title role in "Aphrodite - Goddess of Love". Her husband protested as filming would take place in Rome and that it would also interrupt her Rank schedule. However, Belinda took a leave of absence from Rank and flew to Italy. As filming commenced newspapers reported that she was enconsed in a romance with her co-star Massimio Girrotti and they were seen taking nightly walks together. These were a smokescreen however. Her relationship with Orsini was blossoming and he was introducing her to Roman high society. Belinda is said to have felt liberated. She let her hair grow long and stopped wearing make up. To friends she revealed that for the first time in her life she felt free; "I was educated in Rome," she said, "Socially speaking Rome has changed me. One day I was a quiet English girl, the next day I was a woman. Oh how the Italians love us actresses". The confidence grew to such an extent that she and Orsini no longer tried to hide their relationship.
In a review of "The Secret Place" Norman Rae wrote that "Belinda Lee does reasonably well but the camera is not always kind to the blonde... her hawk like features are often sharpened instead of softened". She had more important concerns though. Soon after returning to Lucas in England she announced that their marriage was over; "I'm very sorry but i cant keep on living with a man I dont love. I'm ambitious and I want to be an international star and it's impossible for me to combine marriage and ambition".

She was kept busy by film commitments but flew to Rome whenever her schedule allowed. The gossip around her and Orsini grew to such a frenzy that even the Pope condemned the relationship. It is rumoured that Orsini's wife only arranged dinner parties for the Cardinals when Belinda had an evening off, in a desperate attempt to keep her husband busy. Eventually the situation got so serious that on 9th January 1958 the Pope ordered Orsini to stay away from Belinda.
As the scandal soared Belinda flew to Johannesberg for location filming for "Nor The Moon By Night". However, whilst it was only half complete she jetted back to Rome under the alias Linda Lucas. An angry telegram from Rank awaited her at the airport ordering her to return to South Africa immediately but she ignored it and absconded with Orsini to her apartment at 29 Via Caracini, not far from his stately home. Here she was visited by Orsini's wife who demanded Belinda stay away from her husband. The Countess then left Rome with her two children.
What was going through Belinda's mind at this time we will never know but on 25th January 1958 she took an overdose of sleeping pills. She was found in time and taken quickly to hospital by ambulance where she was revived in an iron lung. Orsini tried to see her but the hospital refused to let him near her. He promptly went back to his home and slashed his wrists. Taken to the same hospital as Belinda, he too was saved before being transferred to a psychiatric clinic.
Three days after the overdose Belinda was interviewed by the police for two and a half hours at her apartment. An official announced that he was "convinced there would be no judicial action". Lucas, who had flown over from England when he heard the news saw her afterwards. Asked by the waiting media if he was planning a divorce he answered "I dont know yet" before returning to London.
Rumours started that that there was a suicide pact between Belinda and Orsini. No comment was made and Belinda was forced by the authorities to leave Rome. She laid low for a while before returing a few weeks later, renting a small house in Torvaianica. The Pope meanwhile ordered Orsini to a monastary and stripped him of his position at the Vatican.
Belinda returned to Africa to finish "Nor The Moon By Night". It would be her last film for Rank.

Back in Italy that spring Belinda was once again expelled by the authorities from Rome. There was also news from England that her husband had filed divorce proceedings. She and Orsini met in Paris before travelling down to Cannes for the film festival, where they shared a villa, which quickly became the centre of attention for the local paparazzi. Belinda told waiting reporters that "the Prince and I came from our apartment in Paris for a short holiday", whilst he added, "we are just good friends." When the festival was over they returned to Rome which had become more welcoming, and they attended high society party's together.
On 11th September 1958 Lucas filed a divorce suit charging Belinda and Orsini with adultery and also claiming damages from Orsini. Allegedly, the papers were served on them whilst they were dining out in St Tropez.
In December Belinda left Rank and she and Orcini set up home in Paris.
At the start of the new year the focus returned to work for Belinda. She had roles in Wolf C. Hartwig's "Die Wahrheituber Rosemaire" and "The Nights Of Lucretia". Whilst working on the former she and Orsini shared a villa in Geiselgasteig, Munich. It was here that the confirmation came that her divorce had come through. By that July Princess Franca Bonacossa had instigated her divorce proceedings in Rome. In public Belinda seemed positive, and commented to the press; "My future husband has reached metal age. There's silver in his hair, lead in his knees and a tooth made of gold". But later that year she met Italian journalist Gualitiero Jacopetti and things were set to change all over again.

In November 1959 Belinda was on the cover of "Tempo" magazine. She bought a dozen new gowns in Paris and left for Rome to play the title role in "Messalinia". Messalinia was a tempestuous Empress in ancient Rome. One scene called for Belinda to be submerged in a bath of milk. Though she wore a bikini, on screen it appeared she was less fully dressed.

In January 1960 the press reported that Belinda and Orsini's romance was over. However, they were seen nightclubbing together in March. What caused the relationship, which they had both nearly died for, to flounder, is again open to speculation. What is certain is that Orsini was soon back in Rome begging his wife for a reconciliation, which she refused. He was also reported to have been scarred in a fight after someone insulted Belinda and he took exception. No doubt the feelings between the two were still deep.
Belinda meanwhile had become Jacopetti's steady escort. They attended Cannes together where Belinda wore a black wig. It was commented upon how very Italian she looked.
It wasnt until the summer that the press cottoned on to the affair. They reported on Jacopetti's shady past; he had once been married to an eleven year old gypsy girl and he was soon to be jailed in Hong Kong for the abduction of two underage Chinese girls. Quite what Belinda saw in him is open to question but by Christamas 1960 they were rumoured to be engaged to one another.

In March 1961 they were in Las Vegas where Jacopetti was shooting a documentary. Belinda did not appear in it but they enjoyed the downtime in the company of Italian actor Rossano Brazzi. On the 13th they decided to drive to Los Angeles. In the car were Belinda, Jacopetti, director Paolo Cavara and driver Alexnino Fallenza. Near San Bernadino, California on U.S. 91, about 210 miles from Hollywood, the driver, going too fast, lost control of the car on the winding road. A tyre blew. The car somersaulted and flipped over onto its roof. Belinda was thrown out. She had been sitting in the front passenger seat and ended up with her face to the ground about 60ft from the wreckage. Seriously injured she died twenty minutes later of a fractured skull and a broken neck. A Californian Police Officer held her in his arms as she slipped away, moaning repeatedly; "She was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen". he said later.
Jacopetti had a broken leg. The driver and Cavara suffered only slight injuries. The driver later said they had been travelling at about 80mph. Belinda must have felt the full force of impact.
As the survivors were ambulanced to hospital the Highway Patrolman radio-ed the San Bernadino Coroner a report. Details were given by a witness named Joseph Chapman who was on a road building project. Another witness, who stopped at the scene, Rosanno Brazzi, later recalled; "I saw her body covered with a sheet beside the road. I shall never forget the sight when i lifted that sheet. Her head was almost completely severed from her body".

From his hospital bed Jacopetti called out for Belinda. He later told of how he vainly tried to save her life in the last seconds before the crash; " When the tyre blew, I was sitting in the back seat behind her. I tried to hold her... then all of a sudden the car started to turn around... and she was out of the car".
"He keeps calling her name over and over," Michael Guarani, a friend of Jacopetti said, "they were very much in love with one another". Jacopetti later confided; "she has put a mark on me forever".
On 17th March Orsini flew to Los Angeles for the funeral service, which was attended by only 15 people. Belinda's parents were stuck in London and couldnt attend. Pink roses and a ribbon bearing her name covered her casket.
In London Dorothy Milligan reported that Belinda's death had caused sadness but little surprise to those who knew her. They had a feeling she had been building up to a "big finish" she said. "She had been calm enough when she was married to her first husband but the recklessness took over after she went to Italy and became involved with Prince Orsini".

On 23rd March Belinda was cremated in Hollywood Memorial Park and her ashes were inturned in the parks columbarium. The funeral parlour refused to turn her remains over to Orsini as he was not a relative. However, she was later flown to Rome where on 8th December she was finally laid to rest in the citys Protestant Cemetery.

Six years after her death Jacopetti said of her; "I loved her a lot. She was shy, really, and fundamentally very modest. But she was not very serious about acting. She came to it, like that, through hazard, like so many girls do. She was beautiful, but it was hard for me to judge. Beauty only an instant lasts. After you have lost the initial impact of it, you can’t judge it anymore.”