Rita Tushingham is a renowned English actress from Liverpool who, thanks to her outstanding talent, has left a significant mark on the world of cinema. She had a remarkable ability to understand her characters and fully inhabit their roles, earning acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Find out more at liverpoolski.
Early Life
Rita Tushingham was born on 14 March 1942 in Liverpool, UK. Her father was a greengrocer who owned three shops, and the family was quite well-off.
Growing up, Rita was an emotional, artistic, and sensitive child who showed a flair for creativity and performance from a young age. She dreamed of becoming an actress, so alongside her studies at Heatherley School in Allerton and a secretarial school where she learned typing and shorthand, she also attended the Shelagh Elliott-Clarke School. This institution taught creatively gifted children and teenagers acting techniques, dance, acrobatics, and singing. After completing her studies, Tushingham began her career as an assistant stage manager at a Liverpool theatre.
First Roles
Rita Tushingham’s film debut came in 1961 with A Taste of Honey. The role earned her a BAFTA for Best Actress and widespread critical acclaim. She was just 17 when she landed the part after responding to a newspaper advertisement. After a successful audition, Tushingham left her job as an assistant stage manager at the Liverpool Playhouse, where she earned just one pound a week and occasionally took on minor stage roles. The budding actress moved to London and, as she later recalled, could hardly believe what was happening to her.
In an interview about her role as Josephine in A Taste of Honey, Tushingham said: “It had everything – race, class, gender, sexuality, poverty.” The film was considered shocking at the time, as it tackled many unspoken societal issues. It also featured one of cinema’s first interracial kisses, a moment so striking and controversial that the film was banned in some countries. Nevertheless, it made Tushingham a star. She was recognised on the street, and her distinctive look became iconic.
The actress adjusted to life in the capital, meeting pop stars, fashionable artists, and famous actors, including Elizabeth Taylor, all while giving interviews. She received numerous film and theatre offers, going on to star in the 1963 film The Leather Boys, appear in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and feature in the film The Knack …and How to Get It.
Career
Throughout the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, Rita Tushingham continued to act in films, work in television, appear on various shows, and take part in stage productions. Her filmography includes titles such as Girl with Green Eyes, Doctor Zhivago, The Trap, and The ‘Human’ Factor, among others.
Her awards include a BAFTA and a Golden Globe, as well as an honorary fellowship from Liverpool John Moores University. In 1972 and 1990, she served as a jury member at the 22nd and 40th Berlin International Film Festivals, respectively.
Tushingham also continued acting in later years. She starred in the 2004 film Being Julia, appeared in the 2014 zombie drama In the Flesh, and in 2020, featured in the BBC One adaptation of Agatha Christie’s The Pale Horse.
Iconic Roles
One of Rita Tushingham’s most celebrated performances was as Tonya Gromeko in the epic romantic drama Doctor Zhivago. The actress delivered a brilliant performance that was highly praised by film critics. Thanks to the talented cast, which also included Julie Christie and Omar Sharif, Doctor Zhivago became a timeless classic, earning a place in cinematic history and is still regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.
Another of Rita Tushingham’s notable roles was as Cissy in the 2021 series Ridley Road. Set in the 1960s, the drama follows a young Jewish woman from London who becomes involved in the fight against fascism. Tushingham perfectly embodied her character, bringing depth, complexity, and nuance to the role, making her one of the standout actresses in the series.
Personal Life
In 1962, the actress married photographer Terry Bicknell, and the couple had two daughters together. They decided to divorce in 1976. In 1981, Rita married again, this time to Iranian cinematographer Ousama Rawi. The couple separated eight years later but remained officially married until 1996. In her later years, the actress lived in London, near one of her daughters and her grandchildren.
Rita Tushingham is a gifted, distinctive, and memorable artist who has made a substantial contribution to the British film industry. Despite her fame, she never succumbed to ‘starry behaviour’; friends and family describe Rita as a modest, generous, and kind person, always ready to help others. She cannot imagine life without her beloved work and continues to delight audiences with her unique talent. Her name will undoubtedly be remembered forever in the annals of world cinema.