desfitzp

Topsy Jane had a great start in film with her role in The Loneliness of the Long Distance and subsequent selection to play Liz in Billy Liar. Unfortunately Topsy became ill whilst filming Billy Liar and Julie Christie took over the role. Topsy went on to play in a twice weekly TV series - United. After this her career seems to fizzle out. Does anyone know whatever happened to Topsy Jane?

CaptainWaggett

From the Daily Mail Jun 14, 2002; p. 62

"QUESTION Keith Waterhouse wrote recently that Julie Christie starred in Billy Liar after another actress dropped out through illness. Who was this actress, and what became of her?

ABOUT five years ago I popped into a cafe in Liskeard, Cornwall, after busking with my guitar, and an older lady by the name of Topsy struck up a conversation with me about music.

She went on to tell me that she was an actress who had appeared in The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner, and that she was to have played Billy Liar's screen girlfriend Liz until she became ill.

Sadly, people tended not to believe her, and were less than impressed - a typically English cynicism. However, I did some research and discovered that Topsy Jane was originally offered the role. I haven't seen her since, but she was known to frequent the taverns of St Cleer, Cornwall, still not in the best of health. The contrast between her destiny and Julie Christie's is poignant.

Paul Program, Pensilva, Cornwall."

kelp

You know, thinking along those lines, eg Topsy Jane, what a good TV short this would make.
I know we had "Where Are They Now" but I found that very slick, no depth to it. But to find her and let her have her say, would be really interesting......don't you agree?

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

Steve Crook

It often depends on if they want to have their say or if they just want to live quietly. Some of the "Where Are They Now?" programmes are overly intrusive

Steve

kelp

Tend to agree with you Steve, perhaps they just want to be left alone.

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...YOU MAY GET IT!

desfitzp

Thanks for the feedback