The petite 5’4” Hardwicke was born in 1921 on Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk as Jean Duff Hardwicke and was the niece of Sir Cedric Hardwicke, a noted stage and film actor. Sir Cedric persuaded her to give up an early interest in a career as a ballet dancer for one as an actor. She trained at RADA and graduated in 1940. During the Second World War she was an active member of Civil Defence.
Her acting career began in earnest after the end of the Second World War. The majority of her work would be on the stage with a handful of film and TV credits in small and supporting roles. Her early stage work included a touring production of Call Home the Heart headlined by noted actress Sybil Thorndike during September 1946. Her television debut came the following year with a BBC production of A A Milne’s The Ugly Duckling (24th April 1947) playing Dulcibella. At the start of 1949 she joined the Midland Theatre Company and her debut for the company came with a production of Noel Coward’s Present Laughter which also included Roger Delgaldo and Graham Stark in the cast. This was followed by a production of Bernard Shaw’s The Apple Cart in February 1949.
She next appeared on screen in an episode of the magazine programme Kaleidoscope (29th June 1951) playing Lillian in a dramatic segment entitled 'Fools Rush In'. Hardwicke then appeared in a couple of crime dramas for the independent British film company Nettleford Films – The Broken Horseshoe (1953) and Operation Diplomat (1953. Her theatre work saw her attached to the Northampton Repertory Theatre for several productions including Sweethearts and Wives during June 1953 in the lead role of Martha Handsford. The season continued with To Sup with the Devil in early July 1953, Little Women and Love’s A Luxury in August 1953 and The Offending Hand by R F Delderfield during September 1953. Local newspaper the Northampton Mercury held her performance in high regard “As the young thug’s sister, Jean Hardwicke gives the easy, gentle rendering that her role demands – until the final scene. And then, in the climax which comes almost as a shock because of its intensity, Miss Hardwicke snatches the acting honours brilliantly and convincingly.[1]” Later Northampton productions took in The Lady from Edinburgh during early October 1953 and the murder mystery Laura during December 1953. The local newspaper, the Northampton Mercury, was again full of praise once more for Hardwicke’s performance stating “All round it is a gripping performance. Jean Hardwicke as the girl who comes back from the dead is as alternately charming, mysterious and suspect as the plot demands.[2]”
Hardwicke’s next television appearance was 'The Inward Eye' (10th November 1955), an episode of drama anthology series London Playhouse. The cast also included future Doctor Who William Hartnell. Over a year later she appeared in the BBC single drama Romantic Chapter (17th January 1957) in the role of Valeria. On stage she was cast in a supporting role as a scullery maid for a production of Jean Anouilh’s Restless Heart which was headlined by Mai Zetterling and Donald Pleasence at the Royal Theatre, Brighton during February 1957. During the 1957 Edinburgh Festival she could be seen in a production of Man of Distinction at the Lyceum, Edinburgh.
Back on TV she appeared as Miss Cartwright in the Emergency Ward 10 episode transmitted 10th August 1962. Hardwicke then shared billing with 'During Barty’s Party' star Elizabeth Sellars and distinguished actor Marius Goring in an episode of the romance anthology Love Story, 'In Loving Memory' (28th July 1964), written by Brian Clemens. Also in the cast was Ruby Head who would appear as the tea lady in the Beasts episode 'The Dummy'.
Apart from the above TV credits Hardwicke spent most of her career in theatre. She had a small role as a milk bar assistant in the Spyder’s Webb episode 'Rev Counter' (14th April 1972). Her role as a Briteways customer in 'Special Offer' appears to have been her final screen appearance.
Harwicke died on 12th August, 2016 in London at the age of 95.
Hardwicke’s next television appearance was 'The Inward Eye' (10th November 1955), an episode of drama anthology series London Playhouse. The cast also included future Doctor Who William Hartnell. Over a year later she appeared in the BBC single drama Romantic Chapter (17th January 1957) in the role of Valeria. On stage she was cast in a supporting role as a scullery maid for a production of Jean Anouilh’s Restless Heart which was headlined by Mai Zetterling and Donald Pleasence at the Royal Theatre, Brighton during February 1957. During the 1957 Edinburgh Festival she could be seen in a production of Man of Distinction at the Lyceum, Edinburgh.
Back on TV she appeared as Miss Cartwright in the Emergency Ward 10 episode transmitted 10th August 1962. Hardwicke then shared billing with 'During Barty’s Party' star Elizabeth Sellars and distinguished actor Marius Goring in an episode of the romance anthology Love Story, 'In Loving Memory' (28th July 1964), written by Brian Clemens. Also in the cast was Ruby Head who would appear as the tea lady in the Beasts episode 'The Dummy'.
Apart from the above TV credits Hardwicke spent most of her career in theatre. She had a small role as a milk bar assistant in the Spyder’s Webb episode 'Rev Counter' (14th April 1972). Her role as a Briteways customer in 'Special Offer' appears to have been her final screen appearance.
Harwicke died on 12th August, 2016 in London at the age of 95.
[1] “R F Delderfield Scores With The
Offending Hand”, Northampton Mercury,
Friday 11th September 1953, page 7
[2] “Another Success for John Scott”,
Northampton Mercury, Friday 6th
November 1953, page 3
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