Known for movies
Short Info
Date Of Birth | March 20, 1917 |
Spouse | Harry Lewis |
Fact | She is now widowed and residing in Ditchling in East Sussex. [June 2004] |
Vera Lynn, the “Forces’ Sweetheart”, is a British singer, songwriter and actress whose musical recordings and performances were enormously popular during the Second World War. Her songs “We’ll Meet Again” and “The White Cliffs of Dover” became anthems for the Allied troops fighting in Europe.
Born Vera Margaret Welch in East Ham, London, on March 20, 1917, Vera Lynn was the youngest of four children. Her father, Bertram Samuel Welch, was a carpenter, and her mother, Annie Elizabeth (née Howard), was a dressmaker. Vera Lynn began singing at an early age and made her first public appearance at the age of seven.
After leaving school, Vera Lynn worked as a secretary and sang in working men’s clubs in the evenings. She began her professional career in 1935 with the Joe Loss Orchestra. Her first recordings were made with Loss in 1936.
In 1939, at the outbreak of the Second World War, Vera Lynn was working in a London theatre when she was asked to sing for the troops at a military hospital. She began touring military bases and hospitals, performing for the troops. She quickly became known as the “Forces’ Sweetheart”.
Vera Lynn’s career flourished during the war years. In 1940, she released her first solo single, “Up the Wooden Hill to Bedfordshire”. The following year, she had her first major hit with “We’ll Meet Again”. The song became an anthem for the troops fighting in Europe and was later used in the film Casablanca (1942).
In 1941, Vera Lynn married Harry Lewis, a bandleader with whom she had been working. The couple had two daughters, Virginia and Pamela.
After the war, Vera Lynn continued to be popular with the British public. In 1949, she had her second major hit with “Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart”. The song was used in the film No Highway (1951), starring James Stewart.
In the 1950s, Vera Lynn toured extensively in Britain and abroad. She also appeared on television and made several films. In 1960, she released her autobiography, We’ll Meet Again.
In 1962, Vera Lynn retired from show business to spend more time with her family. However, she made a comeback in 1988 with a new album, Vera Lynn Sings Again. The album was a huge success and led to a sell-out concert tour of Britain.
In recent years, Vera Lynn has been honoured for her contribution to British music. In 2000, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). In 2005, she was awarded the Freedom of the City of London. In 2009, she was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Brit Awards.
Vera Lynn is now 103 years old and is the oldest living artist to have had a UK number one album. She continues to be popular with both young and old alike.
General Info
Full Name | Vera Lynn |
Date Of Birth | March 20, 1917 |
Profession | Actor, Singer, We'll Meet Again, Lili Marlene, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square |
Family
Spouse | Harry Lewis |
Children | Virginia Penelope Anne Lewis |
Parents | Bertram Samuel Welch, Annie Welch, We'll Meet Again, Lili Marlene, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square |
Siblings | Roger Welch |
Accomplishments
Nominations | NME Award for British Female Singer |
Movies | One Exciting Night, We'll Meet Again |
TV Shows | A Picture of Britain |
Social profile links
Quotes
# | Quote |
---|---|
1 | I got so many letters. I still get them now, and I'm always moved by them. It seemed extraordinary that soldiers would come back from the war and write to thank me for what I had done. It made me feel very humble, and that's why I've always done everything I can to thank them back. |
2 | You hear people go on about unpopular wars, but show me a popular one. Nobody in their right mind wants to go to war, but when it happens you have to get behind your troops. |
3 | I've never claimed to be a great singer but I've always given my best, and I've loved what I've done, and had a very good life. |
Facts
# | Fact |
---|---|
1 | She was awarded the CH (Companion of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to entertainment and charity in East Sussex, England. |
2 | She is now widowed and residing in Ditchling in East Sussex. [June 2004] |
3 | Made many trips to remote camps near the front during World War II, in the Pacific theater of operation; to entertain and visit the troops. |
4 | On 13th September 2009 her greatest hits collection, "We'll Meet Again - The Very Best of Vera Lynn", topped the UK album chart, making her the oldest artist ever to do so, aged 92. |
5 | Had a hugely successful music career. Which included being the first British female to top the American Billboard charts with "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart" in 1952. That same year she had 3 top ten hits in the first ever official UK Singles chart on November 14th 1952. In 1957 she topped the UK Singles chart with "My Son, My Son" which featured the Frank Weir Orchestra. |
6 | Daughter: Virginia Penelope Ann Lewis, born 10th March 1945 |
7 | Brother: Roger |
8 | A regular guest on Tallulah Bankhead radio show 'The Big Show'. |
9 | Left school at 14 to work in a factory, after working a few weeks in the factory she decided to return to singing in clubs |
10 | Retired in 1995 after singing outside Buckingham Palace at the 50th V.E. Day celebrations. She often appears at war shows and made a surprise appearance at the 60th V.E Day show in London (2005). |
11 | Husband Harry Lewis was a musician in the Bert Ambrose orchestra where Vera was a singer. |
12 | Bestselling autobiography 'Vocal Refrain' and bestselling war memoirs 'We'll meet again' |
13 | Had a radio show during the war for the BBC titled 'Sincerely Yours' where she sang requests in the form of a letter to troops overseas, visited their wives and visited the troops abroad in Burma. |
14 | Released a comeback single in the 70s called "Don't You Remember When" which was written and produced by Lynsey de Paul. |
15 | She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1969 Queen's New Year Honours List and the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1975 Queen's Birthday Honours List. |
16 | Subject of a song on Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and in the movie of the same. Refers to the 1942 "We'll Meet Again". |
Movies
Soundtrack
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
The Coming War on China | 2016 | Documentary performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
The Simpsons | 2016 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Legends of Tomorrow | 2016 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Todd's Pop Song Reviews | 2015 | TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode | |
Glastonbury 2015 | 2015 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
American Horror Story | 2014 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Castle | 2013 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Mega64: Gamer Warz | 2013 | TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Daughter in Distress | 2013 | Short performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
The Power of Few | 2013 | performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
Curfew | 2012/I | Short performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
War on Terror | 2011 | Documentary performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
Zaum - Andare a parare | 2011 | TV Series documentary performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
Casino Jack and the United States of Money | 2010 | Documentary performer: "DREAM" | |
The Lady and the Reaper (La dama y la muerte) | 2009 | Short performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
Is Anybody There? | 2008 | performer: "I'm in the Mood for Love" | |
There'll Always Be an England | 2008 | Video performer: "There'll Always Be an England" | |
Cold Case | 2007 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
La hora fría | 2006 | "I'm in the Mood for Love" | |
Wah-Wah | 2005 | performer: "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" | |
Saint Ange | 2004 | performer: "I'm in the mood for love" | |
Hellboy | 2004 | performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
I'll Be There | 2003 | performer: "There'll Always Be An England" | |
A Is for Acid | 2002 | TV Movie performer: "When the Lights Go On Again" - uncredited | |
The 1940s House | 2001 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
The End of the Affair | 1999 | performer: "Wishing Will Make It So", "Symphonie" | |
Futurama | 1999 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Hetty Wainthropp Investigates | 1998 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
Déjà Vu | 1997 | performer: "The White Cliffs Of Dover" | |
Lolita | 1997 | performer: "I'm In The Mood For Love" | |
The Beatles Anthology | 1995 | TV Mini-Series documentary performer: "We'll Meet Again" | |
And a Nightingale Sang | 1989 | TV Movie performer: "We'll Meet Again" - uncredited | |
The Singing Detective | 1986 | TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode | |
Women of Valor | 1986 | TV Movie performer: "There'll Always Be An England" | |
The Jewel in the Crown | 1984 | TV Mini-Series performer - 1 episode | |
The Year of Living Dangerously | 1982 | performer: "White Cliffs of Dover" | |
Pink Floyd: The Wall | 1982 | performer: "The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot" | |
De Fred Haché Show | 1971 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
A Safe Place | 1971 | performer: "Lavender Blue" | |
Dad's Army | 1971 | performer: "We'll Meet Again" - uncredited | |
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb | 1964 | performer: "We'll Meet Again" 1939 - uncredited | |
Venus fra Vestø | 1962 | performer: "Wish me luck" | |
Desert Patrol | 1958 | performer: "What a Day We Will Have" - uncredited | |
The Wind Cannot Read | 1958 | performer: "The Wind Cannot Read" | |
One Exciting Night | 1944 | performer: "It's Like Old Times", "There's a New World Over the Skyline", "One Love", "My Prayer", "You Can't Do Without Love", "It's So Easy to Say Good Morning" - uncredited | |
Rhythm Serenade | 1943 | performer: "The Sunshine of Your Smile", "When We're Home Sweet Home Again", "I Love To Sing", "Bye and Bye", "So It Goes On", "With All My Heart", "It Doesn't Cost a Dime" - uncredited | |
We'll Meet Again | 1943 | performer: "Be Like the Kettle and Sing", "You'll Never Know", "I'm Yours Sincerely", "After the Rain", "Ave Maria", "All the World Sings a Lullaby", "We'll Meet Again" - uncredited |
Actress
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
One Exciting Night | 1944 | Vera Baker | |
Rhythm Serenade | 1943 | Ann Martin | |
We'll Meet Again | 1943 | Peggy Brown | |
A Fire Has Been Arranged | 1935 | Extra (uncredited) |
Music Department
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Traceroute | 2016 | Documentary singer |
Thanks
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Legends | 2007 | TV Series documentary thanks - 1 episode |
Self
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Big Night Out | 1963-1964 | TV Series | Herself |
Comedy Bandbox | 1963 | TV Series | Herself |
Venus fra Vestø | 1962 | Herself | |
Kingsley Amis Goes Pop | 1962 | TV Mini-Series | Herself |
The Charlie Chester Music Hall | 1962 | TV Series | Herself |
Vera Lynn Presents | 1960 | TV Series | Herself |
The Royal Variety Show | 1960 | TV Movie | Herself |
Top Town Tournament | 1960 | TV Series | Herself - Judge |
Whack-O! | 1959 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Vera Lynn Sings | 1955-1959 | TV Series | Herself |
The Ivor Novello Awards | 1959 | TV Special | Herself - Performer |
This Is Your Life | 1957-1959 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
A Boxing Day Party | 1957 | TV Movie | Herself - Hostess |
These Are the Shows | 1957 | TV Movie | Herself |
Alan Melville Takes You from A-Z | 1957 | TV Series | Herself |
Show Band Parade | 1957 | TV Series | Herself |
Off the Record | 1955-1957 | TV Series | Herself |
Tonight at Nine | 1956 | TV Movie | Herself |
Garrison Theatre | 1955 | TV Series | Herself |
De TV maakt muziek | 1955 | TV Series | Herself |
Music-Hall | 1949-1954 | TV Series | Herself |
The Dave Garroway Show | 1954 | TV Series | Herself |
London Laughs | 1953 | TV Movie | Herself |
Texaco Star Theatre | 1952 | TV Series | Herself - Singer |
Tin Pan Alley | 1951 | Herself | |
Stars in Your Eyes | 1948 | TV Series | Herself |
Funny Thing, This Wireless! | 1947 | TV Movie | Herself |
Variety | 1947 | TV Series | Herself |
The Unforgettable Norman Wisdom | 2011 | TV Movie documentary | Herself - Friend (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
Entertaining the Troops | 2011 | TV Movie documentary | Herself (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
100 Years of the London Palladium | 2010 | TV Movie documentary | Herself (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two | 2010 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Norman Wisdom: His Story | 2010 | Herself (as Dame Vera Lynn) | |
The Vera Lynn Story | 2010 | TV Movie documentary | Herself (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
Breakfast | 2009-2010 | TV Series | Herself - Singer / Herself |
Outbreak 1939 | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | Herself (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
The One Show | 2009 | TV Series | Herself |
The Dad's Army Podcast | 2008 | TV Series | Herself |
Fighting the Blue | 2005 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
A Picture of Britain | 2005 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
An Audience with Des O'Connor | 2001 | TV Special | Herself - Audience Member (uncredited) |
A War to Remember | 2001 | Video documentary | Herself - Host (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
Legends | 2000 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Happy Birthday Ma'am | 1996 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
Royal Family at War | 1995 | TV Movie documentary | Herself |
V.E. Day | 1995 | TV Movie | Herself / Singer |
Celebration Concert - It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow | 1995 | TV Movie | Herself |
Clive James on 1994 | 1994 | TV Movie | Herself |
Paul Merton's Palladium Story | 1994 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
Songs That Won the War | 1994 | TV Movie documentary | Herself, Presenter (as Dame Vera Lynn) |
Gulf Aid | 1991 | Video | Herself |
Des O'Connor Tonight | 1987 | TV Series | Herself |
This Is Your Life | 1979-1987 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Chasing Rainbows - A Nation and Its Music | 1986 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
The Time of Your Life | 1983 | TV Series | Herself |
Parkinson | 1981 | TV Series | Herself |
Night of One Hundred Stars | 1980 | TV Movie | Herself |
Chaos Supersedes E.N.S.A.. | 1980 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Interviewee |
Every Night Something Atrocious | 1980 | TV Movie documentary | Interviewee |
Words of War | 1979 | TV Mini-Series | Herself |
Max Bygraves Side by Side | 1978 | TV Series | Herself |
Seaside Special | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
Fall In, the Stars | 1977 | TV Movie | Herself |
All You Need Is Love | 1977 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
The Val Doonican Music Show | 1977 | TV Series | Herself |
Looks Familiar | 1976 | TV Series | Herself - Guest |
Festival of Entertainment | 1976 | TV Movie | Herself |
The Royal Variety Performance | 1975 | TV Movie | Herself |
The World at War | 1974 | TV Mini-Series documentary | Herself |
The Vera Lynn Show | 1974 | TV Series | Herself |
The Morecambe & Wise Show | 1972 | TV Series | Herself |
Vera Lynn | 1969-1972 | TV Series | Herself |
A Christmas Night with the Stars | 1958-1971 | TV Series | Herself |
The Harry Secombe Show | 1971 | TV Series | Herself |
The Val Doonican Show | 1968 | TV Series | Herself |
Ave Maria | 1968 | TV Movie | Herself |
International Cabaret | 1968 | TV Series | Herself |
Gala 65 | 1965/I | TV Movie | Herself |
Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium | 1961-1965 | TV Series | Herself |
Archive Footage
Title | Year | Status | Character |
---|---|---|---|
Legends | 2007 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
Omnibus | 1998 | TV Series documentary | Herself |
The Sound of Change | 1968 | TV Movie | Herself |
Source: IMDb, Wikipedia