Joan Gadsdon

Joan Gadsdon
Born(1923-04-23)23 April 1923
Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia
Died12 October 2003(2003-10-12) (aged 80)
London, England
Occupation(s)dancer, actor, artist
Years active1942–1990

Joan Margaret Anne Gadsdon (23 April 1923 – 12 October 2003) was an Australian ballet dancer, actor and artist. She was one of the pioneers of early Australian ballet in the 1940s, performing with the newly established Kirsova and Borovansky ballet companies. After emigrating to Great Britain she achieved minor theatrical fame in 1953 in London by stepping in at the last moment to save the famous British stage musical The Boy Friend from almost certain oblivion. She continued to appear to some acclaim in the show in its West End run before retiring from the stage in 1959.