bad girl look-alikes: Ruth Ellis

Ruth Ellis (1927–1955) was convicted of the murder of her lover, David Blakely, and hanged at London’s Holloway Prison. Her pleas for mercy were not helped by her appearance and lifestyle – the wrong sort of woman – and her supposed lack of remorse; perhaps more significantly, the the murder occurred during the 1955 General Election campaign where the death penalty was one of the issues. The case caused widespread controversy at the time and petition asking for clemency was signed by 50,000 people. The hanging of Ruth Ellis strengthened public support for the abolition of the death penalty: she was the last woman to be executed in Britain and the death penalty was halted in practice for murder in Britain ten years later.

Pierrepoint: Ruth Ellis (Mary Stockley) had a brief part in this movie on the the life and times of Albert Pierrepoint, Britain’s most prolific hangman of the twentieth century though not the last hangman as the movie claims. Christina Baker was makeup designer; Paul Gooch and .

A Life for a Life: Fiona Ormiston played the role in thi TV rrama-documentary , which I believe was based on her one-woman theatre production Ruth Ellis. I haven’t been able to find a before image of Fiona and I don’t know the makeup credits: if anyone can help with either, please themakeupgallery.

Dance with a Stranger: Miranda Richardson made a big impression in her first leading role playing Ruth Ellis. Pat Hay was the makeup artist.