The Enid Blyton Society

As a fan of Tenko, I'd like to know what became of Karin Foley.

I think actors that achieve succcess as an adult have dreamt and worked hard to get there and will often continue to build on that. Child actors tend to get lucky as kids, often pushed into roles by parents and have their lives strictly controlled by those around them - hence they either rebel with drink or drugs (River Phoenix, Lindsay Lohan, Drew Barrymore) or they retreat from the limelight to concentrate on what they would prefer to do (Mara Wilson, Christina Ricci, Clare Danes) Those ive mentioned have all come back to the limelight but I imagine its very easy to take the money and hide.

thE GUY WHO PLAYS Perfect Peter in the horrid henry movie, it 13.

I agree most child actors are enrolled at an early age in stage schools by pushy parents. Lazy casting directors trawl the local London stage schools to audition instead of spending time and money seeking out raw talent in the provinces.
The best child actors like Jenny achieve greatness in one film or series then disappear.

A lot of people in London enrol into the Italia conti academy

I've just seen a former child actor this afternoon! I went to a Carry On event in Ealing, and among the people there was Stephen Garlick. For those of you who are familiar with 'Carry On Doctor', he's the little boy with the potty stuck on his head! He did a few things in the 70s and 80s (such as Black Beauty), but hasn't been in anything since 1991.

That sounds dangerous- getting your head stuck in the potty

I haven't seen it for many years, but he's sitting in the waiting room of a hospital with his mother, with a potty on his head! And I seem to remember after they remove it, he reappears at the end of the film in exactly the same predicament!

lwindrush wrote: Lazy casting directors trawl the local London stage schools to audition instead of spending time and money seeking out raw talent in the provinces.
The best child actors like Jenny achieve greatness in one film or series then disappear.

Did not Jenny Thanisch attend the very prestigious Corona Stage Academy in Hammersmith? Michelle Galagher also attended a London stage school. Out of the 70's series Famous Five cast, I am almost certain that it was only Marcus Harris who attended a school that was not stage orientated.

Just imagine all the great untapped potential of actors whose parents cannot afford to send them to stage school. One of the greatest child performances of all time David Bradley in Kes was from a comprehensive background.

Didn't realise Jenny went to a stage school or appeared in The Sweeney, impressive.

lwindrush wrote:One of the greatest child performances of all time David Bradley in Kes was from a comprehensive background.

I agree: an absolutely brilliant performance!

Some other child actors of note from my era (1950s) were Richard O'Sullivan, Mandy Miller, Jeremy Spenser and Bobby Driscoll.

Do you remember Mark Lester in the film of the musical Oliver?
Towering performance again he appears to have dropped out of acting.

Jenny was Jack Regan's daughter, that's pure rock n roll.

It nearly slipped my attention but....A belated Happy Birthday to Jennifer Thanisch, Who played Anne in the 1978 F5 TV Series! Wherever you are, I hope you've had a great day!

Yes, a very happy birthday. She was probably at school today (teaching ).

Jack

Jennifer will be forever a young girl despite being a teacher! Happy birthday.