Elvi Hale

Patricia Elvira Hake (29 January 1931 – 1 March 2025), known as Elvi Hale, was a British actress. She played Anne of Cleves in The Six Wives of Henry VIII, broadcast in 1970.

Elvi Hale
Born	Patricia Elvira Hake (1931-01-29)29 January 1931 Romford, Essex, England
Died	1 March 2025(2025-03-01) (aged 94)
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1957–1992
Spouses	Mike Morgan ​ ​ (m. 1957; died 1958)​ George Murcell ​ ​ (m. 1961; died 1998)​

Life and career

Hake was born on 29 January 1931,^[1] in Romford, Essex, where she was also raised. She was educated at Reed's School. Hake was discovered by Laurence Olivier, who saw her perform at the Old Vic School.^[2] Elvi played Heather, the love interest of Leslie Phillips (as Sub-Lieutenant Pouter) in the film version of The Navy Lark (1959), a role normally played by Heather Chasen in the radio series.

Hale was nominated for a BAFTA award for most promising film newcomer for her performance in Wendy Toye's True as a Turtle (1957).^[3][4] She portrayed the fourth of Henry VIII's wives, Anne of Cleves, in the BBC's six-part drama serial The Six Wives of Henry VIII first broadcast in 1970. She completely retired from all film and television work in 1990.^{[citation needed]}

Hale was married to actor Mike Morgan until his death in 1958. She married character actor George Murcell in 1961; he died in 1998, at the age of 73.^[5] Hale died on 1 March 2025, at the age of 94.^[6]

Partial filmography

• True as a Turtle (1957) - Ann
• Happy Is the Bride (1958) - Petula
• The Navy Lark (1959) - Leading WREN Heather
• Man Detained (1961) - Kay Simpson
• The Heroes of Telemark (1965) - Mrs. Sandersen
• Confession episode The Fell Sergeant (television play) (1970) - Judith Shelton
• Bel Ami (1971) - Clotilde de Marelle^[7]
• The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1 episode, 1971) - Lady Molly
• Upstairs, Downstairs episode "Guest of Honour" (1972) - Mrs. Millicent Hartfield