Christine Keeler an Icon - The Actors
“Sexual intercourse began In nineteen sixty-three Philip Larkin poems, Annus Mirabilis
The Profumo scandal is a significant cultural touchpoint, either symbolizing or sparking major shifts in the Western world. Over the years, its story has inspired numerous creative works, including musicals, plays, films, and the recent six-part BBC drama, "The Trial of Christine Keeler."
This influential event has inspired a wide array of artistic expressions, from songs and poetry to various forms of visual art.
who has played Christine Keeler
"May I have an assurance that no film dealing with the life of Miss Keeler will be allowed to be shown in this country?"
Irene Ward MP, House of Commons, 21 Nov 1963
Joan Collins and Peter Sellers - "Fool Britannia" 1963
Perhaps the earliest dramatization, a comedy satire penned by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse, featured a stellar cast including Peter Sellers, Daniel Massey, Michael Lipton, and Joan Collins as Christine.
This performance was staged live for an exclusive audience in New York on August 6, 1963. The LP and EP were released soon after. However, due to censorship laws in the UK, they were prohibited from mentioning the Stephen Ward Trial or Profumo's resignation. As a clever workaround, the final track includes a voice stating:
"There’s no smoke without fire," or as my old Latin master would say, "Non Combusto Profumo."
The Affair - 1963
Script was by Noel Carter and Joe Milner and it was performed by Noel Carted, Joe Milner and Wendy Vernals. The cover design was by Barry Fantoni
The film that is still banned to this day, 65 years later, "The Keeler Affair"
Yvonne Buckingham took on the role of Christine Keeler in the 1963 film "The Keeler Affair." The film, which had a budget of approximately £100,000, also featured John Drew Barrymore (father of Drew Barrymore) as Ward. The script was contributed to by two Daily Mirror journalists, with Robert Spafford directing.
Despite its intriguing subject matter, "The Keeler Affair" has never been released in the UK. The British Board of Film Censors (BBFC) rejected the film twice—first in 1963 and then again in 1970. For a deeper look into the censorship issues surrounding this film, Richard Farmer has written an insightful piece. - Link
"Scandal" (1998)
Joanne Whalley played Christine in film “Scandal” 1989
There was still pressure against making a film on the events, with some of the actors being warned off appearing in it.
It went to be a big success and even performed well at the US box office, Harvey Weinstein's Mirarmax helped finance it.
Christine and her son went on a set visit. John Hurt was filming the Stephen Ward suicide scene and one of the actors told Christine that there were "pervy" producers always asking for more sex in the film.
Things were never quite as out of control for the establishment in this country as they were for about three or four months in the middle of 1963.”
– Joe Boyd, executive producer of ‘Scandal’
This film sparked the notorious interview with Sue Lawley, where she remarked, "People say that John Profumo and his family have suffered enough."
The first musical?
"A Model Girl"! This musical, which ran from January 30 to February 24, 2007, at the Greenwich Theatre in London, was written by Richard Alexander and Marek Rymaszewski
Emma Williams played Christine.
Christine's favorite
"Keeler" premiered on February 14, 2007, and saw subsequent performances in 2011 and 2013. This stage play was brought to life by Paul Nicholas, who also portrayed Stephen Ward at the Charing Cross Theatre. Written by Gill Adams, "Keeler" had a run at the Richmond Theatre in 2011 before returning to the Charing Cross Theatre at the end of 2013.
Alice Coulthard originally played Christine, with Sarah Armstrong taking over for the Charing Cross performances. Christine herself contributed to the script and enjoyed collaborating with Paul Nicholas on the production.
“Christine: The Musical”
"Christine: The Musical," penned by Tony Franchi, premiered in 2012 and had another run in 2015. Tony composed the music and lyrics, and co-wrote the script with Marion Wells. This captivating musical was first staged at the Headgate Theatre in Colchester in 2012. It later graced the stage at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester in 2015, enchanting audiences once again with its compelling narrative and memorable melodies. Tony's dedication to the project, alongside Marion's collaborative efforts, brought Christine's story to life.
BBC Radio 4 Drama
Well, He Would, Wouldn’t He? By Charlotte Williams
Mandy, played by Aimee Ffion-Edwards (Skins, Peaky Blinders), looks back at those events and the impact they've had on her life. With Lyndsey Marshal (The Hours, Garrow’s Law) as Christine Keeler and Adrian Schiller (The Danish Girl, Beauty and the Beast) as Lord Astor.
From Andrew Lloyd Webber
In addition to "Keeler" and "Christine: The Musical," Christine's story also made its way to the stage through Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical "Stephen Ward." This production opened at the Aldwych Theatre in late 2013, with Charlotte Spencer portraying Christine.
The premiere was notable, with Mandy Rice-Davies attending shortly before her passing.
Interestingly, despite being approached for her input on the show, Christine chose not to be involved and never saw the production.
Netflix - "The Crown"
Christine also made a brief appearance on screen in "The Crown." In season 2, episode 10, titled "Mystery Man," Gala Gordon played Christine.
This episode aired in 2017 and centres around the mysterious "man" in the title, alluding to Prince Phillip and his alleged involvement in the scandal.
BBC Drama
Sophie Cookson portrayed Christine in the BBC drama "The Trial of Christine Keeler" in 2019. This six-episode series delved into the characters and impact of the scandal, and notably covered the trial that led to Christine's imprisonment for perjury, a part of the story that has always been overlooked.