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Oriel Ross

(1907-1994), Actress and amateur artist

Sitter in 1 portrait
Artist of 7 portraits
Actress. Born Muriel Swinstead, she trained at the Royal College of Music and made her debut on stage at sixteen in Karel Capek's The Insect Play in 1923. In 1928 she appeared as Nature in Diaghilev 's Ballet Ode and then went to New York, where she appeared on Broadway and in revue and cabaret. She returned to London in 1931 and was in work throughout the 1930s and 40s, when she was a member of Lilian Baylis's Old Vic Company. She was married to the 8th Earl Poulett from 1935 to 1941.

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Oriel Ross, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6578

Oriel Ross

by Oriel Ross
pen and ink, circa 1928-1931
NPG 6578

John Armstrong, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6574

John Armstrong

by Oriel Ross
pencil, 1930s
NPG 6574

Clifford Bax, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6575

Clifford Bax

by Oriel Ross
pencil, 1930s
NPG 6575

Constant Lambert, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6576

Constant Lambert

by Oriel Ross
pen and ink, 1930s
NPG 6576

John Rothenstein, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6579

John Rothenstein

by Oriel Ross
pencil, 1930s
NPG 6579

Elsa Lanchester, by Oriel Ross - NPG 6577

Elsa Lanchester

by Oriel Ross
pencil, 1931
NPG 6577

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Carmel McGill

10 June 2016, 09:36

I lived with Oriel, Countess Poulett for over a year when I was at SOAS, University of London. 1976-77. Fascinating woman who had sung and danced with Noel Coward. Immortalized by Epstein in drawings and bronzes. Played Debussy every evening. She was one of a kind!