Sylvia Syms

© National Portrait Gallery, London

 Like voting
is closed

Thanks for Liking

Please Like other favourites!
If they inspire you please support our work.

Buy a print Buy a greetings card Make a donation

Sylvia Syms

by Ida Kar
vintage bromide print, 1953
9 7/8 in. x 7 1/2 in. (250 mm x 192 mm)
Purchased, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x88601

Sitterback to top

  • Sylvia Syms (1934-2023), Actress, director and producer. Sitter in 10 portraits.

Artistback to top

  • Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 1567 portraits, Sitter in 137 portraits.

This portraitback to top

Kar took this publicity portrait shortly before Syms's stage debut in George Bernard Shaw's The Apple Cart (1954) and achieved the intense lighting by using two PhotoFlood lights with reflectors.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Freestone, Clare (appreciation) Wright, Karen (appreciation), Ida Kar Bohemian Photographer, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 March to 19 June 2011), p. 59 Read entry

    Syms studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and appeared in her first film aged nineteen. My Teenage Daughter (1954), in which she starred alongside Anna Neagle, was Syms' first major screen appearance and was followed by nine more films in the 1950s, including Ice-Cold in Alex (1958) and the English Civil War story Moonraker (1958). Syms' long career has encompassed notable film performances, including The Tamarind Seed (1974); radio performances; directing her own theatre company, Words Music; and recently a role in the BBC television soap opera EastEnders. Kar photographed Syms as she embarked on her acting career, the year before her stage debut in George Bernard Shaw's The Apple Cart at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. Kar achieved the intense lighting in this publicity portrait using two PhotoFlood lights with reflectors.

Linked displays and exhibitionsback to top

Portrait setback to top

Subject/Themeback to top

Events of 1953back to top

Current affairs

A combination of low pressure in the North Sea, hurricane force winds, and high tides result in the Great Flood of 1953. With no warning system many were trapped in their homes as 20-foot waves crashed on the coast; hundreds were killed at sea and on the east coast.
John Hunt's British Expedition conquers Everest. News of the achievement reached Britain on the day of Elizabeth's coronation.

Art and science

Frances Crick and James Watson discover the double helix structure of DNA. Uncovering DNA's chemical make-up revolutionised our understanding of the building blocks of life.
Ian Fleming publishes his first James Bond novel, Casino Royal.
Chad Varah founds 'The Samaritans' helpline.

International

Joseph Stalin dies four days after suffering a stroke. It has been suggested that Stalin was assassinated, as he was denied medical assistance for over a day after he was found; many suspect that he was poisoned. On his death Georgy Malenkov became leader of the Soviet Union.

Comments back to top

We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.

If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.