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(April) Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman), Lady Balcon

(1904-1988), Wife of Michael Balcon; mother of Jill Balcon; daughter of H. Leatherman

Sitter in 4 portraits
Aileen Freda Leatherman was born in Middlesex, but brought up in Johannesburg. In 1924 she married film producer Sir Michael Balcon and had two children: Jill, born 1925, and Jonathan, born 1931. Jill Balcon, became an actress and married future Poet Laureate Cecil Day-Lewis; their son, Daniel Day-Lewis, also became an actor. In 1946 she was appointed MBE for her war work.

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(April) Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman), Lady Balcon as Minerva

by Madame Yevonde
Vivex colour print, June 1935
NPG x11633

Jonathan Balcon; Michael Balcon; Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman)

by Keystone Press Agency Ltd
bromide press print, 9 August 1937
NPG x184164

Michael Balcon; (April) Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman), Lady Balcon

by Tom Blau
bromide press print, 1951
NPG x198255

Michael Balcon; (April) Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman), Lady Balcon; Tamasin Day-Lewis

by Chris Ware, for Keystone Press Agency Ltd
bromide press print, 1974
NPG x184226

Family Tree

Day-Lewis

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Goddesses and Others

Thematic collections

Madame Yevonde's Goddesses photographs

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(April) Aileen Freda Balcon (née Leatherman), Lady Balcon