Woman in the Wings

The Mid Sussex Times November 28 1980

As wife of the distinguished theatrical agent, the late Robin Fox, and mother of three famous sons — actors Edward and James and Robert, who is making a name for himself as a producer — Mrs. Angela Fox is used to sitting in on other people’s interviews. But, as someone who once had a promising career as an actress herself and who has given her talented family all the quiet support they needed without losing her own identity, she’s a person worth talking to.

Born Angela Worthington, she was brought up in Kent by a pretty, stage-struck mother and her father, a country doctor with a large practice in Birchington.

She remembers her father with great affection. His large practice covered an area of the Kentish coast where many famous theatrical families took holiday homes. His distinguished patients included Gerald du Maurier. “He was marvellous, the most wonderful actor. People used to say ‘he’s not really an actor, he’s so natural’.”

DU MAURIER

Gladys Cooper was another. “Gerald du Maurier and Gladys Cooper were like an aunt and uncle in my life. Gladys remained my great friend all her life. We were always a great deal together and my husband did all her business. Her son-in-law, Robert Morley, became my husband’s greatest friend.”

At fourteen she was sent to a school in Stratford-upon-Avon where the headmistress, Miss McTaggart, made a lasting impression on her. “I was difficult and ugly and fat and on the wrong side of absolutely everything.”

She had no doubt about what she wanted to do when she left school. “I was very unattractive and unglamorous but absolutely stage struck, determined that I, too, would be an actress.”

After two years at school in Stratford-upon-Avon she joined R.A.D.A., living in a boarding house on Primrose Hill. “R.A.D.A. was wrong for me because I was a rebel and also because I knew that my mother couldn’t really afford the fees. This gave me an inferiority complex. It seemed so silly to stay there with nothing material behind me.”

ON TOUR

Instead she joined a touring theatre company, run by a man called Lionel Bute and, at just 17, went on tour in a farce called “Just Married.”

She has no doubt that it was the right decision. “I think you learn more by playing to an audience and by learning the disciplines of the theatre. You learn that you’re a nobody, you learn to work in a team, you learn your lines and you stick to it.”

Later she spent eighteen months in repertory in Bristol and at Southend where she shared digs with the Wall of Death riders from the local funfair. “I used to say to them ‘aren’t you frightened?’ but they said they were only frightened if they hadn’t maintained their machines.” Once again, a matter of discipline.

SACK

She was a promising comedienne but lacked dedication, frequently getting the sack for taking the train to London with boy friends and turning up late for rehearsal.

Her career ended on a high note, however, when at the age of twenty-one she played at the Vaudeville Theatre, London, in a comedy called “Black Coffee.” Her co-star, Roland Culver, became one of her life-long friends. She left the theatre for no other reason, she believes, than that she had got it out of her system.

At twenty-two she married a young solicitor, Robin Fox. His mother had been related to the famous theatrical family, the Nelson Terrys; his aunt was actress Lily Hanbury and he, too, had an interest in the theatre.

They lived at first in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, and in 1937 and 1939 their sons, Edward and William (who later changed his name to James for his acting career) were born. Their younger son, Robert, was born after the war.

After William’s birth the family moved to Sussex for a holiday and, when war came and Robin joined the army as a bombardier, they moved permanently to a house in Cuckfield.

Robin Fox was much decorated for bravery but, on returning to civilian life and taking up his job as a solicitor, he was not happy.

AGENT

Here, Mrs. Fox feels, fate took a hand. He was offered a job as lawyer to the large Music Corporation of America and became so popular with the stars of stage and screen he met that they asked him to become their agent.

For Angela Fox this meant that the Cuckfield house was full all weekends with actors, designers and writers, eating, chatting and gossiping. “I never interfered with the business side,” she says, “but as far as the social side went, that was my life.”

That their three sons should have had anything to do with the theatre as a profession was unheard of. “We never, ever, pushed any of them towards acting. Never,” she adds, emphatically. Nor were there any early signs of talent. “Edward was a very thoughtful, introverted boy, quiet and good at games. He didn’t appear to enjoy the theatre and we had no idea that he would ever become an actor.”

William (or James as he is known professionally) became an actor quite by chance. His father was working on a film with Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon, “The Minerva Story,” and the casting director was looking for a child to play one of the parts. In fun, Robin showed him a photograph of the Fox children and said “have mine.”

INSULTED

“They really wanted Edward,” she says, “but when approached he ran, saying we had insulted him!” William, who was very relaxed, did it instead. He has a natural talent for acting and went on to further success in a delightful children’s film called “Magnet,” directed by Charles Frend. Towards the end of the film the director suggested to Angela Fox that although he was thrilled with what William was doing, it would be better for him to return to school and a normal life.

They took his advice and he went back to school, later making his mark, as a grown-up, in “The Servant” with Dirk Bogarde.

His mother was as surprised as anyone when, quite suddenly a few years ago, he gave up his successful acting career and turned to religion. She feels it may have been due to his early and instant success. “Edward, on the other hand, was not at first successful, he did it the hard way.”

James is now married with four children and returns to the screen next year in a serial which A.T.V. are making about space man Dan Dare.

Robert seems set on a successful career in theatrical production, having worked at the Royal Court Theatre (which his father helped to establish) and later, as assistant producer to Michael White, partly responsible for such successes as “Chorus Line” and “Annie.”

Eleven years ago Robin Fox learned that he had cancer. His wife was told that there was no hope but, as a last resort, he decided to go to a clinic in Germany, run by a doctor who claimed he could cure cancer.

“He couldn’t,” she says, “but for five weeks it gave my husband hope.”

The treatment involved spending nine weeks in Germany and because the clinic offered little real nursing, that responsibility lay with the family.

Edward gave up his work here and went to Germany, nursing his father day and night. Each Sunday Robert Morley arrived and would stay by the bedside until it was time to return to England for Monday evening’s performance.

Back home, the actor Paul Scofield was one of the many friends who spent hours by the bedside. The funeral, in Cuckfield Church ten years ago, was a tribute by stars of stage and screen to a well-loved man.

Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Fox has moved into a small, pretty cottage behind the large house. There are pictures of her grandchildren everywhere — eight twentieth century Foxes.

Her cottage is hard to find — she has taken down the name plate to give her sons privacy on weekend visits.

One of the friends who gave support after Robin Fox’s death was Lord Harewood, managing director of the English National Opera Company. Because she wanted to repay his friendship and because she has a great love of opera, she is vice-chairman of the Benevolent Fund of the opera and she is on the Appeals Committee. “We have just as good music as Covent Garden,” she says indignantly, “but far less money!”

Locally she is involved with the League of Friends of Chailey Heritage and the Cuckfield Society, which her husband founded. She is also on the committee for the preservation of New England Wood and recently her son Edward gave a concert in Cuckfield to help the appeal.