Customer Reviews

High Spirits

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Joan Sims has not had an easy life according to her autobiography. She was a fighter who fought to get into the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic in London, England known as RADA. After she studied and trained, she starred on stage, television, and film.

She became one of England's most treasured comedic actresses but she was never given a proper British honor. She should have been made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire but that didn't happen alive. The BBC should introduce an award in her memory for actresses who have dedicated a lifetime of performing comedy.

Apart from her professional career which is best remembered by her final appearances on the popular "As Time Goes By" with Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer OBE as fun-loving Madge Hardcastle but also for the Carry Ons which are still popular and needed more than ever.

Her personal life was not as successful as her professional life. She never married but lived with men and never had children. She battled her demons against alcoholism but she never lost her high spirits which this book is appropriately titled in her memory. Regardless that she was never given her British honor alive, she never dwelled or thought much about it.

But you knew that she was special when I first saw her on "As Time Goes By" with that infectious smile and hearty laugh. Apart from her television and film appearances, she has quite lengthy list of appearances on stage, television, and film. Still, I miss her after 7 years.