The Rise and Fall of Lynn Frederick, Hollywood's "English Rose"
Public opinion can not only spoil life, but also completely destroy it. The story of Lynn Frederick, a talented actress and just a beautiful woman, is a clear example of this. A rising movie star, nicknamed the "English rose" in Hollywood, could reach unprecedented heights. But she was ruined by envy, intrigue and her own frivolity.
Lynn Wagner Harding Frederick was born on July 25, 1954 in Hillingdon, West London. Her father abandoned the family, and her mother raised her daughter herself. At school, Lynn dreamed of becoming a teacher, teaching physics and mathematics. But in her senior year, her plans changed dramatically and the girl declared that she would become an actress. The mother did not like this choice too much, but she reluctantly supported her daughter.
Bright appearance and undoubted acting talent helped Frederick to start in the cinema. Already in 1970, she starred in the film "No Grass". Already the second film of the young actress, "Nicholas and Alexandra" (1971), received an Oscar. In it, Lynn played Princess Tatiana — not a key, but a notable role.
In 1972, Frederick again got a role in a historical film. This time she played Catherine Howard in the drama Henry VIII and His Six Wives. The same year brought her a role in the film "The Amazing Mr. Blunden" and the first personal award — London Evening Standard in the nomination "Best New Actress".
Lynn Frederick was a sought-after actress in the UK and the USA and before her career ended in 1979, she managed to star in 13 films and become the producer of another one. The life of a movie star could have turned out fine if not for her marriage. Personal life ruined Frederick and did not allow her to reach heights.
At the age of 22, Lynn meets the famous comedian Peter Sellers at a party. The man, who at that time was already over 50, fell under the spell of a young actress. Just two days later, the world-famous actor proposes to her, but Frederick refuses. She said "yes" a year later, in 1977, when the persistent Sellers proposed to her again in Paris.
The happiness of the newlyweds did not last long — just three years later Sellers died of a heart attack. For Lynn, the death of her husband was undoubtedly a tragedy. But she still did not understand that she had lost not only her husband, but also her life. She was not forgiven for marrying one of the most famous actors in the UK, as, indeed, his death.
The union of the famous comic actor and the young actress initially caused outrage of the beau monde and a lively discussion in the press. Peter Sellers was incredibly popular in the UK. There were even members of the royal family among his fans. Prince Charles has not missed a single movie with the actor.
In 1975, after the release of The Return of the Pink Panther, Prince wrote Sellers a letter. In it, Charles admitted that he laughed so hard at the premiere of the film in the cinema that he poured a drink over the dress of a woman sitting next to him. Although Lynn was famous, she was very far from her husband. Therefore, she was immediately suspected of all mortal sins.
First of all, there were rumors that the actor died because of his young wife. Sellers has had heart problems for a long time and doctors categorically forbade him to worry. In general, passionate love for a young person is not at all what a man needed in his condition. Peter's friends also added fuel to the fire. They constantly talked in interviews about the couple's difficult relationship and "fluctuations from passion to hatred, reconciliation and remorse."
Later, others were added to the accusations that she had brought her husband to the grave. Most often, Lynn was called a "gold digger" who coveted Sellers' fortune. The public was sure that Frederick was driven only by greed, not feelings.
Sellers' friends were the most active in the campaign against Frederick. They gave out more and more details from Lynn's life and Peter, and not caring at all about authenticity. It got to the point that the woman was accused of getting her middle-aged husband hooked first on alcohol, and then on drugs.
In fairness, I must say that Lynn was also good. Her husband bequeathed her his entire fortune: apartments, a mansion, a collection of cars and works of art, money and jewelry. At that time, it was a huge amount of capital — 4.5 million pounds. For modern money, this is 20 million pounds (2.1 billion rubles).
Sellers had a turbulent personal life and several marriages in his youth. From them, the actor left three children with whom he did not maintain a relationship. After the death of their father, they turned to Lynn and demanded to share the inheritance. But the woman replied that the deceased would not want the money he earned to go to anyone.
After that, a new plot for accusations appeared. According to the public opinion, Sellers wanted to change the will before his death, but Lynn did not let him do it. Sellers' eldest son, Michael, said that when the will was read out, even the lawyers of the deceased were ashamed. He also called the actor's widow a treacherous fraud.
After a series of scandals, the filmmakers of Great Britain, and then the USA, turned away from Lynn Frederick. In Hollywood, where a talented actress has recently been in great demand, it was not possible to get even episodic roles. Even those who had recently flatteringly called her an "English rose" looked askance at the woman.
In 1981, Lynn Frederick confirmed her status as a hunter of rich men. After a short acquaintance, she married the journalist and writer David Paradine Frost. This marriage has been going on for a little more than a year — already in 1982 they divorced.
In the same eventful 1982, Frederick is married again and again with a wealthy man. This time, the talented cardiac surgeon Barry Unger became her chosen one. This marriage lasted for a surprisingly long time, right up to 1991. From Unger, Lynn gave birth to her only child, daughter Cassie.
After her divorce from Barry Unger, Lynn and her daughter settled in Los Angeles. Frederick hoped that she would be able to return to the cinema, but all the doors were closed in front of her. A lonely, losing beauty woman began to drink. Prolonged depression led her to thoughts of suicide, but attempts to commit suicide were unsuccessful.
Wherever the fading "English rose" went, it was always pursued by paparazzi. They filmed her swollen figure and swollen face from alcohol. The suffering of the unfortunate woman did not last long — in 1994 she unexpectedly died. Coroners ruled out suicide and any criminal scenario. The cause of death was not announced, but everyone understood that Frederick was killed by an addiction to alcohol.
Even the dead Lynn was so hated that her funeral had to be held behind closed doors. Journalists and outsiders were not allowed to attend them — only a few close friends and distant relatives were present. But Frederick, even after death, annoys many. According to the will of the actress, her ashes were mixed with the ashes of her first husband and "Lynn Sellers" was written on the urn.
All the property acquired by Peter Sellers and Lynn herself eventually went to Kess— the only daughter of the actress. The exception was only a modest 250 thousand dollars (19 million rubles). This money was divided equally between the British Heart Foundation and Middlesex Hospital in London, as Peter Sellers once wanted.