Television and Radio Edward Fox from a theatrical family

Press, 19 June 1979, Page 17

Television and Radio Edward Fox from a theatrical family

It has been said that "A Prince of Wales check suit put Edward Fox on the road to becoming King of England.” It al! began when young Edward, fresh out of National Service in the Coldstream Guards, was working as assistant manager with Warks and Spenceis. He found it depressing, everyone in regulation charcoal, so he turned up for work in a checked suit that had once belonged to his uncle. This, however, did not go over well, and Edward

was “invited to leave as soon as possible.” The department manager added that if Fox was going to indulge in such flamboyance he ought “to ponce oft and be an actor ” To Edward Fox this seemed as good an idea as any, but it was quite a while before he acquired star status. This, however, did not surprise him much. Being the eldest of three sons of the legendary theatrical agent Robin Fox and his former actress wife, Angela Worthington,

one would have thought Edward would have been a “natural,” but this was not the case. At the age of 10 he was to screen test for the juvenile lead in “The Miniver Story,” but once in front of the cameras, he took fright and with a strangled cry of, “I can’t, I can’t,” fled sobbing. Edward's mother says that although he was quite brilliant, he was always hesitant and insecure. “He was a gifted pianist but wouldn't g<- to the Royal College of Music when his nead suggested it. And he was a superb tennis player but when they wanted to coach him for'Wimbledon he gave up

tennis. He always stood back while others jumped in with both feet.”

While working on a smallish film “The GoBetweeen” Edward Fox was spotted bvy Fred Zinnermann, who so liked his

“gentle and dignified performance” that he cast Fox as the cold-blooded killer in “The Day of the Jackal.”

This film brought him fame.

Edward Fox is married to the actress, Joanna David. They live in a canalside flat in London and have a three-year-old daughter Emilia. (Fox has another daughter, Lucy, who is 17; Lucy’s mother is Tracy Reed, who

Edward married at the age of 21). Fox, at 40, is one year younger than the Prince was in 1928 when “Edward and Mrs Simpson” begins. He is stockier than the Prince; lined yet lacking the pouches which were beginning under the Prince’s eyes; but the straight fair hair and general contours of the face make the lieness very close. Fox has enjoyed his Royal Role, but he found it “a tricky one — trickier. say. than doing ? series on George IV.” There was always the uncomfonaoie reeling of having “preser.t-day Royal eyes” on him-