Clark, Petula (1932- )

English singer and actor. A child star in the 1940s, she became one of Britain's most successful pop singers of the 1960s, with international hits such as ‘Downtown’ (1964) and ‘My Love’ (1966) winning her 10 gold discs and two Grammy awards. Her film and stage work includes the screen musicals Finian's Rainbow (1968) and Goodbye Mr Chips (1969), and productions of Blood Brothers (1993-94) on Broadway and Sunset Boulevard (1995) in London.

Clark was born in Epsom, Surrey. As a child she entertained the troops during World War II and had her own radio series Pet's Parlour (1943). After making her cinema debut in Medal for the General (1944), she appeared in a number of other films, including Here Come the Huggetts (1948) and The Card (1952). Her stage performances have included starring roles in The Sound of Music (1981), and Someone Like You (1987), which she co-wrote.