She was a rising star from West Norwood, but her life took a tragic turn when her actor husband died in a car crash . Battling addiction and depression, she eventually died broke and alone.
A much-loved British actress who shot to stardom in the 1940s and 50s passed away destitute and isolated following a prolonged struggle with alcohol dependency and depression, which is said to have taken hold after her husband’s untimely death in a road accident.
Susan Shaw, born Patricia Gwendoline Sloots, had cemented her place in the spotlight after appearing in a string of celebrated British films, television programmes and highly regarded musicals. Such was the extent of her popularity that in April 1951, a poll of 2,000 Daily Mail readers placed the young star amongst Britain’s most well-loved actresses of the era.
Susan was born in West Norwood, London, and came from modest roots. The Norwood Society reports she lived at No 6 Hamilton Road with her family, directly above a hairdresser’s shop in a small terrace of houses, reports the Daily Star.
From an early age, Susan harboured ambitions of treading the boards and making a name for herself. She found her early steps in the industry difficult, as she recalled in an article in Picture Parade, Film Annual 1950: “As I travelled up to London (to work) every day from my home in West Norwood, I used to read every film magazine I could lay my hands on. I was mad about cinema, but not about my work.
“I wanted something romantic, something glamorous, but had to comfort myself reading the success stories of others who’d risen from humble beginnings like me. Little did I realize that, within a year or two, I myself would become a star of British pictures! It all seems like a dream.”
Rise to fame
Susan’s journey in acting commenced shortly after the Second World War ended, with the performer landing roles in musicals such as Walking on Air and London Town. Early in her career, she also obtained minor supporting parts in productions including Holiday Camp and The Upturned Glass.
Her ascent to stardom took off following her contract with The Rank Organisation, which eventually covered her funeral expenses as the performer was practically penniless when she passed away.
Susan’s most memorable performance came in the hugely successful film It Always Rains on Sunday, which was reportedly amongst the ‘biggest winners’ at British cinemas in 1948. She subsequently secured leading roles in productions such as To the Public Danger, It’s Not Cricket, and Marry Me, while also featuring in the star-studded ensemble of Train of Events. Susan notably appeared in the Carry On franchise’s second instalment, Carry On Nurse.
During this period, Susan Shaw had become one of Britain’s most in-demand young performers and attracted considerable media attention.
Tragic fall from grace
She also took the leading role in Pool of London, appearing opposite her future husband, Bonar Colleano, whose premature death would prove to be the catalyst for her decline and heartbreaking fall from grace. The South London actress wed Bonar in 1954, and together they had a son, Mark.
Bonar was her second husband, following the dissolution of Susan’s first marriage to Albert Lieven the year prior. From her union with Albert, she had a daughter named Anna.
In May 1958, Bonar confessed to living an ‘extravagant’ lifestyle, having accumulated debts of nearly £10,000 as a result. Tragically, on August 17 of that same year, Bonar lost his life in a fatal high-speed car crash. Devastated by the loss of her husband, Susan turned to alcohol.
She reportedly sank into heavy drinking and depression, and as her battle with alcoholism and declining mental health rendered her unable to care for her son, she entrusted him to his paternal grandmother. Sadly, Susan was unable to turn her life around.
In November 1959, she walked down the aisle for a third time, marrying television producer Ronald Rowson, yet barely a year later, in November 1960, this marriage also came to an end.
Left destitute and living alone in London’s Soho, Susan eventually passed away on November 27, 1978, aged 49, in Middlesex, from cirrhosis of the liver. The once-celebrated British actress was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium in North London.
Following her death, friends had reportedly planned to cover her funeral expenses, but the Rank Organisation intervened and paid the costs instead.
A Rank spokesperson said at the time: “When we heard of the circumstances of her death, we felt it was the least we could do.”
Charlie Stevenson, landlord of the Swiss Tavern in Old Compton Street, said: “She came in here every day. They say she died of cirrhosis of the liver and she lived next door to prostitutes in Soho. But this is Soho. We all live next door to prostitutes.
“We loved her and we weren’t going to see her buried in a pauper’s grave. Now we shall give the money to medical charities.”
Having achieved stardom from humble working-class South London origins, Susan’s journey is marked by dramatic peaks and troughs, and the beloved British actress remains fondly remembered for her contributions to film.
