A Very Special Christmas Gift

I had tried to learn her name and something of her life about four years ago, when I first purchased this computer.  A chat room with comments that were then five years old, revealed that others in cyberspace did not know who she was either. The wondering really began with my first viewing of the film "A Christmas Carol" in the early 1960s.  This 1951 English production starring Alistair Sim as Ebenezer Scrooge, had each year increasingly solidified its rightful claim in my family's hearts, as one of the treasured parts of our Christmas traditions and expressions of love.  The film's ending included a cameo and silent role that instantly touched us all and was an added bonus to the present of this beloved film and its "father", Charles Dickens.  The young woman, as I said, spoke not a word. Consequently, no literature on the internet could I find, crediting her as a cast member. But what was so special about her? If you have seen the movie, less than twice, it is possible that that question might arise to a casual observer of the movie. However, it would take a casualness, bordering on a want of feeling for Dickens' tale's message, to not have one's attention and sentiments arrested by viewing Miss X on consecutive presentations of the movie.  Her only acting included the business of taking Scrooge's overcoat and then fixing him with the most supremely disarming look of heavenly encouragement as the hesitant old sinner weighs the decision to enter his nephew's Christmas gathering.  She persists in her loving, inviting and yet chary glance and one intuits that she, with her goodness (and sublimely huge, innocent eyes), is part of Ebenezer's reclamation.

Well, the mystery of her identity ended quickly and quietly as another Christmas Day passed last week. "Ask and you shall receive" was never a truer statement, when on Boxing Day, I enquired of my Facebook friends in general: "Does anyone know who played Scrooge's nephew Fred's chambermaid?" And a mutual friend and new, much appreciated F.B. pal responded speedily and has now made it possible for me (to steal a line, but the identical sentiment of another friend who I had the pleasure of bringing these glad tidings to) "to at last, die in peace" with the identity and brief biography of this actress of so long ago. The chambermaid was played by Miss Theresa Derrington. It was in fact, very satisfying to learn that she is still with us, and that she has apparently led a remarkably unremarkable life with marriage, children, grandchildren and a long career as an art teacher. Her role in "Scrooge" (its title in the U.K.) was her second and last in film. God bless you, young lady. You shall forever remain a juvenescent soul to me and to all who love Christmas.