She was seen in exactly eight films, but gorgeous Carole Gray still left quite an impression on horror movie fans. In fact, she could’ve become quite the British Scream Queen, if her career had been longer. I just saw her in Curse of the Fly and can only recommend a viewing of this movie, if only for its credits sequence, where Carole is seen only in her underwear escaping from a mental institution! This scene reminds us that more than her eyes and cheekbones were close to perfection.

She was born in 1940 in South Africa and made her movie debut in 1961 for The Young Ones, a musical starring Cliff Richard. Carole is mainly known for some other fantasy motion pictures, including Devils of Darkness, Island of Terror and The Brides of Fu Manchu. After an uncredited role as ‘Chorus Girl’ in 1969’s Oh! What a Lovely War, she disappeared from the screen, being married to Douglas Cullinan, grandson of the original owner of the Cullinen Diamond, the largest uncut diamond in the world. Shine on you…

It would’ve been nice to witness Carole Gray play bad girls, as there was sometimes a little disturbing edge in her gaze. The recent DVD release of the original The Fly trilogy and MGM’s ‘Midnight Movies’ double-bill of Devils of Darkness/Witchcraft is a great start to get (re)acquainted with a memorable actress.