MADALYN MORGAN
Actress, writer and radio presenter
Madalyn is an actress, writer and radio presenter. She is currently presenting a Radio Show on Raiders Broadcast, one of London’s first Internet Radio Stations, and is also looking for a publisher for her first novel, 'Foxden Acres' as well as seeking work as an actress. While she waits for a 'YES' from a Literary Agent and Publisher, she is writing her second novel called ‘Applause’ as well as holding two books in the same genre as Foxden Acres, and two contemporary novels in her head.
BIOGRAPHY – Or who is she?
Madalyn was brought up in a working class pub in a small market town called Lutterworth in Leicestershire. In the mid 50s her father, Jack, turned the hay loft above the stables into a dance room, had a stage built where local rock bands played on Saturday nights and bought a 124-play Jukebox. So, as she grew up with the sounds of rock 'n' roll, it’s hardly surprising that music has remained a passion. “I love the Rock and Prog-Rock Bands of the 60’s and 70’s, the Stadium Rock bands of the 80’s & 90’s - as well as the alternative sounds of today - in fact, I love all music.” Her claim to fame as a rock-chick was singing with an R & B band called The DT’s. “The DT’s were great - I was not!” she says. “'Bobbie McGee' and 'Mercedes Benz' were my most performed songs. I sang them just before closing time at my mum and dad's pub. It was a good way to get the customers to go home!”
At 15 Madalyn was offered a part in “Crossroads” (the first time round), which her mother wouldn't let her do because it meant she would have to live in Birmingham. So at 16 she began a hairdressing apprenticeship with her cousins Ann and Susan (Suzanne's) and ran dances and discos at the weekends. When she was twenty she bought her own hairdressing salon and at twenty-two she started a wig hire business, supplying wigs to The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry and The Palace Theatre, Watford. Although she had played the lead role in every school play since she was eleven years old and most of the leading roles in the local amateur dramatic society from when she was fifteen until she was twenty, this was her first step into the world of professional theatre. While she was dressing the hair of the fabulous Pat Pheonix (Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street) Pat asked her to if she would go to New Zealand with her and play the maid in the 1944 play ‘Gaslight’. Madalyn auditioned for E15 Drama College instead. “Not going to NZ with Pat was a huge mistake.”
At twenty-four she won a place to go to the East 15 Drama College. At twenty-six, with the promise of an Equity card she began her professional acting career with a Theatre In Education Tour with 'Locomotive' out of Telford & Iron Bridge. She spent a season at The University Theatre in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and The Citizen’s Theatre in Glasgow. Madalyn worked extensively in Repertory Theatre before moving to London and working in the London Fringe and The West End. She spending six months at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket with Vanessa Redgrave and Tim Dalton in ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ and ‘The Taming Of The Shrew’.
In 1992 Madalyn gave up her acting career for love (and to get a mortgage) and ten years later love gave her up. "He left me for someone half my age, but then he was half my age, so, what can you say... Actually I said a lot at the time but after sticking pins in dolls - only joking (I wish him and his girlfriend and his baby (s) and Leeds United Football Club, good health and happiness). He's a Leeds United fan, or should I say fanatic. Leeds aren't doing very well are they? Shame that! So, in 2002, Madalyn reinvented herself and started again. She taught herself to touch type, did a two-year writing course and has written her first novel (thanks to the encouragement of mentors, Roger Wood and Alan Wallace) and is waiting for a literary agent or publisher to turn it into print.
The last television work she did was ‘Maurice 2274’ and 'Billy Girl Of The Future’ - both series were directed by the wonderfully talented and funny Daniel Peacock, for Two Hats Television and Film, and Channel 5. Until Madalyn finds more work as an actress she will keep writing and keep inputting data on the computer to pay the bills.