Sylvia Syms was in a film premiere lineup when Marilyn Monroe cried out: “My shoulder strap’s snapped.” Anthony Quayle told Sylvia: “Take Marilyn to the Ladies and get it fixed.”
“But I might miss seeing the Queen,” said Sylvia. “Just do it,” said Tony. In her clutch bag Sylvia had a safety pin – problem solved, and they all met the Queen.
When Daniel Day-Lewis pulled out of Hamlet at the National Theatre, Judi Dench left too, unhappy with her performance as Gertrude. Sylvia took over. Her Hamlet was Ian Charleson, at a time when fear of HIV/Aids was so great that the wardrobe would not touch his shirts. The only way to get him home at night was for her to drive him, and she did.
