Jill Haworth

Valerie Jill Haworth (15 August 1945 – 3 January 2011) was an English-American actress. She appeared in films throughout the 1960s, and started making guest appearances on television in 1963. She originated the role of Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret on Broadway in 1966.

Haworth was born in Hove, Sussex, to a textile magnate father and a mother Nancy who trained as a ballet dancer. She was named Valerie Jill in honour of the day she was born, Victory over Japan Day or V.J. Day. She took ballet lessons at the Sadler's Wells Ballet School to escape from an unhappy home when her parents separated in 1953. Later she attended the Corona Stage School.

Haworth's first film appearance was in the remake of The 39 Steps (1959), directed by Ralph Thomas, when she had a non-speaking part as a schoolgirl. Next she played another schoolgirl in The Brides of Dracula (1960), directed by Terence Fisher.

Otto Preminger was seeking a new fresh face for the role of Karen Hansen, an ill-fated Jewish-Danish refugee girl in love with Dov Landau (Sal Mineo), for his film Exodus (1960). He travelled to Britain and Germany, with his fiancée Hope Bryce, searching for a girl to cast in the role. After looking at hundreds of girls, Preminger spotted a photo of Haworth in a modelling magazine for the Corona Theatre School.

Haworth went to the three auditions in order to get out of school. She was only 15 years old when she was cast as Karen Hansen in her first credited role in a feature film. Haworth appeared in the 31 July 1960 issue of Parade magazine. She and Mineo appeared on the front cover of the 12 December 1960 issue of LIFE, part of a photo essay by Gjon Mili.