Biografia
Born Susan Margery Jeaffreson Lloyd in Suffolk, England, on August 7, 1939, Sue Lloyd was the daughter of a medical doctor. Raised in Birmingham and trained in ballet, she began studying at the Sadler's Wells School at the age of 11. Standing 5'8", her height limited her ballet prospects, so the statuesque Sue transitioned to performing as a chorus girl and showgirl, including time with Lionel Blair's dance company.
After some modeling work—she appeared on the cover of Vogue—Sue took on small roles in 1960s comedies like Go to Blazes (1962) and Nothing But the Best (1964). She broke into television playing alluring or tough characters in British series such as The Sentimental Agent, Gideon C.I.D., The Saint, and The Avengers. These spy shows led to her starring role as co-agent Cordelia Winfield alongside American actor Steve Forrest in the short-lived British secret agent series The Baron (1966).
Sue also appeared in espionage films, notably as a stylish love interest to Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer in The Ipcress File (1965). Later, she parodied the spy genre in No. 1 of the Secret Service (1977) with Nicky Henson and in the slapstick comedy Revenge of the Pink Panther (1978) with Peter Sellers. On stage, she made her West End debut in 1971 with a brief run of The Avengers, playing Hannah Wild, partner to John Steed (Simon Oates).
Throughout her career, Sue alternated between glamorous film and television roles, though substantive parts were rare. Her film credits include Attack on the Iron Coast (1968), Corruption (1968), Where’s Jack? (1969), Percy (1971), That’s Your Funeral (1972), Spanish Fly (1976), The Ups and Downs of a Handyman (1975), and Lady Oscar (1979). On TV, she had recurring roles in the comedy series His and Hers (1970) and The Two Ronnies (1971). Her career waned after appearing in Joan Collins' cult films The Stud (1978) and The Bitch (1979).
Less visible in later years, Sue had a recurring role on the 1980s soap Crossroads (1964), playing the wife of Ronald Allen. Their storyline concluded in 1985. Both appeared in the 1987 comedy caper Eat the Rich. Sue married Allen in March 1991 after he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer; he passed away months later. Their marriage attracted tabloid attention due to Allen’s long-term relationship with actor Brian Hankins, also from Crossroads.
In later life, Sue devoted herself to painting, an interest she developed in the mid-1970s. She made a nostalgic cameo in the 1995 TV movie Bullet to Beijing, reprising a connection with Michael Caine’s Harry Palmer character. In 1998, she published her autobiography, It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time. Her final screen appearance was in Beginner’s Luck (2001). Sue Lloyd died in London on October 20, 2011, at age 72, after a prolonged battle with cancer.
