Felixstowe Nub News delves into the life of Felixstowe born film star Dawn Addams.

British actress Dawn Addams, birth name Victoria Dawn Addams, was a Hollywood starlet of the 1950s. She may not be as recognisable as the likes of her peers such as Marilyn Monroe or Elizabeth Taylor, yet Felixstowe's own film star should be recognised in her own right.

Addams was born on 21 September 1930 in Felixstowe. She was the daughter of Ethel Mary and Captain James Ramage Addams, an officer of the Royal Air Force.

With her father's career as an RAF officer, she moved from Felixstowe to Calcutta, India and then to America, where her pursuit for fame would begin.

This paid off as, in 1950, her film star career began when she signed a seven year contract with MGM studios. Alumni of MGM studios include such stars as Joan Crawford and Judy Garland.

Her debut role was in the film "Night into Morning," with her subsequent MGM films including parts in "Singin' In The Rain," "Plymouth Adventure" and "Young Bess."

Around this time, she also embarked on a USO tour to help entertain and boost the morale of the troops in Korea alongside Debbie Reynolds.

She worked steadily in films throughout the 1950s including being the female lead opposite Charlie Chaplin in his final comedy to star himself, "A King in New York." The film did well in Europe and is currently rated 80% on the website, Rotten Tomatoes.

Addams stated that she wished to "be swept off my feet by a man [she] can dominate." Later, she married Don Vittorio Emanuele Massimo, Prince of Roccasecca in 1954. Their extravagant wedding was featured in Life Magazine and was attended by Charlie and Oona Chaplin.

However, their marital life started with a hitch as, on their honeymoon, the prince was sentenced to four months in jail on a year-old charge of insulting a cop in Leghorn.

Luckily, however, their honeymoon resumed when his lawyer won him an appeal. They later separated after four years and she went on to marry retired businessman Jimmy White in 1974.

During the '60s and '70s, she mainly appeared in British TV shows including several episodes of "The Saint", which featured Roger Moore as Simon Templar.

She retired in the early 1980s to live a quiet life, dividing her time between Europe and America.

She passed away in 1985 after a five month illness of cancer.

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