Joan Miller (actress)

Joan Miller (18 February 1910 - 31 August 1988) in Nelson, British Columbia, Canada was an actress. She moved to London, UK in 1931 to pursue a career in acting.

Miller was the face of Picture Page, a topical magazine programme that began on the nascent BBC television service in 1936. In the programme Miller played the part of a switchboard operator "connecting" viewers to the show's guests; "introducing visitors, types and personalities". Before each interview Miller, sitting at a telephone switchboard, would introduce each guest. The programme was popular amongst early television viewers. However, the mock switchboard's homespun look was found to be irksome by the Television and Short-Wave World magazine. Miller got the job on the strength of her having been a trainer of switchboard operators in Vancouver.

In addition to her role on Picture Page, Miller's versatility was often called upon to act in various BBC plays and TV movies. On 6 December 1937 Miller played the role of May in a 90-minute televised play called Once in a Lifetime, a satire on the effect of talking pictures on the entertainment industry. She also played the role of Cleopatra in a skit "You Can't Take Your Needle With You, Cleo!" for a BBC comedy show.

When interviewed for the 18 January 1938 edition of the News Chronicle about the differences between the broadcasting of television and radio plays she said, "Unlike radio plays, you have to learn your part by heart, often at short notice. It is almost impossible to get a prompt, a prompt being horribly audible." A radio play being less arduous as the players require no costumes and the players read their lines directly from scripts.

Having played the part of the switchboard girl in 106 episodes in the space of 34 months, Miller's role ended when the BBC television service ceased broadcasting for the duration of the Second World War on 1 September 1939.

In addition to her film and TV roles, Miller was a theatre and radio actress too. She was the winner of the Bessborough Trophy for Best Canadian Actress in 1934.

Personal life
Miller married Peter Cotes (brother of film makers John and Roy Boulting) in 1948. Peter was an actor, producer and director. Miller died on 31 August 1988 in Oxford, UK. She had suffered from a painful illness for most of her life. Miller had supported many causes and was vice-president of the animal welfare group Beauty Without Cruelty.

Acting credits
Only where credited.