Julie Stevens (English actress)

Julie Stevens (born Julia Bullas; 20 December 1936) is an English actress, presenter and singer, best known in Britain for her appearances on children's television.

Acting career
Stevens was born in Prestwich and attended Stand Grammar School. She trained as a nurse at Manchester Royal Infirmary, after starting her television career as a comedienne in TV show Bid for Fame. She was a regular on Play School and Play Away, and provided vocals for the schools television series Look and Read.

During the 1962–63 season she played Venus Smith, an occasional partner of John Steed in the TV series, The Avengers, alternating with Honor Blackman's Cathy Gale. Venus was a nightclub singer, and each of her appearances included at least one musical number. She appeared in only six episodes, and Stevens is not usually included in the list of "Avengers girls".

In 1964, Stevens appeared in the British comedy film Carry On Cleo playing the slave girl Gloria. She also co-starred with Denise Coffey in the 1969–71 ITV comedy series Girls About Town, and appeared in the children's historical comedy series Cabbages and Kings (1972) alongside Johnny Ball and Derek Griffiths.

Music career
In 1971 she had a single, "Tally Man," released on the MCA label. She also released another single that year, "After Haggerty," backed with "A Long Way From Home" which was released on Barry Class' Trend label, cat no. 6099 008.

Personal life
She married actor John White in January 1962; they had two children, but separated in 1975. Stevens was later married to the actor and director Michael Hucks from 1981 until 2001. White, who was also a presenter on Play School during the late 1960s, died from bone cancer in 1993.

Discography

 * Songs from Play School, with Rick Jones and Jonathan Cohen (1969)