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Toni Gable
Joyce Barbara Anthony (September 1st, 1922 – March, 1975) was a British actress, model and dancer, known for her role as Chi-Chi in the Anthony Asquith comedy French Without Tears (1939), opposite Guy Middleton, as well for her role as Annie the maid in Theatre Royal (1943). A noted model, she was on magazine covers of The Naturist in 1940 and 1942.

In addition to her acting roles, Gable, was known for her dance act, "The Skating Venus", at the time using the stage name Desda Kumari .Often a stylish woman, she was one of the few finalists for the "Miss All India" beauty pageant. She won the title on January 1st, 1938. Gable's brief career spanned from the 1930s to the 1940s and in that time she became a starlet and sex symbol.

Early years
Joyce was born on September 1st 1922 to English parents in Calcutta, India. She was educated at St. Helen’s Convent in Kurseong, West Bengal, India, way up in the lower foothills and ranges of the mighty Himalayas. While at the convent, studying under Sister Mary Dominic, she read classic literature such as Shakespeare, The Brontë Sisters, Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. On February 2nd 1937 or soon thereafter, Joyce went back to her family home at Karnani Mansions in Calcutta. As there were no public schools, she had to continue her education in a commercial school, which she disliked.

Early Career
Around 1937, there was a major beauty contest to find “Miss India.” It was the first competition of its kind in "British India". Unknown to her, an uncle submitted her photo to the newspaper The Sunday Standard, which was organizing the event. She ended up being one of five finalists out of 7,000 entries, and had to travel to Bombay for the final competition. The finalists were introduced at the Regal Theater, followed by a big party at the Taj Mahal Hotel’s Cocktail Cabaret. The final selection was finally made on January 28th 1938. She received a cheque of 1,000 rupees and many other gifts. As a cross-promotion, she appeared in advertising promoting the gifts she received. One of her prizes was a trip to England and against her parents wishes, she went to England on her own. Gable boarded the S.S. Narkunda to travel to London. During the voyage, she may have received advice and various tips from Peter Brierley, an A.T.P. cinema photographer. She became chums with Peter and others during the voyage. Gable finally arrived in England on November 4, 1938.

Originally, Gable was going to stay in England for only a brief vacation, but decided to stay because she was interested in becoming a dancer, and the opportunities were greater there than in Calcutta. Her parents again objected, but agreed to give her one year to try and succeed, otherwise she was to return home. Gable soon found work in nightclubs in London and her first job was at The Paradise Club in London’s West End in March of 1939. She did an act called “The Skating Venus.”

Later Career
Gable started getting offers from a few film studios, including Paramount British Productions, John Gliddon Ltd. and British Films Ltd. She met British producer Anthony Havelock-Allan at a party, who then gave her a tiny part in his film, “The Silent Battle” which starred Rex Harrison and Valerie Hobson.

She then had a screen test and was given a speaking role in “This Man In Paris,” again with Valerie Hobson. Her next verified role is in “French Without Tears” with Ray Milland, in which she played a character named Chi-Chi and received on- screen credit as Toni Gable, a name she continued to use through her film career. She then appeared in “The Thief Of Bagdad”, a film on which she also worked as an assistant to Sabu. Other films she appeared in included “Contraband,” “Old Mother Riley’s Circus,” “The Peterville Diamond,” “Theatre Royal,” “Caesar And Cleopatra,” “Demobbed” and “Waltz Time”.

She had success as a glamour girl in small parts (often uncredited) or as a background player. She even attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1943, where she rehearsed for a production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Personal Life
When the war ended, England went into a period of austerity. She had given up show business by this point because there was very little going on. She tried all sorts of jobs and finally found herself in an office licking stamps. Her boss wanted to get married, but she was not ready for that yet.

Soon she tired of the office routine and was ready for new adventures, which came in the form of an old love. The “old love” was a man Joyce Gable had known since she was 17, and she ended up joining him in South America, at a Colombian gold mine. Life there was rugged and quite a change from England, but she loved it. They remained there for four months, before returning to “so-called civilization,” where they were finally married.

Feeling restless after a year of being a housewife, Gable traveled to Melbourne, Australia to visit her mother. After remaining there for an extended period of time, her husband finally demanded that she return. At that point, however, the marriage was pretty much over, and she threw him out of their house. Shortly afterwards, she met another old flame, a Canadian who had served with the Navy in England. He contacted her from Toronto, where he ran a successful business, asking to meet her in Italy. They met, and in June 1952, she moved to Toronto, where they married and adopted a five day old boy named Mike Stone.

Death
Toni Gable passed away in Toronto in the spring of 1975 at the age of 52.