The Story of Joan Rice

Joan at the premiere of Robin Hood

This site is dedicated to the memory of Joan Rice (1930–1997), who will always be cherished by readers of my blog and Facebook page as our Maid Marian. Joan would have turned 95 this year.

Joan holds a special place in my heart. As a family historian and genealogist, I’ve been captivated by the life of this largely forgotten British film star—a life that feels like a fairy tale. Over the 19 years I’ve been writing my blog, I’ve been fortunate to receive help from her family, friends, and acquaintances to piece together her story. I hope one day to write a book about her. For now, this brief account looks back at the early years of her life.

Dorothy Joan Rice was born on February 3, 1930, at City Hospital in Derby, England. She was the first of three daughters born to Hylda May Rice (née Watson) and Harold Rice, a laborer. Her sisters were Roma (1931), Barbara (1935), and Gillian (1938).

Nazareth House, Lenton, Nottinghamshire

In 1936, the family was living on Hawthorne Avenue in Stapleford, Nottinghamshire. That year, Harold Rice became the subject of scandal when he was convicted of indecently assaulting his 7-year-old daughter. The case made headlines in local newspapers. Joan, along with her three sisters, was sent to a convent orphanage in Nottingham called Nazareth House. It was here that Joan had her first exposure to acting, as the nuns staged several plays each year.

The 1939 Register showing Joan Rice

By 1939, Joan was living with the Watson family in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire. George Watson, a brewery laborer, was likely a relative. Joan, listed as Dorothy J. Rice, was attending school at the time.

In 1946, at age 16, Joan worked as a housemaid for Dr. Vosper in Stanmore, Middlesex. She also took part-time work as a barmaid at The Green Man and The Crown. Derrick Pawley, a former Stanmore resident, recalled Joan borrowing clothes and bus fare, often struggling financially.

Lyons Tea House in the Strand

Joan’s journey to stardom began when she moved to London with just half a crown in her pocket and took a job as a waitress at the Lyons Corner House on the Strand for £3 a week. Her natural poise, developed from balancing trays, led her to enter Lyons' in-house beauty contest, Miss Lyons, in 1949. She won the contest, impressing judges like John McCallum and Ann Crawford, as well as Isidore Gluckstein, the company president.

Joan Rice in a swimsuit suit

As the winner, Joan went on a promotional tour to Torquay, which would later have personal significance when she returned for a stage performance 20 years later. Her victory in the competition brought her to the attention of theatrical agent Joan Reese.

By 1950, Joan joined "The Company of Youth," a training school for actors, where she honed her skills alongside future stars like Christopher Lee and Joan Collins. After a screen test, Joan secured a two-line part in the comedy One Wild Oat and her first substantial role in Blackmailed (1950). Following Blackmailed's London premiere in January 1951, Joan signed a two-year contract with Rank Studios, which raised her salary to £20 a week and provided her with a flat in Westminster.

Just days after Blackmailed's release, Disney producer Perce Pearce announced that Richard Todd would play Robin Hood in the studio’s upcoming live-action adaptation. Joan was quickly cast as Maid Marian after Disney saw some of her rushes and praised her acting ability.

Richard Todd and Joan Rice

In a major turning point for her career, on her 21st birthday, Richard Todd was photographed presenting Joan with orchids at the Dorchester Hotel, marking the official announcement of her role in The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952). Joan had become a rising star, with Walt Disney himself declaring, “Joan has quality... The camera loves her.”

Though Joan's role as Maid Marian cemented her status as a rising star, Rank Studios struggled to capitalise on her newfound fame. Despite being hailed as the "new Jean Simmons," Joan was often relegated to supporting roles in films with large ensemble casts. Yet, in just a few short years, she had transformed from a girl with barely any money to a promising young actress playing opposite Richard Todd in a major Disney production.

It’s hard to imagine that this was the same young woman who had arrived in London with only a half-crown in her purse just a few years earlier.