Georgina Cookson, born in 1925 in Newcastle, England, is a distinguished British actress known for her commanding presence in cult cinema. She appears in The Shakedown (1960) as a character that embodies the film's gritty essence, and in Darling (1965), she navigates the complexities of the era's social mores. Her role in Woman of Straw (1964) further highlights her ability to portray multifaceted characters, often drawing on her background in theater to enhance her performances. Cookson's contributions to these films underscore her significance in the landscape of exploitation and thriller genres.
Woman of Straw
A ruthless tycoon, whom his nephew (Anthony "Tony" Richmond) hates as he had both deprived his father of half of the family business and had (after his father had committed suicide) married his mother. A nurse (Maria) from a poor Italian family, is initially hired to care for the tycoon. She initially dislikes him because he abuses his employees. Tony convinces Maria to persist in his employ, however, telling her that he plans to bequeath his entire (fifty million pound) fortune to charity. He plans to help her marry him, then to help him change his will, and (perhaps) then to help her achieve her inheritance, all for a payoff of one million pounds.
