Josephine Edwina Jaques (7 February 1922 - 6 October 1980) was a well-known English comedy actress, known by the stage name Hattie Jacques.
Having started her career in the 1940s, Jacques first became famous through her appearances with Tony Hancock in The Tony Hancock Show and Hancock's Half Hour. From 1958 to 1974 she appeared in fourteen Carry On films, often playing the Matron. Hattie Jacques had a long professional partnership with Eric Sykes, with whom she co-starred in Sykes and A..., Sykes and a Big, Big Show and Sykes.
Jacques was married to John Le Mesurier, an actor who would later achieve stardom for playing Sergeant Arthur Wilson in Dad's Army, from 1949 until their divorce in 1965. Hattie Jacques died of a heart attack in 1980, aged 58. Her final appearance on TV was an advert for Asda earlier that year.
Best known for playing Matron - as in "ooh, Matron!" - in four films: "Carry On Nurse", "Carry On Doctor", "Carry On Again Doctor" and, of course "Carry On Matron". Key roles included: Grace Short in "Carry On Teacher", Sophie Bliss in "Carry On Loving" and Peggy Hawkins in "Carry On Cabby". She was married to John Le Mesurier (Sergeant Wilson in "Dad's Army"), but left him for another man. They divorced but remained friends. An unexpectedly attractive woman in her time, she played parts which depended upon and mocked her weight. Only in "Carry On Cabby" was she allowed to escape her dragon persona and play the romantic lead opposite Sid James. She died prematurely at the age of 58 from a heart attack.
