Kay began her career as a solo dancer, appearing in New York and Berlin. When she was offered a straight acting part she decided to give up dancing, and after that she appeared in straight plays, comedies and revues. In 1934 she was spotted by a screen talent scout. From her marriage to the director 'David Lean', she had a stepson Peter.
Kay Walsh graced the British Cinema of the 1930s and 1940s as a leading lady, before maturing into character roles. She was born in London of Irish parentage on 27th August 1911. She and her sister Peggy were raised in Pimlico by their grandmother. She began her career as a dancer in the chorus of several Andre Charlot revues, before performing solo in New York and Berlin. Kay made her screen debut in "Get Your Man" (1934) and later appeared in "The Luck of the Irish" (1936). After appearing as a dancer in the West End show "The Melody that Got Lost", the producer Basil Dean signed her to a contract with Ealing Studios. She starred opposite George Formby in the comedies "Keep Fit" (1937) and "I See Ice" (1938). She met an aspiring film editor David Lean (I) in 1936 and they were married in 1940. She collaborated on several of his films by writing additional dialogue and advising on production and casting. She made an impression in "In Which We Serve" (1942), as 'Queenie Gibbons' in "This Happy Breed" (1944), as 'Nancy' in "Oliver Twist" (1948), "Vice Versa" (1948), "Stage Fright" (1950), "The Magnet" (1950), "Last Holiday" (1950), "Encore" (1952), "Young Bess" (1953), "Lease of Life" (1954), "Tunes of Glory" (1960) and "Scrooge" (1970). She won a BAFTA nomination and a National Board of Review award for Best Actress for "The Horse's Mouth" (1958). She retired in 1981 after appearing in "Night Crossing". She was twice married. Following her divorce from David Lean (I) in 1949, she married the Canadian psychologist Elliott Jaques (1917-2003). They adopted a daughter Gemma in 1956, but the marriage was later dissolved.
