See also Biography Index (J) :: Filmography Index (J) :: Discography Index (J)

A slim, stunning and stylish-looking bird, Brit actress Jill Haworth was a free-spirited product of the 60s. Discovered and signed to a contract by the ever-formidable Otto Preminger, she made a notable impression in her very first role as Sal Mineo`s ill-fated Jewish girlfriend in the monumental Oscar-winning film Exodus (1960). Preminger went on to cast Jill in two other of his important epics. The Cardinal (1963) and In Harm`s Way (1965), however, were received with less fanfare. At this juncture she had gained a sympathy vote in Hollywood as many of her ingénues seemed to be meeting untimely demises. Despite a dusky, untrained voice, Jill next conquered Broadway in 1966 by fashioning the role of the capricious Englander Sally Bowles in the musical "Cabaret" which co-starred Bert Convy as her naive American boyfriend and the irrepressible Joel Grey as the seedy Master of Ceremonies. The Kander/Ebb musical, which took place in decadent pre-Nazi Berlin, was based on Christopher Isherwood`s popular Berlin Stories. A huge hit, it won numerous Tony awards, including best musical of the 1966-1967 season. Interestingly, veterans Lotte Lenya and Jack Gilford received lead nominations for their elderly roles in "Cabaret," but both Jill and Bert were snubbed. On top of that, while Grey was asked to recreate his Tony-winning part for film in 1972, Jill and Bert were snubbed again. It should be noted that by the time Bob Fosse`s screen version of Cabaret (1972) was ready to go, Jill`s star had dimmed considerably. The movie was now geared up as a showcase for the fast-rising Liza Minnelli. As such, the Bowles character was Americanized and her boyfriend, played now by Michael York served as her British counterpart. Both Minnelli and Grey won well-deserved Oscars for their dazzling performances. Jill had returned to England by this time and was relegated to co-star status in a few horror films. She has been seen infrequently since.