Biography

Disclosed in her memoir, "Telling Some Tales", that she was often plagued by stage fright and depression. At the height of her afflictions, she also suffered from anorexia; her hair consequently turned from chestnut to white.

She was only two when her parents were divorced, and she almost never met her famous father during her childhood (he was working mostly in America by then); she described their relations in her adult life as cordial but distant, and said that being Raymond Massey's daughter was "rather like being one of the daughters of King Lear". She also called him the most self-absorbed man she had ever met, pointing out that both she and her brother Daniel had "Raymond" as a middle name. Her father also reportedly insisted she be given "Raymond" as her middle name.

She was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2005 Queen's New Year Honours List for services to drama.

Had her only child at age 22, a son, David Raymond William Huggins (aka David Huggins), on 14 August 1959, by her first husband, the late actor Jeremy Brett. Grandson, Dan Huggins, was born in 2002 to her son and daughter-in-law, Madeleine Christie. Massey appeared with Brett (although by then the two had already divorced) in the 1979 BBC television production of "Rebecca". Brett played the enigmatic Maxim de Winter and Massey played the unhinged housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers.

Daughter of actors Raymond Massey and Adrianne Allen; granddaughter of Chester D. Massey, the wealthy owner of the Massey-Ferguson tractor company; and niece of the Canadian politician Vincent Massey. Younger sister of Daniel Massey, with whom she had a strained relationship until their reconciliation in 1998. Ex-sister-in-law of Adrienne Corri and Penelope Wilton.

I think however old and blind and prune-like one may look, the spirit that goes on inside you stays young and flirtatious.

My education finished at fifteen; if I'd stayed at school I'm not sure I'd have become an actor.

Theatre eats up too much of your family life. I have a grandson and a husband and I'd rather I was able to be a granny and a wife.

Actors marrying each other is not a good idea.

I'm not instinctive. It takes enormous discipline and bravery to get me there [playing a role].