Noel Coward

The original ambassador for 'cool Brittania', Noel Coward redefined what it meant to be 'English' in the early 20th Century. On-stage from the age of six, he would become a master of many trades including playwright, actor, director, composer and producer. An early play 'The Vortex' (1924) with references to drug abuse and homosexuality made him a sensation on both sides of the Atlantic, and a whole generation of social wannabes hung on his every quip. Though it was common knowledge, Coward was not open about his own homosexuality, preferring to remain glamourously ambiguous. Famous for his wit and style, Coward was well-travelled and even served secretly for British Intelligence during World War II.; he was knighted in 1970 and died peacefully, following a stroke, in his beloved Jamaica, on March 26, 1973. "Having to read a footnote resembles having to go downstairs to answer the door while in the midst of making love." - Noel Coward