Nimmy March
Lady Naomi Gordon-Lennox | |
|---|---|
| Born | Naomi Anna March 1962 (age 61–62) |
| Other names | Nimmy March |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Children | 3 |
Lady Naomi Gordon-Lennox (born Naomi Anna March on March 1962, Kingston, Surrey), known as Nimmy March, is an English actress.
Background
Her biological parents were a black South African father from Lesotho and white English mother.[1] As an illegitimate child[2] the mother abandoned her and she was adopted and brought up by Earl and Countess of March and Kinrara, who later became the Duke and Duchess of Richmond. Due to her race, the adoption caused a stir within the peerage and the future Duke and Duchess were vilified by some for "sullying the aristocracy", as March herself described it.[3]
When she turned 11, her adoptive parents sent her to an all-white school. There, she experienced racism. Her mother taught her that racism was the fault of the perpetrator, not herself and she grew up with the belief.
When she was 19 she was raped in broad daylight by a stranger and went through the emotional and mental torment brought on by the experience.[2]
She went to Bedales, an exclusive Hampshire school where she developed a liking for making people laugh as a way to feel that she belonged. This brought her to drama school and led her to participate in acting.
Career
Her television screen credits include Albion Market, Goodnight Sweetheart, Casualty, William and Mary, Doctors, Strictly Confidential, The Bill, and Death in Paradise. She narrated the 2008 TV serial, Last Voices of World War 1 on the History Channel.
Personal life
Until 2004, adopted children of peers had no right to any courtesy title. However, as a result of a Royal Warrant dated 30 April 2004, adopted children are now automatically entitled to such styles and courtesy titles as their siblings. Therefore, on that date, Naomi March became Lady Naomi Gordon-Lennox.
She married Gavin Burke in 1999 (now divorced) they have three children Khaya (born 1999), Malachy (born 2001) and Carlotta (born 2005).[4] Her four siblings include another adopted daughter who is also mixed-race.[2]
She is Buddhist.[5]
References
- ^ "March, Naomi (Nimmy)", Adoption.com.
- ^ a b c "March to the top". Evening Standard. 3 April 2003. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
- ^ "Adoption: 'How can you give away your baby?'". The Daily Telegraph. 2 Mar 2008.
- ^ "Relative Values: The Duke of Richmond and Nimmy March", The Sunday Times, 9 January 2005.
- ^ "March: a life less ordinary". Daily Mail. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
External links
- Nimmy March at IMDb
- About Naomi "Nimmy" March, page re famous adoptions
- "Relative Values: The Duke of Richmond and Nimmy March" - Webpage of Times Online
- Victoria Young, "March: a life less ordinary", Mail Online.