One of the most talked-about new television series is Funny Girl, starring British actress Gemma Arterton in the lead role. The series consists of six episodes based on the novel of the same name published in 2014 by Nick Hornby. It tells the story of Barbara Parker, a beautiful girl who strives to become a comedian in the entertainment industry.
Few people know that a real-life Barbara Parker existed, who lived many decades ago. She was known as Norma Ann Sykes, often referred to as “the British Marilyn Monroe.” However, unlike Marilyn, who became a Hollywood icon, Norma’s fame was fleeting and overshadowed by notoriety.
The Fame of a “Bigger than Life” Figure
Graham Haslam, Norma Ann Sykes’ brother, shared that many people knew Norma as a typical beautiful girl. Born in 1936 in Stockport, Cheshire (Greater Manchester, England), she was the only child of Walter and Annie Sykes, a gas engineer and a seamstress, respectively. In the late 1940s, the Sykes family moved to Blackpool, where Annie ran a guesthouse.
“She was slightly taller than me. I remember she had long, curly blonde hair and was very beautiful. We met her quite often,” Graham recalled.
Norma’s life changed drastically when she contracted polio at a young age and was bedridden until the age of 11. During the next four years, she spent a significant amount of time in the hospital. After gaining fame, Norma always hid her legs when photographed due to the scars from her childhood operations.
Before her illness, Norma was an accomplished swimmer, reportedly swimming 1.6 kilometers daily from the age of 9. However, Graham raised doubts about this claim. Nevertheless, this physical activity not only helped her recover quickly but also enhanced her figure, which Norma later acknowledged as her greatest asset. The actress took pride in her “bigger than life” figure, which was often compared to those of Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe. According to Daily Mail, Norma had a waist of 18 inches and a bust measurement of 41 inches.
By the time she was 16, Norma told her mother she wanted to seek fame in Bournemouth, but she ended up in London to pursue her dreams.
“She was incredibly attractive. She had an amazing figure and had really made the most of it,” Graham added.
However, Norma’s appearance also attracted unwanted attention. A photographer attempted to take pictures of her in a compromising manner, leading to a widespread discussion. When she realized she was being exploited, Norma chose to maintain her privacy, but the issue remained unresolved.
Afterward, Norma took on various jobs like waitressing, housework, and modeling for a living. Photographer Sydney Aylett helped her restart her modeling career. The photos Aylett captured caught the attention of famous comedian Arthur Askey. At the time, he was promoting a new BBC television show, Before Your Very Eyes.
Askey had told the audience he had encountered a stunning woman who had to face the challenge of being photographed without a top. This remark sparked a nationwide search to identify Askey’s “mystery woman.” Ultimately, production houses discovered Norma during a photoshoot with Sydney Aylett.
Norma officially entered the entertainment industry, changing her name to Sabrina and turning the page to a new chapter in her life. She became one of the first women to showcase her chest on television.
In a short time, Sabrina received 1,000 fan letters a week from admirers. Each time she appeared in public, she almost caused a riot. Approximately 4,000 people attended her store opening in Sheffield. An airport hangar was even demolished due to eager fans rushing to catch a glimpse of her.
Sabrina received numerous offers for photoshoots. Moreover, a production company even launched a short film titled At Home With Sabrina. A restaurant in central London was named after the star. Notably, a music director even composed a samba piece inspired by her name.
“It’s hard to imagine me going to a party and not having a spotlight around, wearing my usual clothes. It’s just crazy. I have no talent, no experience, yet I became a star. Every time I went out, I could only dress up and go out,” Sabrina reflected many years later.
The golden-haired star also became a popular figure in cabaret shows, even performing before Prince Philip.
Sabrina became a household name in Britain during the 1950s. The radio comedy show The Goon Show even coined the term “Sabrina’s incredible assets.”
However, Sabrina’s fame didn’t always come with respect for her comedic abilities. Instead, she was often labeled as “the hot blonde who doesn’t speak.”
“She has a beautiful face and figure, but she can’t perform, sing, dance, or even just stand,” Arthur Askey once remarked.
In reality, Sabrina always struggled to escape the image of the “blonde bombshell.” She was keen to pursue acting, performing, and singing. However, all her efforts seemed to be in vain.
In her debut film role, Sabrina had to endure ridicule when she was dubbed by a Cockney actor. In the comedy film Blue Murder At St. Trinian’s (1957), her character appears in a bathtub, fully dressed and never speaks.
Sabrina never hesitated to comment on this issue. “Why should I worry about being labeled the dumb blonde? After all, it helped me earn a lot of money,” she responded during an interview.
Just as Sabrina said, a year after gaining fame, she bought a car and her first home. She owned several apartments in Knightsbridge (London) and later moved to Hollywood Hills (Los Angeles, USA). She had a bright yellow and white Chevrolet with the license plate S41 (the number referring to her bust measurement in inches)… Sabrina was proud to announce she paid for all her assets.
Sabrina reached a successful peak when her agent, Joe Matthews, purchased insurance for her bust. The contract signed with Lloyd’s was worth £100,000 (equivalent to over £1 million today, roughly $1.2 million) with conditions that Sabrina would receive £2,500 for every inch of her bust circumference, excluding accidents, illness, and nationalization.
However, public interest began to wane over time. The “blonde bombshell” image was losing its luster. At the same time, Sabrina became weary of returning to the same role of a voluptuous woman.
“Everyone has the impression that I like to be what I am. But I don’t, I hate being a public figure when doing comedy. I want to build a career in a more respectable program. Everything I receive is a negative… I give everyone what they want to see, but I just try to realize that I am just like everyone else,” she said after one of her performances.
In an attempt to establish a “serious” career, Sabrina began touring Australia, New Zealand, and participating in several television shows and films. However, she never managed to break free from the image that had been defined for her. As she tried to present herself in a more sophisticated way during public appearances, the question she always received was, “Is she still wearing a low-cut top?”
As the 1960s rolled in, Sabrina faded into obscurity. The fame she once held began to shrink to the size of a fleeting star, shimmering but often forgotten.
A Sad Ending
Sabrina’s love life was not without turbulence. She was once seen dating British singer David Whitfield, circus performer Billy Smart, American film star Steve Cochran, and Prince Christian Oscar.
In 1967, happiness seemed to be “in sight” for Sabrina. She married Beverly Hills dentist Harold Melsheimer, who was completely unaware of her fame before their marriage.
However, by the 1970s, Sabrina was living in luxury—she traveled on a private yacht (which she named Sabrina), owned sports cars, and attended Hollywood parties, even having a private room dedicated to her pet Doberman Pinscher.
Sabrina even shopped with Hollywood star Lucille Ball. Interestingly, Gemma Arterton—who plays Sabrina in Funny Girl—has a deep connection with this iconic actress.
However, just like her career which was “fleeting and short-lived,” Sabrina’s marriage to the wealthy dentist ended in the early 1970s. Since then, she has seemed to fade from public view. After a failed surgery, her health deteriorated, and she had to rely on pain medication.
Later, she had a romantic encounter with a fan named Mark from Australia. This man began researching the life of the entertainment star who was once adored, capturing the stories of Sabrina in The Goon Show. He also authored a retrospective book titled The Complete Encyclopedia of Sabrina.
Mark first spoke with Sabrina in 2003. Through their conversations, he observed: “I think she felt neglected and misunderstood. She boasted about her mansion in West Toluca Lake (California) and the celebrities like Bob Hope living nearby. I think she always hoped to receive more recognition for her artistic talent than her looks. She genuinely felt that she was a talented actress who was underrated.”
Sabrina passed away from cancer in 2016 in the USA, at the age of 80. She left behind her home in England. Subsequently, close friends revealed what Sabrina experienced when she “felt like a star who had fallen from grace.”
Her life encompassed many ups and downs, marked by a list of assets that Sabrina left behind that made people admire her: a few items of furniture, clothing, and a collection of elegant shoes and handbags.
Graham felt saddened to know she had to endure these final months as if they were a shadow of her former self. However, he took pride in his sister and everything she had achieved.
“She was an attractive woman, but in many ways, she was quite shy. She started out reserved but eventually reached a level of confidence. You have to be strong to succeed in showbiz. But she made others remember a girl with blonde hair and an incredible figure. Compared to other famous blondes like Diana Dors, Jayne Mansfield, and Marilyn Monroe, we are quite proud that she made it in a difficult industry,” her brother shared.
Source: Daily Mail
