Released back in 1971, the Disney classic Bedknobs and Broomsticks is marking its 55th anniversary this year.
The film followed an apprentice witch, Eglantine Price, played by the late Angela Lansbury, as she took in three evacuated children, Paul, Carrie and Charlie Rawlins. Due to Eglantine’s poor grasp of magic, the group head off on several adventures, including visiting the animated island of Naboombu and fighting off a squadron of Nazi troopers.
The film served as the debut of three young child stars, Ian Weighill, Cindy O’Callaghan and Roy Snart, who starred alongside the likes of Angela, David Tomlinson and Bruce Forsyth.
But did these child stars pursue a life of fame or go elsewhere? Here’s all you need to know…
Ian Weighill
Ian played Charlie Rawlins, the eldest of the three children and the one who was most distrustful of Eglantine at the beginning of the movie. It turns out that acting wasn’t for the young star, who instead left the profession, although he briefly reunited with his co-stars in an episode of The One Show broadcast in 2016.
Various publications have reported that the star now actually works as a train driver for South West Trains.
Cindy O’Callaghan
© Alamy Stock PhotoOut of the three stars, Cindy was the one who had the longest career in the spotlight. The actress who played Carrie in the film also starred in Hanover Street, The Hound of the Baskervilles and Now and Then. The actress also had two stints on EastEnders, initially playing Stella, a one-off character, before returning to play Andrea Price between 1995 and 1999.
Cindy has since left the world of acting behind her and now works as a child psychologist.
Roy Snart
© Alamy Stock PhotoRoy played Paul, the youngest of the Rawlins children, and the first to sense Eglantine’s magical abilities. Like his on-screen brother, Roy decided that acting wasn’t for him after the film and is now a businessman.
He is a co-founder and former managing director of the Basingstoke-based IT firm First Choice Software.
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