Susan Burnet

Susan Burnet (25 November 1938 – 17 January 2010) was a British actress born in Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, a city that later became Harare, Zimbabwe. Her family had deep roots in the region; she was the granddaughter of one of Rhodesia's first pioneers. Later in life, Burnet became an opponent of Ian Smith's UDI government, refusing to shake Smith's hand when the two were introduced and actively protesting his policies. She died on 17 January 2010 in London, England.

Burnet won a scholarship to LAMDA at the age of 15, launching a career that spanned British television, film, and stage. Critics drew comparisons between her appearance and that of Brigitte Bardot. Her first role after stage school was in the West End production of Flowering Cherry, a play that also featured Ralph Richardson and Celia Johnson. It was during this production that she met the actor Andrew Ray, whom she would later marry. The couple wed in 1959 despite the initial objections of Andrew's father, the comedian Ted Ray, who considered them too young. They separated in the 1970s but never divorced. Burnet subsequently took her husband's real surname, Olden.

Flowering Cherry also brought Burnet to Broadway in 1959, marking her credit on the American stage. She largely retired from acting after the birth of her first child at the age of 24, following which she returned to her homeland of Southern Rhodesia.