It’s never easy celebrating a birthday on Christmas day and it’s far from fair that many people think it’s acceptable to give out a joint birthday/Christmas present.
Did you know that these famous people also celebrate their birthday on Christmas Day?
Dorothy Wordsworth
Born in 1771 in Cockermouth, Cumberland, Dorothy Mae Ann Wordsworth was a sister of the famous poet William Wordsworth.
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One of five children, Dorothy was sent to live with relatives when both parents died and it was not until 1797 that she was reunited with her elder brother – the pair became inseperable companions and lived in poverty at first and often had to beg for clothes.
Dorothy was a diarist and unlike her famous brother had little interest in setting up as an author.
She never married and continued to live with William and his wife until her death aged 83.
Humphrey Bogart
Born in New York City on Christmas Day 1899, Humphrey DeForest Bogart (Bogie) was an American screen actor whose performances in 1940s films such as The Maltese Falcon and The Big Sleep earned him the legacy of cultural icon.
Who could forget Humphrey Bogart when he played Rick Blaine in the Oscar-winning World War II love story, Casablanca, when he said the iconic line – ‘play it again Sam’
Bogie died on 14th January,1957
Noele Gordon
Born on Christmas Day 1919 Joan Noele Gordon in East Ham, London.
She was given her middle name ‘Noele’ because she was born on Christmas day and after singing at a restaurant in London her mother encouraged her to begin a stage career.
Noele took part in the BBC’s colour tests in the 1940’s and was credited as the first woman to be seen on colour TV.
Best known as Meg Richardson in the daily ITV soap opera, Crossroads, she won the TV Times award for most popular TV actress eight times.
Known to friends as ‘Nolly’ she never married and in 1982 knew that she was suffering from cancer. She retired to her Birmingham home where she died in 1985.
Kenny Everett
TV personality Kenny Everett was born in Seaforth, Lancashire on Christmas day 1944 and was named Maurice James Christopher Cole.
Best known for his radio show and for The Kenny Everett Video Show playing characters such as ageing rocker Sid Snott and lecherous Frenchman, Marcel Wave.
Although married to his wife Audrey for 10 years it was not until the 1980’s that he acknowledged that he was homosexual.
Kenny became a close friend of Freddie Mercury who helped him accept his sexuality, although the pair did have a fall out over their use and sharing of drugs.
In 1989 Kenny was diagnosed as HIV positive and died from an Aids related illness in 1995 aged just 50.
Sissy Spacek
Born Mary Elizabeth Spacek on 25th December, 1949 in Quitman, Texas.
Before finding fame as an actress Sissy, a nickname given to her by her two brothers, worked as a singer. She has had many Oscar nominations for her acting prowess.
Who could forget her as the troubled teen in the horror classic Carrie, where she played the lead role of the outcast, Carrie White, the 17 year old who attended her high school prom.
After being humiliated by her classmates Carrie unleashes her telekinetic powers and a blood bath ensues.
Not one to watch on your own if you’re of a nervous disposition.
Annie Lennox
Born on Christmas Day 1954 in Aberdeen, Scotland, Ann (Annie) Lennox is best known as a singer/songwriter.
Well known as part of the music duo, the Eurythmics, Annie is also widely recognised as a political and social activist and humanitarian ambassador.
Collecting a total of eight Brit Awards (six times Best British Female Artist) she has also been named the ‘Brits Champion of Champions’.
Apart from the 8 Brit Awards, she has also collected four Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.
In 2004, she won both the Golden Globe and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Into the West”, written for the soundtrack to the feature film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
In 2011, Annie was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for her “tireless charity campaigns and championing of humanitarian causes”
Shane MacGowan
Born in Penbury, Kent on Christmas day 1957, Shane Patrick Lysaght MacGowan went on to become the lead singer of The Pogues.
As a young man he earned a literature scholarship and was accepted into Westminster School but after being found in possession of drugs he was expelled in his second year.
Writer of the classic Fairytale of New York who could forget his collaboration with Scottish singer, Kirsty MacColl.
Known for his toothless smile, he continues his ongoing struggle with alcoholism.
You scum bag
You maggot
You cheap lousy faggot
Happy Christmas your arse
I pray God
It’s our last
The boys of the NYPD choir
Still singing ‘Galway Bay’
And the bells are ringing
Out for Christmas day!
Dido
Dido, birth name – Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O’Malley Armstrong, was born in 1971 in Kensington, London.
Known simply as Dido, the British singer had huge success with her debut album, No Angel, which sold over 21 million copies worldwide.
Life for Rent, her next album, also did exceptionally well with hit singles ‘Life for Rent’ and ‘White Flag‘, however her third album failed to have the commercial success of the previous albums.
As her birthday is Christmas Day, Dido also has an official birthday and celebrates on 25th June (just like Paddington Bear!)
She maried Rohan Gavin in 2010 and the couple have one son, Stanley. Dido says she is a “diehard” lifelong supporter of Arsenal Football Club.
Do you have a family member who was born on Christmas Day? Get in touch and tell us how they celebrate it.
