In 1971, she appeared in the biographical film Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), in which she played the Grand Duchess Tatiana Nikolaevna of Russia, second eldest daughter of Tsar Nicholas II. A British national newspaper also chose her as its "Face of 1971", and she was hailed as one of Britain's most promising newcomers. Frederick then signed a cosmetics contract with Mennen, and became a spokesmodel for Protein 21 shampoo, starring in nationwide print and television advertising campaigns. In addition, she appeared in several television commercials for products that included Camay soap. For a spread in the September 1971 edition of British Vogue, she was photographed by Patrick Lichfield. She was regularly featured in newspaper articles and fashion magazines as a model and cover girl. Represented by the talent agency, Hazel Malone Management, Frederick became a teen idol among the British public in the early 1970s, achieving a success and popularity equivalent to that of Hayley Mills and Olivia Hussey. Notwithstanding the lukewarm reception of the film, Frederick became an overnight sensation, and her career quickly took off. When No Blade of Grass (1970) was released, the film received mixed reviews from critics. Despite her having no previous experience in theatre, films, or commercials, Wilde offered her the role without an audition. Wilde first saw her when she came to work with her mother to pose for some test shots and was immediately smitten by her beauty, charisma, and bubbly personality. Wilde had been looking for a young, unknown actress to star in his film adaptation of the best selling post-apocalyptic science fiction novel The Death of Grass. She is one of only eight actresses, and the youngest, to hold this title.įrederick was first discovered at the age of 15 by Hungarian-American actor and film director Cornel Wilde, who was a friend and colleague of her mother. She was the first recipient of the award for Best New Coming Actress from the Evening Standard British Film Awards in 1973, for her performances in Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972) and The Amazing Mr. Other films of hers such as Vampire Circus (1971), Phase IV (1974), Four of the Apocalypse (1975), A Long Return ( Largo retorno) (1975), and Schizo (1976) have all become underground hits or established a status as a cult film in their respective genres, contributing to the renewed interest in her life and career. Some of her better known performances include her roles in films such as Nicholas and Alexandra (1971), The Amazing Mr. Blunden (1972), Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), and Voyage of the Damned (1976). In the decades since her death, Frederick's legacy has steadily established a posthumous cult following for her collection of work in motion pictures. She lived out the remainder of her years in California, and kept a low profile until her death in 1994. Her career and reputation never recovered from the backlash and she was subsequently blacklisted by Hollywood. She was publicly criticized, ridiculed and perceived as a gold digger by the press and public. In 1980, after the death of her husband, Peter Sellers, she came to national attention over the nature of his controversial will, in which she was listed as the primary beneficiary. Known for her classic English rose beauty, she often played the girl next door and was famous for her performances in a range of genres, from contemporary science fiction to slasher horror, romantic dramas, classic westerns, and occasional comedies although her greater successes were in period films and costume dramas. In a career spanning ten years, she made over thirty appearances in film and television productions. Lynne Maria Frederick (25 July 1954 – 27 April 1994) was an English actress, film producer, and fashion model.