JANE ASHER
Jane Asher was born on April 5, 1946 in London, England. She was the daughter of Richard and Margaret Augusta Asher. Asher's brother, Pete, and her sister, Claire, both had that trademark titan hair just like ker.
The children of Richard and Margaret Asher were all involved in the performing arts. Their start was when someone told Asher's mother that her children were beautiful and should be in films. She liked the idea and thought it would be good for their self-esteem and a fun hobby.
Jane Asher began acting that same year (1951), appearing in the film Mandy, the story of a deaf girl. By the age of 12, she made her stage debut in Alice in Wonderland, playing the head role. She also appeared in BBC programs.
Peter, two years older than Jane, was also involved in acting. He appeared in The Planter's Wife and Isn't the Life Wonderful? Before long, however, it was music that was Peter's main passion, and he became the other half of the duo, Peter and Gorodn (Peter Asher is now the vice-president of Sony USA). The youngest in the Asher family, Claire, (now a school teacher), was also an actress for some time, she had a role on the radio soap Mrs Dale's Diary, and a part in the series The Mistress with her sister Jane.Asher's background is best described as privileged. Her childhood six-story home was in the center of London. She was educated at Queen's College, one of London's leading private girls schools, located on harley Street. Her father was a well-known physician, psychologist and had written a number of medicine books. Mrs Asher, of the noble Eliot lineage, played in orchestras before quitting to have a family. She maintained lessons at her home, as well as at london's Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where coincidentally she had taught
George Martin to play the oboe. jane's intellect as well as her acting abilities from her parents made her cultured.On one particular show Asher was on, called Juke Box Jury, she was hired to scream when the Beatles were on. Juke Box Jury was a BBC show that had regular people and musicians judge the latest hits on the radio. the seventeen-year-old was asked to do an interview on the show with the Beatles, and then later posed in photographs with them and of her screaming like most Beatles fans did. After the show, she met up with them in the green room. After talking to the we--educated, sophisticated Asher, they invited her back to their hotel, to which she accepted. After being embarrassed greatly by John Lennon (who wouldn't stop asking her questions about sex), Asher, paul McCartney, George Harrison, Chris Hutchins and Shane Fenton (the last two of which were friends of the Beatles) went to Hutchins' flat on Kings Road. There was plenty of irish Whiskey to go around, and the more all the men drank, the more they flirted with Asher. Needless to say, she was very much overwhelmed. It was apparent that she was a virgin. Jane said: "They couldn't believe it".
McCartney later recalled his first meeting with Asher:
"We all said, 'Will you marry me?' which is what we said to every girl at the time. (Jane was) a rare London bird, the sort we'd always heard about".
At first, it seemed that George Harrison took the most interest in Jane Asher, but it soon became apparent that it was Paul McCartney who fancied her most. After lots of suugestive discussion amongst the entourage, they all left, leaving Jane and paul in the bedroom of Chris Hutchin's flat. When the others returned hours later, they were greeted with an unexpected scene: Paul and Jane were talking about their favourite food. Paul never made a move on Jane at all. Everyone except Jane decided to go out that night in London's West End, and they decided they'd take Jane back to her house. Before she left their car, Paul asked her for her phone number.
Cynthia Lennon wrote later about their relationship:
"Paul fell like a tone of bricks for jane. The first time I was introduced to her was at her home and she was sitting on Paul's knee. My first impression of jane was how beautiful and finely featured she was. her mass of Titan-coloured hair cascaded around her face and shoulders, her pale complexion contrasting strongly with dark clothes and shining hair. Paul was obviously as proud as a peacpck with his new lady. For Paul, jane Asher was a great prize."
Paul McCArtney was a frequent visitor to the Asher home at 54 Wimpole Street. On one day, jane's mother, Margaret, thought it would be nice to have Paul living at their house, whenever he was in London, so he wouldn't have to spend time in a hotel. Once, Paul missed his train to Liverpool and jane's mother let him stay for the night. Eventually it led Mrs Asher to offer him a room for every time he stayed in London instead of having to stay in a hotel. He yook up their offer soon occupying the top floor of the Wimpole street home. His room was next to Peter's and there he would dream and eventually wirte "Yesterday".
At this time, Beatlemania was completely full-blown and Paul was about the only lucky Beatle at this time. The home addresses of John, george and Ringo were pretty much known by the fans. It was still a mystery, however, where Paul lived. When word of jane and Paul's relationship came out, however, the privacy paul had at the Asher house was gone. The phone would constantly be ringing and nothing could be done about it, for Richard Asher needed the line for any emergency calls from patients.
McCartney, in his semi-autobiography Many years From Now, spoke about the Asher family:
"(Mrs Asher) was a very warm person, a very nice mumsy-type woman. great cook, nothing was too much for her, a really nice person. Richard (Asher)... was very intelligent and very eccentric. But terrific and a great fun person to know... Peter was an interesting bright guy, also very interested in music... There was a lot of connection there. Claire was a very nice younger sister".
Paul soon accompanied jane to her performances, which he didn't like. He was very upset at how much she put inyo her work. Unlike Pattie, Cyn or Maureen, Jane had a career.
Paul:
"The only thing the theatre ever gave me was a sore arse".
jane was upper-class and very cultural, which paul liked. Paul found something special in her, and he became more cultured. Many beleived paul dated Jane because she was of higher class, but many believe he genuinely lovef her. Although sometimes people would wonder. For instance, when paul and Jane were seen at parties and premieres throughout London, Paul would usually give Jane his attention. But if a famous celebrity came in the room, paul would immediately leave his girlfriend and other companions and stay with the celebrity.
Walter Shenson:
"Paul and Jane came out to a dinner party with my wife and me one night. Joan Sutherland, the opera singer, just happened to be there. paul zeroed in on her at once as a big star. he left jane with me and my wife and stayed talking to Joan Sutherland for the rest of the evening".
Jane soon realised what it meant to be a Beatle girlfriend. She was already quite famous in England, but now her name was to be known worldwide. A holiday was planned during the summer of 1965 that she, McCartney, Ringo and Maureen Starr were to go on vacation together, but after the media frenzy over the Lennons' and future Harrisons' trip to Southern Ireland, it was impossible. In order to reach their destination of the Virgin Islands, Asher, McCartney and the Starrs had to make four flight changes in order to distract the press.
This was not what Asher fell in love with. Asher would tell McCartney over and over again it was Paul McCartney she fell in love with, not Paul McCartney the Beatle. The rows the couple had were usually over this and Jane not wanting to give all of her attention to McCartney, who thought she'd better start acting like a norhtern wife. McCartney could not accept the fact that Asher had a career, and she planned to stay with it.
Despite all these troubles, Asher and McCartney soon moved out of the Asher family home on Wimpole Street in 1966. They settled into 7 Cavendish Avenue, in the exclusive area of St. John's Wood, London, a house Paul owns wtill today. The house is a three-storey Victorian house with a lot of space outdoors. Asher decorated the house to her tastes, Paul allowed her to. They soon were entertaining people, just like a married couple. A symbol of a married couple at the time was also to have a maid and a butler, which was also at their house. many close to Asher and McCartney did think they would be married soon. Other thought they were engaged or even secreteky married, both of which were untrue.
Jane Asher on marriage, late 1960's:
"I am not Paul's wife -but yes, we are going to get married. We won't be married for a while yet, but when it happens we've got a family planned. First we want a boy and then -come what may. There's no particular reason why we are not getting married right away, except that we're both pretty young... I shan't give up ,my career unless it interferes with our being together. I love Paul. I love him deeply, and he feels the same. I don't think either of us has looked at anyone else since we first met... I want to get married probably this year and have lots and lots of babies. I certainly would be surprised indeed if I married anyone but Paul".
They purchased another home soon after, called High Park Farm, in Scotland. The house was in complete contrast to the Cavendish home, where Jane favoured a more rustic design, and was her retreat, along with McCartney's, from the rush of London. Around this time, Jane started working with the Bristol old Vic troupe in Bristol, England and where she starred in plays such as Romeo and Juliet and Great Expectations. She celebrated her twenty first birthday on tour in United States with Paul and friends. She came back to Cavendish to a completely different scene.
The year of 1967 has always been remembered as the summer of love. London was no different, psyxhodelics were the new drugs of choice, and the arts were moving to new levels. This was also the year (on December 25) that McCartney proposed to Asher giving her a beautiful diamond and emerald ring. When everyone heard of the engagement, many were pleased. McCartney's girl fans for the most part, did not resent Asher engagement to him. If it wasn't themselves being McCartney's fiancee, they felt Asher was a good match for McCartney. When the "Apple Scruffs" (Beatles fans who would stay near Abbey Road studios, McCartney's Cavendish home and 3 Saville Row), would buzz the intercom or ring the doorbell, Asher would always politely and patiently answer. Asher was a role model to many, all of her fans washed their hair with "Breck" shampoo, just as she advertised on the television and iron their hair straight to have their hair as straight as hers. Fans approved of Asher's down-to-earth personality, and possibly being the only person who could curb McCartney's ego. then in 1968, they went to india with the Beatles entourage. Their search for spiritual happiness ended on a negative note, with which both Jane and paul were greatly disppointed. Jane went on tour in America for a production she was in. When she came back to paul, she was dismayed to find him on LSD, their house psychodelic, and him sharing spiritualness with John. of course, when Jane was away, Paul was out with some girl always. After all, he was the only unmarried Beatle, and considered by many as the World's Most Eligible Bachelor. although he soon grew tired of it. Despite Asher's ability to bring out the best in McCartney, even she couldn't control what happened when she was gone.
McCartney led a double life throughout his whole relationship with Asher. One was with her, which he lived a very domestic life and a happy one. One was without Asher, at various clubs around London, being the womanizer he always was. And when these two lives mmet, problems would ensue and they did. Asher returned to the Cavendish residence unexpectedly one night in the late spring of 1968.
"It's Margo. Listen, Jane just pulled up. What about Francie?"
Francie Schwartz had met Paul when she wanted to go to Apple as she had become aware they were in search of new talents. Paul loved the way she looked and Jane being on tour, he took her to Cavendish Avenue. Francie was staying at 7 cavendish Avenue when a surprise guest came home. margo Stevens, one of the "Apple Scruffs" that were always outside of Paul's home, tried to warn him. They saw who was in the Aston Martin with him, he even waved to them as they went into the gate. Paul thought Margo was kidding. Then when Jane knocked on Paul's bedroom door, it was no laughing matter: "Who's there?" asked Paul. "It's Jane, silly", answered his girlfriend of 5 years. Paul answered the door his heart pounding. Jane peered inside of the dark room, and her eyes focused on Francie, who was in bed with him.
Paul to Jane after her discovery:
"Uh, look..."
The man who always had the right thing to say suddenly was speechless, he was caught. Jane was devastated. She stared him down for a minute, her eyes becoming tear-filled. She ran down the stairs and stormed out of Paul's life forever, or so it seemed. It was Mrs Asher, Jane's mother, who soon came to take Jane's things out of the house.
Despite this occurrence, Asher and Paul were seen together in public appearances, like the one at Hyde Park the day after. Jane then went again on tour, and when she came back they went to Paul's brother's wedding.
However, the relationship was publicly known as over when McCartney showed up alone at the Yellow Submarine premiere.
On July 20, 1968, Asher officially announced what the public already suspected, that her engagement to Paul McCartney was off. The last public statement from Jane about McCartney was made on the show Dee Time, and follows as such:
"I haven't broken it off, but it is broken off, finished... I know it sounds corny but we still see each other and love each other, but it hasn't worked out. Perhaps we'll be childhood sweethearts and meet again and get married when we're about seventy".
McCartney on his relationship with Asher:
"We nearly did get married. But it always used to fall short of the mark and something happened. And one of us would think it wasn't right... Jane and I had a long, good relationship -I still like her. I don't know whether she likes me, but I don't see any reason why not. We don't see each other at all".
Soon after the end of their relationship, it was the time Asher became more noted for her acting skills than for her relationship with Paul. She had had roles in popular films such as Alfie with Michael Kane and The Masque of Red Death, but it was her role in the revival of John Osborne's Look Back in Anger that made her a leading actress in England. Asher later recalled that it was the first time took herself seriously (as an actress). She wasn't the only one who thought so, critics and audiences alike were so delighted with her performance, that it had a run in London's West End. The role has been called "her dramatic coming of age".
1970 was a turning point in jane Asher's life. She met illustrator Gerlad Scarfe (who did the cover of Pink Floyd's The Wall) who she is married to. Scarfe and Asher have three children Kate, born April 17, 1974; Alexander, born December 1981; Rory, born in 1984): Asher's father, Richard, was found dead in the Asher family home the same year, reportedly from a combination of alcohol and barbiturates. Jane's critically acclaimed The Deep End was also released.
Asher took a break from her career to raise her family. Now she has written over 14 lifestyle books (including Jane Asher Customes and Jane Asher Party cakes): In 1994, Asher began writing her first novel, The Longing. The novel was published in 1996, and became a bestseller. Another novel followed for Asher in 1998, The Question.
Jane Asher on her various careers:
"... of all the things I do, acting in many ways, is the thing that grabs most, but there's another level on which it strikes me as being a little silly. In the end you're dressing up and deciding to be somebody... It's financially precarious, you never know when you'll work again".
She has run Jane Asher Party Cakes since 1990, which makes premium cakes for corporations and private parties (cheaper versions of he cakes are sold in prominent British supermarkets). According to Asher, her interest in making cakes stems from her childohood:
"I learned basic cookery from my mom, taught myself cake techniques and then got fed up with my own cakes not looking as good as the ones in the shops. I think my showbiz side must have come out, the enjoyment of entertaining, because the cakes got increasingly wild and funny until many years later when a friend suggested I put them all into a book... (Once the book became a bestseller) cake-making stopped being a hobby and became a business".
Despite having a varied and busy career, she stills finds the time to act. She appeared in Absolutely Fabulous as herself (with good friend Joanna Lumely, who plays Patsy), as well as the television movie Closing Numbers in 1994 and The Choir in 1995. In August of 1998, Asher finished a successful run of the play The Things We Do For Love. One critic is quoted as saying: "Jane Asher is a delight to watch".
In addition to her business, writing, and movies, Asher has her own program called Good Living With Jane Asher on BBC1. The program lasts several weeks a few times a year, and showcases her recipes, crafts and cakes. Asher's program is very popular and two books have been issued from it.
Asher and her family currently live in the district of Chelsea, in London, England.
Jane also has a magazine out in the UK, for which she gets her nickname: "The British Martha Stewart". Jane is pretty much open about other things in her private life, however, Jane refuses to speak to anyone in the press about her five-year relationship with Paul. She said she'd never say anything, even if Paul came out with a tell-all on her. Although they hadn't seen each other in over 25 years (and then they did it quite by chance) it seems that they still had (and have) respect for each other.
Jane Asher's contributions to The Beatles' music include: