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June Ritchie is not a name that will be familiar with the millennium cinema going generation, yet for those of a certain age, she is fondly remembered for a handful of notable 60’s kitchen sink dramas, several high profile television guest starring roles and a number of notable theatrical appearances.

Born in Manchester, England, in 1938. Ritchie trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in London, where she later became an Associate Member. She started off her acting career with the Stretford Childrens Theatre in Manchester, before landing her first major film role in the kitchen sink drama “A Kind of Loving” (1962, John Schlesinger). Shot in the fall of 1961 and released the following year after being given an X certificate by the British Board of Film Censors, this ‘well-wrought romance’ situated in the industrial area of Lancashire, retains a period charm whilst reflecting formative attitudes towards love and sex.

Within two years, she had made two films with Ian Hendry – “Live Now Pay Later” (1962) and “This is my street” (1964), and appeared opposite Sylvia Syms as a prostitute in the dour drama “The World Ten Times Over” (1963). She then married, devoting time to her husband whilst forsaking commitment to a full time career. She would nevertheless, continue working for the next twenty five years before retiring from screen work in the late 80’s. During this period, she also starred in the 1975 Thames TV musical special “Soap Opera,” along with Ray Davies of the Kinks, who wrote the songs for the programme.

In the last few years, her professional engagements have been largely focused on British radio plays.