Ruby sparkles at 92

Some people might consider retirement at 92, but not actress Thelma Ruby. She’s in Jack Dee’s new sitcom Bad Move, she was recently named Oldie of the Year and next she’s performing as Golda Meir in a pub theatre.

Momma Golda tells the story of Meir’s life from the age of six to 75. Ruby, who lives in Wimbledon, explains how the show came about. “I married late — age 45 — and I was living in Israel with my husband Peter Frye. A South African friend of mine called me as he was directing a play about Golda Meir in South Africa and his Israeli actress had pulled out at the last minute. He desperately needed a stand in. My husband convinced me to do it.

“I went off to meet Golda Meir in her simple bungalow. She made tea. I remember that she said to me ‘I want you to do me a favour. I saw Anne Bancroft play my character on Broadway — but she stooped. I don’t stoop!’ To be honest, I was more worried about the fact that she smoked like a trooper and I don’t smoke.”

Following successful performances in South Africa, Ruby was approached to create a one- woman show about Golda. However, after discussions with her husband, they decided, with permission from William Gibson, the original playwright, to adapt the original play into a two-hander.