Annie Ross dead: The Wicker Man and Superman actress dies age 89
The performer, singer and actress has died in New York at the age of 89
Singer and actress Annie Ross has died at the age of 89.
Annie shot to fame as a child star dubbed Scotland's answer to Shirley Temple.
She later starred in Superman III and had her famously deep voice replace the vocals of Britt Ekland in 1973 cult horror classic The Wicker Man.
Annie's manager Jim Coleman confirmed she had died as a result of emphysema and heart disease at her home in New York City.
Born in Surrey in 1930, Annie was just four years old her parents decided to take her to New York to try and help her make it a performer after she showed early talents in singing.
"They got the cheapest ticket, which was right in the bowels of the ship," Annie later recalled.
But the move paid off as while in the States Annie took part in and won a radio talent show - with the top prize being a movie contract with MGM.
At the age of 13 she starred alongside Judy Garland in musical comedy Presenting Lily Mars.
After leaving school early, Annie went off to tour around Europe and established herself as a jazz singer.
She then turned her talents to acting and starred in a number of films including Alfie Darling, Funny Money and Superman III.
In 1973 Annie provided the speaking voice for Britt Ekland in The Wicker Man and the singing voice of Ingrid Thulin in Salon Kitty in 1976.
Bond Girl Britt later complained that she had been dubbed against her wishes.
Recalling her time filming the Wicker Man, she said: "I did a Scottish accent and they didn't like it, so they brought Annie Ross into the studio and she dubbed my voice. It's the only time in my career that I have not used my own voice," she said.
MirrorCeleb