Born: Agnes Bernauer in Berlin, March 7th, 1923. She left Germany for London as a refugee in 1936.

Career stepping stones: She secured her first film role at the age of seven, in Eine Tolle Ballnacht. She joined and performed with the Free German League of Culture in London in 1939. Her first cabaret appearance was at the Establishment Club, Soho in 1960. She brought her solo show, Cabaret Of Savagery And Delight to the 2nd Dublin Theatre Festival in 1961.

Recordings include: Bernelle On Brecht, Father Is Lying Dead On The Ironing Board, now released on CD (Demon Records), and Mother The Wardrobe Is Full Of Infantrymen.

Marriage: Married Desmond Leslie on August 18th, 1945. They had two children: Sean born June 1947 and Mark born December 1952. They moved to Castle Leslie, Glaslough, in 1963. Their marriage broke down in 1969 and she met her present partner, Maurice Craig, the same year.

Autobiography: The Fun Palace (Lilliput Press, £9.99) published 1996.