Lyn Shaw wasn’t just a pretty face—she was a force of nature. Born in 1936 in London, this exotic olive-skinned beauty with a sultry voice and a figure that seemed made for the camera quickly became one of the most iconic faces of England’s glamour scene in the 1950s. From the moment she stepped onto the stage at the Windmill Theatre, Lyn knew exactly what she wanted: the limelight. And the limelight, it seemed, couldn’t help but shine on her.
From Stage to Screen: A Career Made on Determination
Raised in Ealing, Lyn Shaw’s love for show business started early. At just 15 years old, she was discovered, and by 16, she was performing as a dancer at the famous Windmill Theatre. Known for its blend of artistic nudity and musical numbers, the Windmill was a place where Lyn’s unique beauty and confidence shone through, quickly catching the eye of the public.
Her striking good looks—a long-legged brunette with piercing green eyes and a body that was the perfect 38-24-36—made her a standout figure. As much as she loved the stage, however, she had her sights set on something bigger: the movies.
Glamour Model to International Starlet
After two and a half years at the Windmill, Lyn made the bold decision to leave and focus on chasing other opportunities. She immersed herself in the world of glamour modeling, but what started as a way to make ends meet turned into an all-out career explosion. At her peak, Lyn was on the cover of not one but several major magazines at once. Her seductive, confident presence made her a favourite of top photographers like Eva Grant, Russell Gay, and Harrison Marks. Soon, her face was everywhere—on magazine covers, in newspapers, and in the hearts and minds of millions of fans.
Despite her overwhelming popularity in the modeling world, Lyn’s true ambition lay in acting. Unfortunately, the U.K. film industry seemed unsure of what to do with her. She auditioned for a variety of roles, showcasing her talents in singing, dancing, and straight acting, but her big break never materialized. Frustrated by the lack of opportunity, Lyn decided to take matters into her own hands. Instead of waiting for a British director to cast her, she packed her bags and set off for Rome, accepting a contract in cabaret.
The Italian Job: A Rising Star in Italian Cinema
Lyn Shaw’s move to Italy would prove to be the game-changer she needed. Almost immediately, she became a sensation, appearing in Italian magazines and newspapers. Within weeks, Lyn Shaw was not only performing in theatre for £100 a week but had also caught the attention of the Italian film industry.
Her big break came when she landed a role opposite the American actor Steve Cochran in Il Grido (1957), a film by the legendary Michelangelo Antonioni. This was just the start. Lyn Shaw was a star in the making. She appeared in several Italian films. For her British work, she used the moniker Jacqueline Jones, appearing in Pit of Darkness (1961), among other things.
Legacy in Glamour and Film
Today, Lyn Shaw is remembered as one of the era’s most mesmerizing and versatile British glamour models, with her striking green eyes and perfectly proportioned figure forever etched in the minds of her admirers. Her film and TV career, while not as widely known or celebrated as it should be, remains a fascinating chapter.
Her sister, Madeline Banister, a showgirl on ice, married Max Morgan, a U.S. Air Force captain stationed in England, who put on the all-Negro musical revue Jazz Train at the Piccadilly Theatre in 1955.
