Career: Clark quickly became a favourite with not only BBC listeners, but the troops fighting during the Second World War. She went on to perform 500 times on radio and toured the country with fellow child star Julie Andrews. During a 1944 performance at the Royal Albert Hall, she was spotted by film director Maurice Elvey, who cast her in his weepy Medal for the General. More films, recording and TV work followed. She became an international star in the late 1950s and was able to sing in numerous languages, but it was the song Downtown in 1964 that sealed her reputation as a popular performer. Since then, Clark has continued to dabble in acting, as well as singing, touring and appearing in stage shows. She made her Broadway debut in Willy Russell's Blood Brothers in 1993 at the Music Box Theatre. She is the best-selling British female vocalist ever and received a CBE in 1998.