Mandy Rice-Davies
Mandy Rice-Davies (actual first name
Marilyn) (born
1944) is famous mainly for her minor role in the
Profumo affair which descredited the
Conservative government of
Harold Macmillan in
1963. Born in
Wales, Rice-Davies became a model and came to
London, where she met
Christine Keeler and
Stephen Ward. As a result of her involvement in Ward's social set, she became intimate with many powerful people, including the then Viscount Astor. While giving evidence at the trial of Stephen Ward, Rice-Davies made the quip for which she is most remembered. When the prosecuting counsel pointed out that Astor denied having met her, she replied, "Well, he would, wouldn't he?" She traded on the notoriety the trial brought her, and went on to run night clubs in the Middle East.