Tessie O'Shea

She was aptly and affectionately dubbed "Two Ton Tessie" not only for her plentiful girth but for the tons of talent she possessed as one of the British Isle's most beloved, unabashed music hall entertainers. Give her an audience and bawdy Tessie O'Shea could have them on their feet in seconds flat. The Welsh comedy and recording star was born in Cardiff as Teresa Mary O'Shea on March 13, 1913, the daughter of a humble newspaper wholesaler. Already showing off in music halls as a six-year-old and later dubbed "The Wonder of Wales," she captured several prizes for the various talent contests she entered with her singing and dancing. The once-slim youthful performer made her solo debut at the age of 12 at the Bristol Hippodrome and never stopped working, appearing on BBC Radio as a teen and gracing the English and South African stages as well. As she grew in size, Tessie became a major attraction and gained notoriety for belting out such bawdy or novelty favorites as "Don't Have Any Mo