Barbara, who stood at a mighty five feet nothing and had a laugh that could shatter glass, wasn’t just a random fan. She actually socialized with Ronnie and Reggie Kray in their heyday. The twins owned a string of nightclubs, including the infamous Krays’ Esmeralda’s Barn in Knightsbridge, and Barbara was a regular guest.
Can you imagine? One minute she’s filming a scene with Sid James where she loses her dress in a classic farce, and the next she’s sipping champagne next to a man who once smashed a rival’s face into a wall. The contrast is so wild, it’s like finding your grandmother’s knitting needles next to a chainsaw.
A Dinner Date With Danger
According to Barbara’s memoirs, Reggie Kray had a massive crush on her. He was the slightly more charming twin—emphasis on slightly, like a shark that smiles before it bites. One night, Reggie invited her to dinner at a fancy restaurant, and Barbara, being a good sport, agreed.
As she tells it, the evening was going fine until Reggie’s brother Ronnie, the violently unpredictable one (imagine a bull in a china shop, only the bull has a loaded gun), showed up. Ronnie, who was famously paranoid and prone to fits of rage, didn’t take kindly to his brother having a female interest. He glared at Barbara throughout the meal, probably wondering if her bubbly personality was a front for being a police informant.
