A POULTON charity shop worker who claimed to be the late Hollywood screen siren Jeanne Crain has vanished under a cloud of mystery.

Former Help the Aged staff member, Jeanne Crain, recently cut ties with colleagues at the charity's Market Place site as well as signing off as a Friend of Blackpool's Grand Theatre.

Her disappearance -- shortly before the death of the 78-year-old star in California, on December 14 -- has prompted a number of organisations to question whether the voluntary worker was in fact the real-life Jeanne Crain.

For more than two years the Fylde Coast's Ms Crain attended stage premieres, signed autographs and even made guest appearances at charity events using the Hollywood identity.

But in a stark contrast to her image as Ms Crain she also lived a quieter life under the name of Marjorie Calvert, saying she was the daughter of legendary Fylde trumpet player, Eddie Calvert.

Who was the mystery woman who worked so tirelessly for charity as Jeanne Crain but preferred to be known by her less glamorous identity?

Cleveleys-based amateur dramatics producer, Carol Lawrance, introduced herself to Ms Crain -- who spoke with a transatlantic accent -- after friends told her they had met the star in Poulton in 2001.

Carol said: "At that time I was producing a performance of State Fair with the Lytham Operatic Society and thought it would be a real coup to invite one the show's original stars, Ms Crain, to the premiere. She agreed to be guest of honour at the opening night at Lowther Pavilion in April that year."

Carol added: "Ms Crain told us some fantastic stories about her time in Hollywood. She warned us that she only drinks champagne and on the night we made sure that she was looked after.

"She was no trouble. She met and congratulated the players, signed countless autographs and was very patient with all the fans who turned up to see her. In fact she was the perfect guest of honour. We were completely enthralled with her."

Carol had no contact with her guest of honour after the premiere but was astonished to find her selling programmes at the Grand Theatre a year later.

"She was wearing a Friends of the Grand name badge with the name Marjorie Calvert printed on it.

"I began to get suspicious and asked where the name had come from. She told me that Jeanne Crain was her stage name."

History records that Jeanne Crain was born to Irish-American parents on May 25, 1925, in the town of Bairstow, California. During a career spanning more than 30 years, she played opposite such legendary heart-throbs as Frank Sinatra, Kirk Douglas, William Holden and Cary Grant.

But it was her choice of controversial film roles that cemented the devoutly Catholic mother-of-seven as one of Tinseltown's most sought after leading ladies.

A spokesman for Help the Aged, Anthony Waller, said the Fylde Coast's Jeanne Crain began working for the charity five years ago, presenting references in the actress' name.

But she retired from the organisation last November -- just weeks before the star's death from a heart attack.

He said: "The woman we knew as Jeanne Crain came to us with references from a number of other different sources and we had no reason to question her identity.

"During her time with the charity she was a dedicated, reliable and professional member of staff who used her assumed identity to benefit our cause. She even represented us as Jeanne Crain at a number of local events and helped to raise a substantial amount of cash on these occasions.

"We no longer have any contact with our Ms Crain but we were saddened to hear of this death."

Are you Jeanne Crain or Marjorie Calvert? Could you solve this mystery? If so, call The Citizen (in confidence) on 01253 755019 or email lhudson@blackpoolcitizen.co.uk