Mandy Rice-Davies

Mandy Rice-Davies (actual first name Marilyn) (born 1944) is famous mainly for her minor role in the Profumo affair which brought down 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.