[1] Carey made her stage debut in 1916, aged 18, as Princess Katherine in an all-female production of Henry V. She joined Sir George Alexander's company at the St James's Theatre playing Jacqueline, a French countess, in The Aristocrat.

After a succession of West End roles in light comedy, Carey took on further Shakespearean parts, appearing at Stratford-upon-Avon as Anne Page, Perdita, Titania, Miranda and Juliet.

During the Second World War, Carey toured with John Gielgud for the Entertainments National Service Association (ENSA) bringing theatre to members of the armed forces at home and abroad, recreating some of her roles from Tonight at 8.30.

In 1942 she rejoined Coward to tour in his three newest plays, This Happy Breed as Sylvia, Blithe Spirit as Ruth, and Present Laughter as Liz – a character based partly on the actress herself.

[6] She continued working on screen into her nineties, attracting enthusiastic notices for her portrayal of a frail old lady faced with eviction in Michael Palin's BBC play No 27.

Slight in build, with a wide-eyed and wistful face, she looked vulnerable and had a social poise that secured her many aristocratic roles among them Wilde's Lady Markby and the Hon.