Sybil was a rebel (and not just Richard Burton’s first wife)
Lynette Summers
Thu 20 Nov 2025
This week I watched Mr Burton (bloody marvellous) and Richard Burton: Wild Genius (very enjoyable), both on BBC iplayer. I was transported back to a time when celebrity was earnt. Richard Burton was one hell of a character, that’s for damn sure, but he was also unquestionably talented, intelligent and, from what I’ve seen, humble. That Richard was born the son of a miner is something that he never forgot — not that anyone in 1950s Britain would have let him! Born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr., he acquired the more acceptable surname of Burton only when he was adopted by his teacher and early mentor, Philip Burton. Indeed, spotting Richard’s talent, Philip not only provided intensive acting and elocution lessons, but he helped transform the young man into someone that could pass for being a well-to-do English gent! It was not until this week, for example, that I learned that Richard, with the help and encouragement of Philip, attended Exeter College, Oxford for six months in 1943-1944 through a Royal Air Force (RAF) scholarship program for qualified cadets. …Anyway, this post is not actually meant to be about Richard Burton, but rather his first wife, Sybil.
I hadn’t known about his first wife, only of the legendary love affair between Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. I watched Richard Burton: Wild Genius feeling both admiration and pity for Sybil. Admiration for having been married to this great man, and pity for having been sidelined into a traditional role as a stay-at-home mother and homemaker—albeit a very comfortable and glamorous one!—while Richard went off to live free and wild whenever he fancied. HOWEVER, I have since learned, through some early morning Googling, that Sybil was herself very rock and roll, as all Welsh women are, of course!! Following her divorce from Richard Burton she set up a nightclub in New York that was the precursor to Studio 54. The Studio 54!
Sybil’s nightclub was called Arthur (1965-1969) and it attracted all manner of famous folk—the movers and shakers of the day—including Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. Sybil also remarried a hottie called Jordan Christopher, a singer and actor 11 years her junior. Hats off to you, madame! I also saw a ton of photos online of her looking beautiful, carefree and full of character. I don’t know much about this woman, and I didn’t live through these times, but I know enough to appreciate that she must have been a strong woman. Of course, the money and connection to Richard Burton would have helped no end. Nevertheless, she was clearly a lady with spirit and chutzpah.
I am certain that there is much more to Sybil than this, and I’ve only just started to learn about her, but I was pleased to see that hers was a good life from the looks of it. A life well lived. A life not defined by her first marriage and the shadow of Richard Burton’s enormous talent. So, later today, I will raise a toast to Sybil, to Richard and to Mr. Burton. You were inspirations, all. Welsh inspirations, no less.
Blog post text: © 2025 Lynette Summers. CC BY.
Copyright information for the image: Copyright clearance for publication is not required, except in the case of documents in third-party copyright. Image source: The National Archives Image Library, COPY 1/209 (318), 1903. Welsh lady waving hanky.
Retrieved from https://images.nationalarchives.gov.uk/asset/54283/.