Fay Presto (born 17 May 1948[1]) is thestage name ofLetitia Winter,[2] a Britishmagician and member ofThe Inner Magic Circle known for herclose-up magic.
Winter's first job was as a lab assistant at an atomic energy research company, and she tried returning to study and working in sales before developing an interest in performing magic in her late thirties.[3] She joinedThe Magic Circle, but was asked to leave when she began totransition.[4] When The Magic Circle voted to allow women members in 1991, she was one of the first women to join.[5]
As Presto, Winter specialises inclose-up magic, and had held a residency at London'sLangan's Brasserie since the start of her magic career.[6] She is known for her "bottle through the table" trick, which was ranked as the 37th greatest magic trick of all time by Channel 4's50 Greatest Magic Tricks.[citation needed]
Presto was part of the UK touring showChampions of Magic from 2014 to 2017, alongside fellow magicians Edward Hilsum, Alex McLear andYoung & Strange.[7]
She was profiled in the BBC documentary series40 Minutes in 1994 in the episode "Fay Presto: Illusions of Grandeur" directed by Sally George. In 2017, Presto was the subject of the documentaryFay Presto, the Queen of Close-up.[8]
Winter has appeared in a number of documentaries and played herself in cameo roles.[9]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Fay Presto: Illusions of Grandeur | Herself | |
| 1995 | The Car's The Star | Herself | Guest |
| 1995 | Paul Daniels' Secrets | Herself | |
| 1995 | The Late Late Show | Herself | Guest |
| 2000 | Heroes of Magic | Herself | |
| 2001 | Emmerdale | Herself | Cameo |
| 2002 | The Daily Show | Herself | Guest |
| 2002 | 50 Greatest Magic Tricks | Herself | |
| 2006 | The Story of Light Entertainment | Herself | |
| 2016 | When Magic Goes Horribly Wrong | Herself | |
| 2017 | Fay Presto, Queen of Close-up | Herself |
In 1998 Winter was voted "Party Entertainer of the Year" byTatler Magazine.[10]
In 2012 Winter won the title of The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2012.[11]
In 2024 awarded the David Berglas Award for "Outstanding Contribution to Magic by a British magician" by The British Magical Society.[12]
Winter is atransgender woman, and regularly organises and performs in benefits to support the rights of women, children and the LGBT community. Before her transition, she performed in character as a female magician. She is an ambassador forAction for Children.[13]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
