But she was actually quite shy and a private person.. Thank you, Deborah said, clearly moved by the extended standing ovation she received at the ceremony. She adopted the name Deborah Kerr on becoming a film actress ("Kerr" was a family name going back to the maternal grandmother of her grandfather Arthur Kerr Trimmer). Kerrs agent immediately got on the phone to get her name back in the running. Born Deborah Jane Trimmer on September 30, 1921, in a private nursing home in Glasgow, she took the name from her paternal grandfather Arthur Kerr Trimmer who had adopted it from his Scottish maternal grandmother. Kerr was born on September 30, 1921, in Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland, and died on October 16, 2007, in Suffolk, England. For many years she had battled Parkinson's disease with the dignified grace and quiet wit she brought to her many roles. Powell had likely cast Kerr in Black Narcissus to keep her acting in British films and to keep her out of Hollywood. But the heat wasnt the only problem on the set of The King and I. This gave her a chance to really show off her acting chops. Where the original was of its time and a kind of commentary on the end of empire she found the new adaptation does not quite have that same force because of the timing. Personal Life. And thats when a close relative suggested something even more difficult. Hucksters, The (1947) -- (Movie Clip) Your Toes Are Not Pointed Enough! She then went to the Sadler's Wells ballet school and in 1938 made her dbut in the corps de ballet in Prometheus. She first performed at the Open Air Theatre in Regent's Park, London. Prof Street can see why. Kerr enjoyed working with Nixon and respected her talent and professionalism. In a further case of coincidence, they were all the same age86 years old. She then went to the Sadler's Wells ballet school and in 1938 made her dbut in the corps de ballet in Prometheus. It has become the breakout TV hit of Christmas with the usual staples of festive specials replaced by eerie palaces perched on Himalayan mountains, nuns on a mission and simmering sexual tension. In From Here to Eternity, Deborah Kerr and Burt Lancaster shared a passionate kiss as a wave broke over their bodies. The film is about an ordinary American couple (amusing seeing as Deborah and Cary were both very British), Clem and Effie . But then Kerr said something that amped up his anger to a whole new level. ", Audrey Hepburn - Film Legend, Fashion Icon, Humanitarian Great, Vivien Leigh - "Too British" to play Scarlett O'Hara. It has taken inspiration from the original film in many ways.. In 1977, she came back to the West End, playing the title role in a production of George Bernard Shaw's Candida. See Celebrities Who Quit Hollywood, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Hawaii Adventures! During the Broadway run, however, tragedy struck. The odds of being that close to an explosion were pretty smallbut not as small as landing her next role. After all, he was ready to reap the benefits of his new stars popularity. And she still retains the beauty and great sense of humor that got her through stardom in the 50s and 60s. When Kerr still hesitated, Feldman offered her a deal she couldnt refuse: Kerr would receive an enormous daily rate for every day they needed her past the ten days promised. Georgina Ainsley. Arthur Charles Kerr Trimmer, a World War I veteran and pilot who lost a leg at the Battle of the Somme and later became a naval architect and civil engineer. Her spouse is Tony Bartley ( m. 1945; div. By the late 1960s, Kerr found herself disillusioned with the film industry. [citation needed]. However Kerr then played Anna Leonowens in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I (1956); with Yul Brynner in the lead, it was a huge hit. Her ill health led Kerr to leave her life in Switzerland and Spain, and return to the UK to be with her daughters. She was an immediate hit with the public: An American film trade paper reported in 1942 that she was the most popular British actress with Americans. This film was a production of the team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. 1959) Peter Viertel ( m. 1960) . [8], Kerr experienced a career resurgence on television in the early 1980s when she played the role of the nurse (played by Elsa Lanchester in the 1957 film of the same name) in Witness for the Prosecution, with Sir Ralph Richardson. Please reach out to us to let us know what youre interested in reading. But that was just the tip of the iceberg. The stage was set. But who was the real Deborah Kerr? He died, aged 78, in a road rage incident in 2004. As a child, Deborah, who was born in Glasgow, dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but she switched to acting when she grew too tall. In 1960, the same year they wed, the couple purchased a home in the Swiss mountains that became their haven. Kerrs record definitely belonged to the latter group. She was born Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer, the daughter of Captain Arthur Kerr-Trimmer, at Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, on September 30 1921 and educated in Bristol, where she attended a drama school . The BBC adaptation of Black Narcissus is a remake of the iconic Oscar-winning 1947 movie of the same name, shot entirely in the UK by pioneering British director Michael Powell and producer-writer Emeric Pressburger with the late, great Hollywood icon Deborah Kerr in the star role. The organisation ranked it 20th in its list of the 100 most romantic films of all time. We spent many magical summers and winters [there], her grandson Lex Shrapnel, who stars in Infiniti, streaming on Canal+, tells Closer. [citation needed]. At the peak of her film career, Deborah Kerr was featured in some of the biggest, flashiest frock flicks of the 1950s. And the Helensburgh Heritage Trust reports the star twice visited the town in the 1950s when she stayed with friends on Charlotte Street. According to Powell, his affair with Kerr ended when she made it clear to him that she would accept an offer to go to Hollywood if one were made. This news turned Kerrs affair sourand the romance unraveled in a horrible way. Kerr ended up paying a colossal $1000 per week just to get out of her contract. Kerrs lover Powell was ready to cast Kerr in his next filmA Canterbury Taleand more than eager to reunite her with Roger Livesey, her co-star in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp. and whose actions, in addition to their achievements, embody the
She was actually quite shy and a rather private person, says her daughter. Trimmer and Smale married, both aged 28, on 21 August 1919 in Smale's hometown of Lydney, Gloucestershire. [20] When asked about this revelation, Kerr's response was, "What a gallant man he is! The dazzling war-drama, which won a staggering eight Oscars, celebrates another anniversary this August 5, and we're nostalgically looking back at its luminous Best Actress nom, Deborah Kerr. She replaced Kim Novak in Eye of the Devil (1966) with Niven, and was reteamed with Niven in the comedy Casino Royale (1967), achieving the distinction of being, at 45, the oldest "Bond Girl" in any James Bond film, until Monica Bellucci, at the age of 50, in Spectre (2015). Historys most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. And of all of her films I have seen The Innocents based on Henry James the Turn of the Screw is my favorite and probably the finest "haunted house" film ever. Kerr took her colossal earnings from Casino Royale and built a massive swimming pool. Deborah Jane Trimmer CBE (30 September 1921 16 October 2007), known professionally as Deborah Kerr, was a British actress. The film was a hit in the US, as well as the UK, and Kerr won the New York Film Critics Award as Actress of the Year. Deborah Jane Trimmer [1] was born on 30 September 1921 in Hillhead, Glasgow, [3] the only daughter of Kathleen Rose ( ne Smale) and Capt. Ironically, it was Powells Black Narcissus that finally sealed the deal. Her other films include The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943), Black Narcissus (1947), From Here to Eternity (1953), Tea and Sympathy (1956), An Affair to Remember (1957), Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), Separate Tables (1958), The Sundowners (1960), The Innocents (1961), The Grass is Greener (1960), and The Night of the Iguana (1964). Times Staff Writer. Im sure Hollywood was a thrilling change from gray postwar London, Francesca says. Thereafter, Kerr's career choices would make her known in Hollywood for her versatility as an actress. All Rights Reserved, Please note that this form cannot be used to reset your Google, Being Famous Is Overrated! By 1960, she was very happy to make her new home halfway up a mountain in Switzerland., Deborah was, however, delighted when Sleepless in Seattles mention of An Affair to Remember reignited interest in one of her favorite movies. As the most commanding mistress in the French court, she bettered the lives of many and became a beloved figure. The pressure group The Legion Of Decency had concerns that the Anglican nuns in the film might be taken as Catholic and be seen to be in danger of losing their vocation. Said critic James Agate of Love on the Dole, "is not within a mile of Wendy Hiller's in the theatre, but it is a charming piece of work by a very pretty and promising beginner, so pretty and so promising that there is the usual yapping about a new star". Kerr was extremely shy, so dancing in front of a crowd didnt come easy. In his autobiography, director Powell made a shocking confession: Hed bedded Kerr during the shoot. Brynner didnt care that she had no singing voice, and left it up to the production team to come up with a solution to their off-key problem. Deborah Kerr Birth Name: Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer Birth Place: Helensburgh, Scotland Profession Actor Actor 56 Credits The Best of Hollywood 2017 Hold the Dream 1986 A Woman of Substance. She subsequently performed with the Oxford Repertory Company 1939-40. She won a scholarship to Sadler's Wells . In addition to the pain and suffering associated with learning to dance on pointe, Kerr also faced another obstacleher crippling insecurity. The heat was so intense that Kerr lost a whopping 12 pounds. Kerr's first marriage was to Squadron Leader Anthony Bartley RAF on 29 November 1945. She played a Norwegian resistance fighter in The Day Will Dawn (1942). [citation needed], Concern about the parts being offered to her, as well as the increasing amount of nudity included in films, led her to abandon the medium at the end of the 1960s, with one exception in 1985, in favour of television and theatre work. [8], Near the end of the Second World War, she also toured Holland, France, and Belgium for ENSA as Mrs Manningham in Gaslight (retitled Angel Street), and Britain (with Stewart Granger).[14]. According to Powell, his affair with Kerr ended when she made it clear to him that she would accept an offer to go to Hollywood if one were made. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. These warm feelings for Nixon led Kerr to do something very un-Hollywood. Born on September 30, 1921, this year marks her 100th birth anniversary. In 1965, the producers of Carry On Screaming! Scottish-born actress Deborah Kerr, who starred in Hollywood films including An Affair to Remember and The King And I, has died.. She was aged 86. They had two daughters, Melanie Jane (born 27 December 1947) and Francesca Ann (born 18 December 1951, who married to the actor John Shrapnel). But the dangers of research were nothing compared to the near-fatal disaster that went down during her next project. Born Deborah Jane Trimmer on September 30, 1921, in a private nursing home in Glasgow, she took the. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in The Sundowners. offered her a fee comparable to that paid to the rest of the cast combined, but she turned it down in favour of appearing in an aborted stage version of Flowers for Algernon. Hollywood Moms Old Hollywood Movies Hollywood Legends Golden Age Of Hollywood Vintage Hollywood Hollywood Stars Hollywood Actresses Deborah Kerr Cary Grant More information . To avoid confusion over pronunciation, Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer billed her as "Kerr rhymes with Star! It wasnt that hard of a sell for a strange reasonhis appetite. Kerr, nevertheless, used any opportunity to discard her cool exterior. Similar ideas popular now. I had to point out to my friend that it was my gran, he recalls. Biographer Michelangelo Capua said she returned to Dunoon on location for the 1945 film Perfect Strangers. Kerr was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1998, but was unable to accept the honour in person because of ill health. In this film, she played Jenny Hill, who was a devout member of the Salvation Army church. Deborah Jane Trimmer, better known by her stage name Deborah Kerr (30 September 1921-16 October 2007), was a British actress who appeared in movies, plays, and television. She was educated at Northumberland House, Clifton, Bristol. [citation needed]. Arthur Charles Kerr Trimmer, a World War I veteran and pilot who lost a leg at the Battle of the Somme and later became a naval architect and civil engineer. [16] This was immediately followed by her appearance in the religious epic Quo Vadis (1951), shot at Cinecitt in Rome, in which she played the indomitable Lygia, a first-century Christian. She played a nun in Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957) opposite her long-time friend Robert Mitchum, directed by John Huston. Playing Karen, an Army wife consumed by an extramarital affair, was a big departure for the actress. At this time, Kerr was living in Switzerland with husband Viertel, but their life lacked one important thing: a place to swim. Kerr performed the same role in Vincente Minnelli's film adaptation released in 1956; her stage partner John Kerr (no relation) also appeared. Jack took an engineering job at Arrols bridge building firm where his dad worked. The actress, now in her seventies and obviously frail, appeared from behind a screen, dressed in a blue pastel trouser suit, and received a standing ovation from her peers. In Hollywood, Kerr's British accent and manner led to a succession of roles portraying refined, reserved, and "proper" English ladies. Kerr's first film role was in the British production Contraband (US: Blackout, 1940), aged 18 or 19, but her scenes were cut. She was another governess in The Chalk Garden (1964) and worked with John Huston again in The Night of the Iguana (1964). Based on the 1939 novel by Rumer Godden, the movie was cut by censors in the US before, decades later, being lauded by directing great Martin Scorsese as one of the first truly erotic films. To avoid confusion over pronunciation, Louis B. Mayer, head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer billed her as "Kerr rhymes with Star!" There should be more words for thank you, shouldnt there?. By 1959, Bartley had had it. Deborah Kerr net worth: Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress who died in 2007 with a net worth of $10 million. For this performance, Kerr was nominated for an Emmy Award. She was a widow in love with William Holden in The Proud and Profane (1956), directed by George Seaton. Powell took his revenge decisively and ended the affair, leaving Kerr open to a world of possibilities. She disagreed, however, with Scorcese: I would not say the film was erotic but there was that undercurrent of sexual tension, she said. It was filmed in Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire and on location in Leonardslee, a subtropical garden in Sussex. In 1967, director Charles K. Feldman came to Kerr with a special offer. But theres even more irony coloring the picture: Glenn Close herself went on to outdo Kerr in Oscar losses, missing out eight times. Joan Crawford had gotten about as big as a Hollywood star could getand she had an ego to match it. Secondly, the producers decided that her name meant a lot to the picture, so they did something unprecedented for an actress of her age: On the poster, they put her name above all the other performers. It has a lot of shots that look very similar. The director asked Kerr and Lancaster to change into bathing suits and start rolling around in the waves. This film was a production of the team of Frank Launder and Sidney Gilliat. Kerr experienced a career resurgence on television in the early 1980s when she played the role of the nurse (played by Elsa Lanchester in the 1957 film of the same name) in Witness for the Prosecution, with Sir Ralph Richardson. Allenberg could see in Kerr what MGM couldnta sultry star. One of the last of the dignified stars of Hollywoods golden age, Deborah finally received her long-awaited Oscar in 1994, when the Academy honored her body of work. Deborah Jane Trimmer was born on 30 September 1921 in Hillhead, Glasgow, the only daughter of Kathleen Rose (ne Smale) and Capt. Lets just, Love on the Dole (1941), British National Films, Major Barbara (1941), General Film Distributors, The Truth Always Comes Out: Dark Family Secrets Exposed, Entrancing Facts About Madame de Pompadour, France's Most Powerful Mistress, Tragic Facts About Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIIIs First Wife, Cover Girl Facts About Dorian Leigh, The Model Who Flirted With Fire, Wily Facts About Queen Caroline of Ansbach, Historys Monster Mother, Hard-Edged Facts About Etta James, The Comeback Queen, Alluring Facts About Raquel Welch, The Temptress With A Temper. The professor said: She always had a generous spirit. offered her a fee comparable to that paid to the rest of the cast combined, but she turned it down in favour of appearing in an aborted stage version of Flowers for Algernon. Growing up, Rose found it difficult to even be in touch with her father, who she stopped seeing after she was five. But this was only the beginning. Kerr decided to literally dive into the beach scene with Lancaster. [35], On 30 September 2021, on what would have been Kerr's one hundredth birthday, the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Philip Braat, unveiled a memorial plaque in Ruskin Terrace, on the site of the nursing home where Kerr was born.[36]. Cohn still couldnt rid himself of the impression of Kerr as a prim and proper ladyor worse stilla nun. And that was when a disturbing truth came out. During the filming of The King and I, much of the shooting took place under very bright lights. In 1960, Kerr quickly met and married author Peter Viertel, who had a pretty checkered past. But did her morals? 2. "[13] Although the British Army refused to co-operate with the producersand Winston Churchill thought the film would ruin wartime moraleColonel Blimp confounded critics when it proved to be an artistic and commercial success. This role was a far cry from all the pious parts shed previously played, and set Kerrs career on a new path. Night of the Iguana. She also revealed that Kerr who was born in Glasgow and died in 2007 would have been proud of the series Scottish connections. But she found American actor Alessandro Nivolas portrayal of Mr Dean to be more credible than that delivered by David Farrar more than seven decades ago. In reality, though, the director hadnt wanted her in the film at all. The two quietly divorced, and, once again, Kerr found herself in need of a husband. The film was a big hit in Britain. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. At that time, she was the most nominated actress without a single victory. The marriage was troubled, owing to Bartley's jealousy of his wife's fame and financial success, and because her career often took her away from home. It was the 1994 Academy Awards and Glenn Close was on hand to award Kerr an honorary Oscar. [10], Kerr's first stage appearance was at Weston-super-Mare in 1937, as "Harlequin" in the mime play Harlequin and Columbine. Deborah Kerr, Star of 'From Here to Eternity,' Dies at 86 Associated Press LONDON - Deborah Kerr, who shared one of Hollywood's most famous kisses while portraying an Army officer's unhappy. Lying on the ground was nothing compared to the physical trials Kerr endured throughout her first career: ballet. Jon Dahl Tomasson laments Blackburns lack of goals despite clinching late draw, Arsenal suffer extra-time loss as Wolfsburg reach Womens Champions League final, Investigation launched after woman stabbed to death in broad daylight, Investors sue Adidas over Kanye West partnership. The process of development from a romantic, silly girl to a hard, disillusioned woman in three hours was moving and convincing". That is the big difference between it and the current version which was shot on location in Nepal.. Im almost hysterical at the thought of making people cry with joy 30-odd years after Cary and I did our stuff, Deborah, who passed away in 2007, gushed. You see, Kerr had a very strict grandmother who concocted a somewhat cruel form of therapy for her. The scene kept getting shorter and shorter as projectionists across the country repeatedly snipped out frames for repeated viewing. Her husband, however, continued to live in Marbella. There has to be a lady in Hollywood, but someone else can hold the lamp now, Deborah said. The 1960s started well for Deborah. As it turned out, Kerr wasnt the first person considered for the role of Annaand it mustve felt like deja vu all over again. [citation needed], In September 2021, Kerr's grandsons, Joe and Lex Shrapnel, unveiled a memorial plaque at the former family home in Weston-super-Mare. [citation needed], Although she never won a BAFTA or Cannes Film Festival award in a competitive category, both organisations gave Kerr honorary awards: a Cannes Film Festival Tribute in 1984[34] and a BAFTA Special Award in 1991. Kerr arrived on set, eager to prove herselfacting in front of the cameras for the first time. Her British accent and proper manners were getting her typecast. Anthony and Deborah had two daughters, Melanie Jane (born 27 December 1947) and Francesca Ann (born 20 December 1951). A; . She was the female lead in Penn of Pennsylvania (1941) which was little seen; however Hatter's Castle (1942), in which she starred with Robert Newton and James Mason, was very successful. In addition to the hot lights, Kerr also suffered from a dangerous wardrobe. We began our interview sitting comfortably on the terrace, where the great celluloid diva spends . Some world records are for great accomplishments, while others just seem to point to impressive failures. She was a widow in love with William Holden in The Proud and Profane (1956), directed by George Seaton. Kerr made clear that her surname should be pronounced the same as "car". KERR, Deborah Helen Joyce At Waipuna Hospice 9/4/3 at the age of 60. They had two daughters, Melanie Jane (born 27 December 1947) and Francesca Ann (born 20 December 1951), who married the actor John Shrapnel. Kerr appeared in two huge hits for MGM in a row. Details on Recent Surgery, Recovery, Emma Hemming Shares Sweet Video of Bruce Willis Prior to FTD Diagnosis, Montgomery Clift Hated Having to Conceal Parts of His True Self, Regina Taylor Reflects on Most Memorable Roles Amid Emmy Buzz, HGTV's Mika and Brian Kleinschmidt Say Daughter Jade Is Mini-Mika', Suzanne Somers Had to Learn How to Walk After Breaking Her Neck, Dolly Parton Is Always Adding Things to Her Bucket List, Friend Says, L.A. Law's Corbin Bernsen Reveals Success Secret to 34-Year Marriage, Jean Simmons Remembered By Daughter Kate: Im Proud Shes My Mom, Dick Van Dyke Lucked Out Working With Hollywood's Leading Ladies, Bruce Davison On His Career, 1923 Show, Friends and More. During the filming, according to Powell's autobiography, Powell and she became lovers: "I realised that Deborah was both the ideal and the flesh-and-blood woman whom I had been searching for". In 1953, Kerr "showed her theatrical mettle" as Portia in Joseph Mankiewicz's Julius Caesar. Kerr changed her co-stars mind when he overheard her speaking to the director with a rather vulgar vocabulary. In tears I saw you sinking And watched you pass away My heart wa Suspenseful drama in which arrogant and high level Soviet military man (Yul Brynner) detains a group of tourists and travellers in the political powder keg of Hungary in the Fifties. It's an unbelievable terror, a kind of masochistic madness. [citation needed]. When asked about this revelation, Kerr's response was, "What a gallant man he is!". With a lover who was a celebrated producer, director, and writer, Kerr certainly had her career tied up. [12] Kerr made clear that her surname should be pronounced the same as "car". The Sundowners saw her reunited with Fred Zinneman and Robert Mitchum. Ive abdicated.. Scottish-born actress Deborah Kerr, the graceful star who romped in the surf with Burt Lancaster in "From Here to Eternity" and danced with Yul Brynner in "The King and I," has died at age 86. in the classic 1956 film, The King and I. Actress Deborah Kerr with her husband Anthony Bartley and their daughter Melane 1952 #MediaStorehouse. Deborah Kerr was a Scottish actress who achieved international fame for her leading roles in films such as "From Here to Eternity" . During the filming, she dubbed herself the melting Miss Kerr. Sounds like an idea for a new fad diet. Casino Royal was a hit as was another movie she made with Niven, Prudence and the Pill (1968). She and Walter Pidgeon were cast in If Winter Comes (1947). [25] At the time of Viertel's death, director Michael Scheingraber was filming the documentary Peter Viertel: Between the Lines, which includes reminiscences concerning Kerr and the Academy Awards. character of the British people through commitment to British values, the British community and/or to Great Britain.
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