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Valerie Hobson

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
42

Gender
Female

Birthday
April 14, 1917 (109 years old)

Place of Birth
Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Valerie Hobson

Biography

Valerie Hobson (14 April 1917 – 13 November 1998) was a British actress who appeared in a number of British films during the 1940s and 1950s. She was born Babette Valerie Louise Hobson in Larne, County Antrim, Ireland.

She appeared as Baroness Frankenstein in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) with Boris Karloff and Colin Clive, taking over the role from Mae Clarke, who had played it in the original Frankenstein (1931). Hobson also played opposite Henry Hull that same year in Werewolf of London, the first Hollywood werewolf movie, predating The Wolf Man by six years.

The latter half of the 1940s saw Hobson in perhaps her two most memorable roles: as the adult Estella in David Lean's 1946 adaptation of Great Expectations, and as the refined and virtuous Edith D'Ascoyne in the 1949 black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets.

In 1952 she divorced her first husband, film producer Sir Anthony Havelock-Allan (1904–2003), and married MP John Profumo (1915–2006) in 1954, giving up acting shortly afterwards

Valerie Hobson's last starring role was in the original London production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical play The King and I which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on October 8, 1953. She played Mrs. Anna Leonowens opposite Herbert Lom's King.

After Profumo's ministerial career ended in disgrace in 1963, following revelations he had lied to the House of Commons about his affair with Christine Keeler, she stood by him, and they worked together for charity for the remainder of her life.

Hobson's eldest son, Simon Anthony Clerveaux Havelock-Allan was born in May 1944 with Down's Syndrome. Her middle child, Mark Havelock-Allan, was born on 4 April 1951. Her youngest child is author David Profumo, (b. 16 October 1955) wrote Bringing the House Down (2006) about the scandal.

She died of a heart attack in London in 1998 and is buried in Surrey, England.

Description above from the Wikipedia Valerie Hobson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known For

Acting

1954Monsieur Ripoisas Catherine Ripois
1953Backgroundas Barbie Lomax
1952The Voice of Merrillas Alycia Roche
1952Meet Me Tonightas Stella Cartwright
1952Who Goes There!as Alex Cornwall
1952The Cardas Countess of Chell
1949The Rocking Horse Winneras Hester Grahame
1949The Interrupted Journeyas Carol North
1949Kind Hearts and Coronetsas Edith D'Ascoyne
1949Train of Eventsas Stella
1948The Small Voiceas Eleanor Byrne
1948Blanche Furyas Blanche Fury
1946Great Expectationsas Estella
1946The Years Betweenas Diana Wentworth
1943The Adventures of Tartuas Maruschuka Lanova
1942Unpublished Storyas Carol Bennett
1941Atlantic Ferryas Mary Ann Morison
1940Contrabandas Mrs. Sorensen
1939The Spy in Blackas The School Mistress
1939This Man in Parisas Pat Drake
1939The Silent Battleas Draguisha
1939Q Planesas Kay Lawrence
1938This Man Is Newsas Pat Drake
1938The Drumas Mrs. Carruthers
1937Jump for Gloryas Glory Fane
1937Television Demonstration Filmas
1936No Exitas Laura Anstey
1936Tugboat Princessas Sally
1936The Secret of Stamboulas Tania
1936August Week Endas Claire Barry
1935The Great Impersonationas Eleanor Dominey
1935Chinatown Squadas Janet Baker
1935Werewolf of Londonas Lisa Glendon
1935Bride of Frankensteinas Elizabeth
1935Rendezvous at Midnightas Sandra Rogers
1935The Mystery of Edwin Droodas Helena Landless
1935Life Returnsas Mrs. Kendrick
1934Strange Wivesas Mauna
1934The Path of Gloryas Maria
1934Badger’s Greenas Molly Butler
1934Two Hearts in Waltz Timeas Susie
1932His Lordshipas Last Face in Montage (uncredited)

Production