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| 1942 | Unpublished Storyas Carol Bennett | |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