Known For
Acting
Known Credits
55
Gender
Female
Birthday
February 10, 1897 (129 years old)
Place of Birth
Adélaïde, Australie
Dame Frances Margaret Anderson, AC, DBE (February 10, 1897 – January 3, 1992), known professionally as Judith Anderson, was an Australian actress who had a successful career in stage, film and television. Considered one of the greatest classical stage actors of the 20th century, she has two Emmy Awards and a Tony Award to her name, as well as a nomination for a Grammy Award and an Academy Award each.
She began her acting career in Australia but her ambition brought her to New York in 1918. She established herself as one of the greatest theatrical actresses and was a major star on Broadway throughout the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. Her notable stage works included the role of Lady Macbeth, which she played first in the 1920s, and gave an Emmy Award-winning television performance in Macbeth (1960). Anderson's long association with Euripides's "Medea" began with her acclaimed Tony Award-winning 1948 stage performance in the title role. She appeared in the television version of Medea (1983) in the supporting character of the Nurse.
Anderson made her Hollywood film debut under director Rowland Brown in a supporting role in Blood Money (1933). Her striking, not conventionally attractive features were complemented with her powerful presence, mastery of timing and an effortless style. Anderson made a film career as a supporting character actress in several significant films including Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940), for which she was Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She worked with director Otto Preminger in Laura (1944), then with René Clair in And Then There Were None (1945). Her remarkable performance in a supporting role in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958) fit in a stellar acting ensemble under director Richard Brooks.
Anderson was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Queen's New Year's Honours List for her services to the performing arts. Living in Santa Barbara in her later years, she also had a successful stint on the soap opera Santa Barbara (1984) and was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 1984. In the same year, at age 87, she appeared in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984) as the High Priestess, and was nominated for a Saturn Award for that role. She was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia in the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to the performing arts. Anderson died at age 94 of pneumonia on January 3, 1992 in Santa Barbara, California.
| 2018 | Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywoodas Self (archive footage) | |
| 2003 | The Making of The Ten Commandmentsas Self (archive footage) | |
| 1991 | Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmakeras actress 'Laura' (archive footage) (uncredited) | |
| 1986 | Impure Thoughtsas The Sister of Purgatory (voice) | |
| 1984 | Santa Barbaraas Minx Lockridge | |
| 1984 | Star Trek III: The Search for Spockas Vulcan High Priestess | |
| 1983 | Medeaas Nurse | |
| 1975 | Inn of the Damnedas Caroline Straulle | |
| 1974 | The Underground Manas Mrs. Snow | |
| 1973 | The Borrowersas Aunt Sophie | |
| 1970 | A Man Called Horseas Buffalo Cow Head | |
| 1969 | The File on Devlinas Elizabeth Devlin | |
| 1968 | Elizabeth the Queenas Queen Elizabeth | |
| 1964 | The Ghost of Sierra de Cobreas Paulina | |
| 1964 | Macbethas Lady Macbeth | |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self | |
| 1961 | Don't Bother to Knockas Maggie Shoemaker | |
| 1960 | Cinderfellaas Wicked Stepmother | |
| 1959 | A Christmas Festivalas Narrator of the final offering | |
| 1959 | The Moon and Sixpenceas Tiare | |
| 1959 | Medeaas Medea | |
| 1958 | Cat on a Hot Tin Roofas Big Momma | |
| 1957 | The Clouded Imageas Aunt Bee | |
| 1957 | DuPont Show of the Monthas Marquesa de Montemayor | |
| 1957 | Wagon Trainas Felizia Kingdom | |
| 1956 | The Ten Commandmentsas Memnet | |
| 1956 | Tony Awardsas Self - Nominee | |
| 1954 | Macbethas Lady Macbeth | |
| 1954 | Climax!as Rachel | |
| 1953 | The Motorola Television Houras Alicia | |
| 1953 | Salomeas Queen Herodias | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fameas | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fameas Elizabeth Devlin | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fameas Lady Macbeth | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fameas Queen Elizabeth I | |
| 1951 | Hallmark Hall of Fameas The Prioress | |
| 1950 | The Furiesas Flo Burnett | |
| 1948 | The Ed Sullivan Showas Self | |
| 1947 | Tycoonas Miss Ellen Braithwaite | |
| 1947 | Pursuedas Mrs. Callum | |
| 1947 | The Red Houseas Ellen Morgan | |
| 1946 | The Strange Love of Martha Iversas Mrs. Ivers | |
| 1946 | Specter of the Roseas Madame La Sylph | |
| 1946 | The Diary of a Chambermaidas Madame Lanlaire | |
| 1945 | And Then There Were Noneas Emily Brent | |
| 1944 | Lauraas Ann Treadwell | |
| 1943 | Stage Door Canteenas Judith Anderson | |
| 1943 | Edge of Darknessas Gerd Bjarnesen | |
| 1942 | Kings Rowas Harriet Gordon | |
| 1942 | All Through the Nightas Madame | |
| 1941 | Lady Scarfaceas Slade | |
| 1941 | Free and Easyas Lady Joan Culver | |
| 1940 | Forty Little Mothersas Madame Granville | |
| 1940 | Rebeccaas Mrs. Danvers | |
| 1933 | Blood Moneyas Ruby Darling |