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Judith Anderson

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
55

Gender
Female

Birthday
February 10, 1897 (129 years old)

Place of Birth
Adélaïde, Australie

Judith Anderson

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

2018Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywoodas Self (archive footage)
2003The Making of The Ten Commandmentsas Self (archive footage)
1991Preminger: Anatomy of a Filmmakeras actress 'Laura' (archive footage) (uncredited)
1986Impure Thoughtsas The Sister of Purgatory (voice)
1984Santa Barbaraas Minx Lockridge
1984Star Trek III: The Search for Spockas Vulcan High Priestess
1983Medeaas Nurse
1975Inn of the Damnedas Caroline Straulle
1974The Underground Manas Mrs. Snow
1973The Borrowersas Aunt Sophie
1970A Man Called Horseas Buffalo Cow Head
1969The File on Devlinas Elizabeth Devlin
1968Elizabeth the Queenas Queen Elizabeth
1964The Ghost of Sierra de Cobreas Paulina
1964Macbethas Lady Macbeth
1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
1961Don't Bother to Knockas Maggie Shoemaker
1960Cinderfellaas Wicked Stepmother
1959A Christmas Festivalas Narrator of the final offering
1959The Moon and Sixpenceas Tiare
1959Medeaas Medea
1958Cat on a Hot Tin Roofas Big Momma
1957The Clouded Imageas Aunt Bee
1957DuPont Show of the Monthas Marquesa de Montemayor
1957Wagon Trainas Felizia Kingdom
1956The Ten Commandmentsas Memnet
1956Tony Awardsas Self - Nominee
1954Macbethas Lady Macbeth
1954Climax!as Rachel
1953The Motorola Television Houras Alicia
1953Salomeas Queen Herodias
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Elizabeth Devlin
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Lady Macbeth
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas Queen Elizabeth I
1951Hallmark Hall of Fameas The Prioress
1950The Furiesas Flo Burnett
1948The Ed Sullivan Showas Self
1947Tycoonas Miss Ellen Braithwaite
1947Pursuedas Mrs. Callum
1947The Red Houseas Ellen Morgan
1946The Strange Love of Martha Iversas Mrs. Ivers
1946Specter of the Roseas Madame La Sylph
1946The Diary of a Chambermaidas Madame Lanlaire
1945And Then There Were Noneas Emily Brent
1944Lauraas Ann Treadwell
1943Stage Door Canteenas Judith Anderson
1943Edge of Darknessas Gerd Bjarnesen
1942Kings Rowas Harriet Gordon
1942All Through the Nightas Madame
1941Lady Scarfaceas Slade
1941Free and Easyas Lady Joan Culver
1940Forty Little Mothersas Madame Granville
1940Rebeccaas Mrs. Danvers
1933Blood Moneyas Ruby Darling

Production