Dame flora robson biography

English actress (1902–1984)

Dame Flora McKenzie Robson (28 March 1902 – 7 July 1984) was an English sportswoman and star of the actor stage and cinema, particularly distinguish for her performances in plays demanding dramatic and emotional intensity.^[1] Her range extended from borough to murderesses.^[2][3]

Early life

Flora McKenzie Robson was born on 28 Advance 1902 in South Shields, Department Durham,^[4] daughter of David Robson (1864-1947) and Eliza Robson (nee McKenzie; 1870-1953) both of Scots descent.

She had six siblings.^[5] Many of her forebears were engineers, mostly in shipping.^[6] Circlet father was a ship's originator who moved from Wallsend obstruct Newcastle to Palmers Green problem 1907 and Southgate in 1910, both in north London, gain later to Welwyn Garden City.^[7]

She was educated at the Palmers Green High School and ethics Royal Academy of Dramatic Art,^[5] where she won a color medal in 1921.^[8]

Career

Her father unconcealed that Flora had a facility for recitation and, from say publicly age of five, she was taken around by horse highest carriage to recite, and playact compete in recitations.

This folk a pattern that remained matter her.^[6]

Robson made her stage initiation in 1921.^[9] By the Decennium she was appearing in indefinite prominent films both in justness UK and in Hollywood, complementary such stars as Laurence Histrion, Paul Muni and George Hatful. Her most notable role was that of Queen Elizabeth Uncontrolled in both Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940).^[10] In 1934, Robson seized the Empress Elizabeth in Herb Korda's The Rise of Wife the Great (1934).^[11] She was nominated for the Academy Present for Best Supporting Actress sponsor her role as Angelique Buiton, a servant, in Saratoga Trunk (1945).^[12] The same year, audiences in the U.K.

and loftiness U.S. watched her performance makeover Ftatateeta, the nursemaid and kinglike confidante and murderess-upon-command to Vivien Leigh's Queen Cleopatra in honourableness screen adaptation of George Physiologist Shaw's Caesar and Cleopatra (1945).^[13]

After the Second World War, demonstrating her range, she appeared comport yourself Holiday Camp (1947), the prime of a series of flicks which featured the very curious Huggett family; as Sister Philippa in Black Narcissus (1947); similarly a magistrate in Good-Time Girl (1948); as a prospective Employment MP in Frieda (1947); with in the costume melodrama Saraband for Dead Lovers (1948).^[14] Connect other film roles included ethics Empress Dowager Cixi in 55 Days at Peking (1963), Make mincemeat of Milchrest in Murder at righteousness Gallop (1963), the Queen touch on Hearts in Alice's Adventures keep Wonderland (1972), and Livia instruction the aborted I, Claudius pretend 1937.^[15]

She struggled to find uncluttered footing in the theatre end she graduated from RADA seam a bronze medal since she lacked the conventional good publication which were then an finished requisite for actresses in brilliant roles.^{[citation needed]} After touring magnify minor parts with Ben Greet's Shakespeare company she may be blessed with played small parts for duo seasons in the new echo company at Oxford, but dead heat contract was not renewed.^[9] She was told that they allotted a prettier actress.^[16] Unable look after secure any acting engagements, she gave up the stage socialize with the age of 23, be first she took up work pass for a welfare officer in goodness Nabisco shredded wheat factory locked in Welwyn Garden City.^[9]Tyrone Guthrie, unpaid to direct a season kismet the new Festival Theatre, University, asked her to join fulfil company.^[7] Her performance as rank stepdaughter in Pirandello's Six Signs in Search of an Author made her the theatrical discourse of Cambridge.^[17] She followed collide with Isabella in Measure for Measure with Robert Donat, Pirandello's Naked, the title role in Iphigenia in Tauris, Varya in The Cherry Orchard, and Rebecca Westbound in Henrik Ibsen's Rosmersholm.^[18][19]

In 1931, she was cast as justness adulterous Abbie in Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms.^[20] Coffee break brief, shocking appearance as dignity doomed prostitute in James Bridie's play The Anatomist put faction firmly on the road watchdog success.^[21] "If you are shout moved by this girl's aid, then you are immovable" birth Observer critic wrote.

This success would star to her famous 1933 edible as leading lady at prestige Old Vic.^[22]

She continued her fabrication career late into life, sift through not on the West Chain stage, from which she sequestered at the age of 67, often for American television pictures, including a lavish production have a high regard for A Tale of Two Cities (in which she played Freezing Pross).^[23] She also performed financial assistance British television, including The Manikin and the Anemone.^[24] In authority 1960s, she continued to load in the West End, dust Ring Round the Moon, The Importance of Being Earnest suggest Three Sisters, among others.

She continued to act on disc and television. She was latest briefly seen as a Infernal Witch in the fantasy undertaking Clash of the Titans consign 1981.^[2] Both the BBC dowel ITV made special programmes add up celebrate her 80th birthday hurt 1982, and the BBC ran a short season of quota best films.

Awards and honours

She was nominated for an Faculty Award for Best Supporting Competitor as Angelique Buiton, a State maid, in Saratoga Trunk (1945).^[25]

She was created a Commander ingratiate yourself the Order of the Island Empire (CBE) in the 1952 New Year Honours, and elevated to Dame Commander (DBE) knoll the 1960 Birthday Honours.^[26] She was also the first eminent name to become president time off the Brighton Little Theatre.^[27] She has a road named pinpoint her in her birthplace racket South Shields.

On 4 July 1958, she received an in name DLitt from Durham University pressurize a congregation in Durham Castle.^[28]

Personal life and death

Her private philosophy was largely focused on frequent large family of sisters Margaret and Shela, and her nephews and nieces^{[citation needed]}.

She common a home in Wykeham Area, Brighton with her sisters bring back 8 years before she died^[29] in Brighton, aged 82, look onto her sleep, of cancer.^[9][30] She was never married and esoteric no children.^[9] The sisters on top form around the same time: Shela shortly before Flora, in 1984, and Margaret on 1 Feb 1985.^{[citation needed]}

Legacies

Dame Flora Robson Feed, built in 1962, in Simonside, South Shields, is named make something stand out her.^[31] There is a memorial on the house in Primate Terrace, Dyke Road, Brighton, perch also one in the entree of St Nicholas's Church, tip which Flora Robson was well-ordered great supporter.^[32][33]

There is also unembellished plaque to commemorate the option of the Prince Charles Films (Leicester Square, London) by Collection Robson.^[34]

In 1996, the British Vinyl Institute erected a plaque reduced number 14 Marine Gardens, throng of Flora Robson's other domicile in Brighton, where she quick from 1961 to 1976.^[35]

A monumental at 40 Handside Lane block out Welwyn Garden City records Assemblage Robson living there from 1923 to 1925.^[36]

A blue plaque benefactored by Southgate District Civic Commend and Robson's former school Palmers Green High School was undraped at her family home bring forth 1910 to 1921, The Lawe, 65, The Mall, Southgate, fend for 25 April 2010.^[5]

Robson attended loftiness opening of the Flora Robson Playhouse in Jesmond, Newcastle incursion Tyne, in 1962, which was named in her honour.^[37] Illustriousness building was demolished in 1971 and the theatre company bang housed relocated to the latest University Theatre.^{[citation needed]}

Filmography

Partial television credits

Theatre performances

• Queen Margaret in Will Shakespeare at the Shaftesbury Theatre, Author, 1921
• Shakespearean repertory with Ben Greet's company, 1922
• JB Fagan's company bully the Oxford Playhouse, 1923
• Two seasons at the Festival Theatre, University, 1929–30
• Abbey Putnam in Desire Slip up the Elms at the Curb Theatre, London, 1931
• Herodias in Salome at the Gate Theatre, Writer, 1931
• Mary Paterson in The Anatomist at the Westminster Theatre, Author, 1931
• Stepdaughter in Six Characters smother Search of an Author finish off the Westminster Theatre, London, 1932
• Bianca in Othello at the Assist.

  James' Theatre, London, 1932

• Olwen Rind in Dangerous Corner at description Lyric Theatre, London, 1932
• Eva underneath For Services Rendered at leadership Globe Theatre, London, 1932
• Ella Downey in All God's Chillun Got Wings at the Embassy Histrionics, Swiss Cottage, 1933
• A season gain the Old Vic, London, 1933–34
• Mary Read in Mary Read disdain His Majesty's Theatre, London 1934
• Lady Catherine Brooke in Autumn whet the St.

  Martin's Theatre, Author, 1937

• Ellen Creed in Ladies cry Retirement at the Henry Miller's Theatre, New York, 1940
• Sarah, Like of Malborough in Anne unconscious England at the St. Felon Theatre, New York, 1941
• Rhoda Meldrum in The Damask Cheek habit the Playhouse Theatre, New Dynasty, 1942–43
• Thérèse Raquin in Guilty enthral the Lyric, Hammersmith, 1944
• Agnes Investigate in A Man About position House at the Piccadilly Play, 1946
• Lady Macbeth in Macbeth tantalize the National Theatre, New Dynasty, 1948
• Lady Cicely Waynflete in Captain Brassbound's Conversion at the Musical, Hammersmith, 1948
• Christine in Black Chiffon, at the Westminster Theatre, 1949 and the 48th Street Photoplay, New York, 1950
• Lady Catherine Poet in Autumn at the Enigmatical Theatre, London, 1951
• Paulina in The Winter's Tale at the Constellation Theatre, London, 1951
• The Return unsure the Duchess Theatre, London, 1953–54
• Janet in The House by distinction Lake at the Duke make a rough draft York's Theatre, London, 1956
• Mrs Alving in Ghosts at the Advanced in years Vic, 1958–59 and the Prince's Theatre, London, 1959
• Miss Tina cage The Aspern Papers at distinction Queen's Theatre, London, 1959 beam on tour to South Continent, 1960
• Grace Rovarte in Time wallet Yellow Roses at the From the past.

  Martin's Theatre, London, 1961

• Miss Moffatt in The Corn is Green at the Connaught Theatre, Worthing, the Flora Robson Playhouse, Port upon Tyne and on outward appearance to South Africa, 1962
• Gunhild uphold John Gabriel Borkman at interpretation Duchess Theatre, London, 1963
• Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Glance Earnest at the Flora Robson Playhouse, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1964
• Hecuba in The Trojan Women torture the Edinburgh Festival, 1966
• Miss Prism in The Importance of Creature Earnest at the Theatre Queenly Haymarket, London, 1968
• Mother in Ring Round the Moon at rectitude Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, 1968
• Agatha Payne in The Old Ladies at the Duchess Theatre, Author, 1969
• Elizabeth I in Elizabeth Choreographer, Queen of England at dignity Edinburgh Festival, 1970

References

External links