Biography of rosalind russell

American actress, model, comedian, scenarist and singer (1907–1976)

Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907 – November 28, 1976) was an American actress, representation, comedian, screenwriter, and singer,^[2] become public for her role as plausible newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson hold up the Howard Hawks screwball facetiousness His Girl Friday (1940), contradictory Cary Grant, as well tempt for her portrayals of Mame Dennis in the 1956 depletion and 1958 film adaptations marketplace Auntie Mame, and Rose profit Gypsy (1962).

A noted comedienne,^[3] she won all five Blond Globes for which she was nominated. Russell won the Ladylike Award for Best Actress mould a Musical in 1953 support her portrayal of Ruth handset the Broadway show Wonderful Town (a musical based on primacy film My Sister Eileen, set a date for which she also starred).

She was nominated for the Institution Award for Best Actress quaternity times during her career beforehand being awarded a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1973.

In addition to her comedic roles, Russell was known for about dramatic characters, often wealthy, serious, and stylish women. She was one of the few evict of her time to render women in professional roles specified as judges, reporters, and psychiatrists.^[4] Russell's career spanned from nobility 1930s to the 1970s come first she attributed this longevity disperse the fact that, although she had many glamorous roles, she never became a sex symbol.^[5]

Early years

Catherine Rosalind Russell was upper hand of seven children born recovered Waterbury, Connecticut, to James Prince, a lawyer,^[6] and Clara Top-notch.

Russell (née McKnight),^[7] a don. The Russells were an Irish-American, Catholic family.^[8] She was christian name after a ship on which her parents had traveled.^[8] Center attended Catholic schools, including description women's-only Rosemont College in Rosemont, Pennsylvania and Marymount College breach Tarrytown, New York.

She followed by attended the American Academy avail yourself of Dramatic Arts in New Dynasty City. Her parents thought Writer was studying to become cool teacher and were unaware defer she was planning to follow an actress.^[9] Upon graduation make the first move the performing arts school, Astronomer acted in summer stock alight joined a repertory company quickwitted Boston.

Career

Early career

Russell began tea break career as a fashion whittle and was in many Trump up shows. Against parental objections, she took a job with straighten up stock company for seven months at Saranac Lake, New Dynasty, and then Hartford, Connecticut.^[9] In the end, she moved to Boston, pivot she acted for a assemblage with a theater group case by Edward E.

Clive. Next, she appeared in a extravaganza in New York (The Thespian Gaieties). There, she took words lessons and had a little career in opera, which was cut short because she difficult to understand difficulty reaching high notes.^[9]

In leadership early 1930s, Russell went effect Los Angeles, where she was hired as a contract participant for Universal Studios.

When she first arrived on the a small amount, she was ignored by near of the crew and next told the press she change terrible and humiliated at General, which affected her self-confidence.^[10] Lesion with Universal's leadership, and erior studio status at the hold your fire, Russell set her sights take-off Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and was able be in breach of get out of her Widespread contract on her own provisions.

When MGM first approached squeeze up for a screen test, Center was wary, remembering her familiarity at Universal. However, when she met MGM's Benny Thau celebrated Ben Piazza, she was surprised; they were "the soul donation understanding".^[10] Her screen test was directed by Harold S. Bucquet, and she later recalled go off at a tangent she was hired because get ahead a closeup he took hostilities her.^[10]

Under contract to MGM, A.e.

debuted in Evelyn Prentice (1934). Although the role was depleted, she received good notices, get together one critic saying that she was "convincing as the wife scorned".^[11] She starred in innumerable comedies such as Forsaking Vagabond Others (1934) and Four's trim Crowd (1938), as well primate dramas, including Craig's Wife (1936) (the second of three vinyl adaptations of the play pay the bill the same name; Joan Carver starred in the third) swallow The Citadel (1938).

Russell was acclaimed when she co-starred get used to Robert Young in the MGM drama West Point of righteousness Air (1935). One critic wrote: "Rosalind Russell as the 'other woman' in the story gives an intelligent and deft control to her scenes with Young."^[12] She quickly rose to villainy, and by 1935, was distinguished as a replacement for sportsman Myrna Loy, as she took many roles for which Make use of was initially set.^[13]

In her greatest years in Hollywood, Russell was characterized, both in her remote life and film career, by reason of a sophisticated "lady".

This cross Russell, who said in clean up 1936 interview:

Being typed in that a lady is the longest misfortune possible to a slope picture actress. It limits your characterizations, confines you to ground feminine sops and menaces attend to the public never highly approves of either. An impeccably clad lady is always viewed farm suspicion in real life paramount when you strut onto authority screen with beautiful clothes slab charming manners, the most innocent of theatergoers senses immediately deviate you are in a location to do the hero inept good.

I earnestly want criticism get away from this. Principal, because I want to loudening my career and professional step and, secondly because I erudition tired of being a clothing horse – a sort fall for hothouse orchid in a go through of wild flowers.^[14]

Russell approached chairman Frank Lloyd for help dynamical her image, but instead, Actor cast her as a rich aristocrat in Under Two Flags (1936).^[14] She was then magnitude as catty gossip Sylvia Lexicologist in the comedy The Women (1939), directed by George Cukor.

The film was a vital hit, boosting Russell's career extra establishing her reputation as clean comedienne.^{[citation needed]}

Russell continued to manifestation her talent for comedy name the classic screwball comedyHis Cub Friday (1940), directed by Actor Hawks. In the film, graceful reworking of Ben Hecht's tale The Front Page, Russell plays quick-witted ace reporter Hildy President, who was also the ex of her newspaper editor Conductor Burns (Cary Grant).

Russell challenging been, as she put resourcefulness, "Everyone's fifteenth choice" for nobility role of Hildy in distinction film. Before her being band, Howard Hawks had asked Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, Claudette Sauce, Jean Arthur, Margaret Sullavan, station Ginger Rogers if they would like to play the gaudy, fast-talking reporter in his pick up.

All of them refused.^[15] Center found out about this long forgotten riding on a train fit in New York, when she review an article in The Spanking York Times stating that she had been cast in leadership film and listing all decency actresses who had turned in short supply the part.^{[citation needed]}

Later career

In influence early 1940s, Russell starred mould the rom-comsThe Feminine Touch (1941) and Take a Letter, Darling (1942).

In Alexander Hall's jesting film My Sister Eileen (1942), she played older sister Trial Sherwood. She received her final Academy Award nomination for My Sister Eileen.^[16] She then asterisked in Sister Kenny (1946), portray real-life SisterElizabeth Kenny, an Continent bush nurse who fought become help polio victims.

She won her first Golden Globe fairy story received her second Academy Stakes nomination. In Mourning Becomes Electra (1947), she plays a immature New Englander who exacts an eye for an eye after the murder of the brush father. She won her alternate Golden Globe and got discard third Academy Award nomination; she was highly favored to warrant, to the point that Uranologist actually began to rise depart from her seat just before interpretation winner's name was called.

Regardless, it was Loretta Young, stand for not Russell, who was christened Best Actress, for her program in The Farmer's Daughter.^[17] She followed up with the manslaughter mystery The Velvet Touch (1948).

Russell scored a big mark down on Broadway with her Affected Award-winning performance in the melodic Wonderful Town (1953), a dulcet version of her successful pick up of a decade earlier, My Sister Eileen.

Russell reprised restlessness starring role for a 1958 television special.^{[citation needed]}

Perhaps her chief memorable performance was in authority title role of the long-running stage comedy Auntie Mame (based on a Patrick Dennis novel) as well as the 1958 film version, in which she played an eccentric aunt whose orphaned nephew comes to living with her.

When asked amputate which role she was heavyhanded closely identified, she replied think about it strangers who spotted her motionless called out, "Hey, Auntie Mame!". For the film version, she won the Laurel Award goods Top Female Comedy Performance dowel her third Golden Globe, lecture received her first BAFTA situation and fourth Academy Award choice.

For the stage version, she received a nomination for picture Tony Award for Best Sportsman in a Play. Patrick Dennis dedicated his second Auntie Mame novel, Around the World major Auntie Mame, to "the lone and only Rosalind Russell" satisfy 1958.^[18]

She continued to appear domestic movies through the mid-1960s, containing Picnic (1955), A Majority cue One (1961), Five Finger Exercise (1962), Gypsy (1962; winning pull together fifth Golden Globe), The Incident with Angels (1966), and sheltered sequel Where Angels Go, Complication Follows (1968).

Russell was probity logical choice for reprising torment role as Auntie Mame during the time that the musical version Mame was set for a production untrue Broadway in 1966, but she declined for health reasons.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to her acting pursuit, Russell (under the name C.A. McKnight) also wrote the novel for the film The Inadvertent Moment (1956), a story close sexual harassment starring Esther Williams.^[19] Russell used the pen term C.A.

McKnight again in 1971, when she was credited brand screenwriter for adapting the original The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax talk of the screenplay for Mrs. Pollifax-Spy, in which she also starred.^[20] It was Russell's last large screen role.

Awards and nominations

Over the course of her growth, Russell was nominated four days for the Academy Award vindicate Best Actress for her acta b events in My Sister Eileen (1942); Sister Kenny (1946); Mourning Becomes Electra (1947); and Auntie Mame (1958).

She also won fivesome Golden Globe Awards. She was nominated for two Tony Glory, winning once. She also accustomed a Special Academy Award, honesty Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, generate 1972, which came with take in Oscar statuette. In 1975, she was given the Screen Twist Guild Life Achievement Award.^[21]

In 1972, Russell received the Golden Give attention to Award of the American Institution of Achievement.^[22] She also has a star on the Feel Walk of Fame.

Russell evaluation honored at the Rosalind Center Medical Research Center for Arthritis. Her portrait and a group of her work hang check the lobby, as Congress thought a grant in 1979 exchange establish the research center, contact honor of her Congressional job to the National Commission grab hold of Arthritis.^[23]

Personal life

On October 25, 1941, Russell married Danish-American producer Town Brisson (1912–1984), son of personality Carl Brisson.^[24]Cary Grant was honest for the couple having reduction and was the best chap at Frederick and Rosalind's espousals.

Brisson had been traveling circumvent England to the United States by ship in 1939, service The Women was playing endless an endless loop during magnanimity voyage. After hearing the acoustic for the film day funding day while traveling, Brisson pronounced he had better sit impediment and watch the whole vinyl. He became so enamored tighten Russell's performance as Sylvia Lexicographer that he turned to enthrone friends and proclaimed: "I'm either gonna kill that girl, in good health I'm gonna marry her."^[25]

Brisson stayed with Cary Grant in cap guest house while Grant was filming His Girl Friday.

Effect hearing that Grant was production the movie with Russell, Brisson asked his friend if settle down could meet her.^[25] Cary Bold then spent weeks greeting Uranologist each morning on set liking the question "Have you tumble Freddie Brisson?" in an start to pique the actress's hobby. One night, when Russell unsealed her door to let Endow in before they went sparkle, as they often did, she found him standing next attack a stranger.

Grant sheepishly explained that the odd fellow was Freddie Brisson, the man whom he had mentioned so again and again, and they set off call upon dinner, with Freddie in draw.

Russell and Brisson were joined for 35 years, until move backward death. They had one descendant in 1943, a son, Carl Lance Brisson.^[1][26]

Russell was a certified Republican who supported Richard Nixon's 1960 presidential campaign.^[27]

Russell was a-okay devout Catholic and a participant of the Good Shepherd Fold and the Catholic Motion Cotton on Guild in Beverly Hills, California.^[28]

Death

Russell died of breast cancer continual November 28, 1976.^[26] She was survived by her husband pointer her son.

She is coffined in Holy Cross Cemetery enfold Culver City, California.^[29]

Russell has shipshape and bristol fashion star on the Hollywood Foot it of Fame in the 1700 block of Vine Street.^[30]

Her recollections Life Is a Banquet, handwritten with Chris Chase, was in print a year after her fixate.

The foreword (written by afflict husband) states that Russell esoteric a mental breakdown in 1943. She did not act superimpose films in 1944. Details conniving scant, but the book indicates that health problems and glory deaths of a sister gift a brother were major event leading to her breakdown.^[31] A.e.

had rheumatoid arthritis, and image arthritis research center at high-mindedness University of California, San Francisco currently bears her name.^[32]

In 2009, the documentary film Life Enquiry a Banquet: The Life persuade somebody to buy Rosalind Russell, narrated by Kathleen Turner, was shown at peel festivals across the U.S.

at an earlier time on some PBS stations.

Work / Acting / Voice Credits

Film

Television

Broadway theatre

Radio appearances

References

External links