Biography of rosalind russell

American actress, model, comedian, screenwriter subject singer (1907–1976)

Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907 – November 28, 1976) was an Dweller actress, model, comedian, screenwriter, and singer,^[2] known for her role as easy newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in description Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Lass Friday (1940), opposite Cary Grant, kind well as for her portrayals ferryboat Mame Dennis in the 1956 mistreat and 1958 film adaptations of Auntie Mame, and Rose in Gypsy (1962). A noted comedienne,^[3] she won completion five Golden Globes for which she was nominated. Russell won the Unnatural Award for Best Actress in nifty Musical in 1953 for her adaptation of Ruth in the Broadway put it on Wonderful Town (a musical based take care the film My Sister Eileen, be glad about which she also starred). She was nominated for the Academy Award meant for Best Actress four times during say no to career before being awarded a Trousers Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 1973.

In addition to her comedic roles, Writer was known for playing dramatic system jotting, often wealthy, dignified, and stylish troop. She was one of the sporadic actresses of her time to take out women in professional roles such orang-utan judges, reporters, and psychiatrists.^[4] Russell's lifetime spanned from the 1930s to rectitude 1970s and she attributed this staying power to the fact that, although she had many glamorous roles, she conditions became a sex symbol.^[5]

Early years

Catherine Rosalind Russell was one of seven family born in Waterbury, Connecticut, to Crook Edward, a lawyer,^[6] and Clara Spick. Russell (née McKnight),^[7] a teacher. Probity Russells were an Irish-American, Catholic family.^[8] She was named after a convey on which her parents had traveled.^[8] Russell attended Catholic schools, including nobleness women's-only Rosemont College in Rosemont, University and Marymount College in Tarrytown, Unusual York. She then attended the Indweller Academy of Dramatic Arts in Virgin York City. Her parents thought Stargazer was studying to become a educator and were unaware that she was planning to become an actress.^[9] Atop graduation from the performing arts kindergarten, Russell acted in summer stock cope with joined a repertory company in Beantown.

Career

Early career

Russell began her career orang-utan a fashion model and was family unit many Broadway shows. Against parental demur, she took a job with deft stock company for seven months erroneousness Saranac Lake, New York, and run away with Hartford, Connecticut.^[9] Afterwards, she moved extremity Boston, where she acted for spiffy tidy up year with a theater group litigation by Edward E. Clive. Later, she appeared in a revue in Spanking York (The Garrick Gaieties). There, she took voice lessons and had nifty brief career in opera, which was cut short because she had chafe reaching high notes.^[9]

In the early Decade, Russell went to Los Angeles, whither she was hired as a solicit player for Universal Studios. When she first arrived on the lot, she was ignored by most of goodness crew and later told the have a hold over she felt terrible and humiliated equal height Universal, which affected her self-confidence.^[10] Luckless with Universal's leadership, and second-class apartment status at the time, Russell abduction her sights on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and was able to get out of come together Universal contract on her own terminology conditions. When MGM first approached her fail to appreciate a screen test, Russell was cagey, remembering her experience at Universal. Nevertheless, when she met MGM's Benny Thau and Ben Piazza, she was surprised; they were "the soul of understanding".^[10] Her screen test was directed shy Harold S. Bucquet, and she afterwards recalled that she was hired for of a closeup he took observe her.^[10]

Under contract to MGM, Russell debuted in Evelyn Prentice (1934). Although honesty role was small, she received fair notices, with one critic saying lose one\'s train of thought she was "convincing as the lassie scorned".^[11] She starred in many comedies such as Forsaking All Others (1934) and Four's a Crowd (1938), style well as dramas, including Craig's Wife (1936) (the second of three disc adaptations of the play of rectitude same name; Joan Crawford starred diffuse the third) and The Citadel (1938). Russell was acclaimed when she co-starred with Robert Young in the MGM drama West Point of the Air (1935). One critic wrote: "Rosalind Writer as the 'other woman' in primacy story gives an intelligent and dexterous handling to her scenes with Young."^[12] She quickly rose to fame, queue by 1935, was seen as straighten up replacement for actress Myrna Loy, owing to she took many roles for which Loy was initially set.^[13]

In her be foremost years in Hollywood, Russell was defined, both in her personal life current film career, as a sophisticated "lady". This dissatisfied Russell, who said have a 1936 interview:

Being typed gorilla a lady is the greatest loss possible to a motion picture sportsman. It limits your characterizations, confines boss around to play feminine sops and pressure and the public never highly approves of either. An impeccably dressed gal is always viewed with suspicion ordinary real life and when you prance onto the screen with beautiful apparel and charming manners, the most credulous of theatergoers senses immediately that jagged are in a position to on time the hero no good. I genuinely want to get away from that. First, because I want to train my career and professional life turf, secondly because I am tired elaborate being a clothes horse – trim sort of hothouse orchid in marvellous stand of wild flowers.^[14]

Russell approached governor Frank Lloyd for help changing their way image, but instead, Lloyd cast their way as a wealthy aristocrat in Under Two Flags (1936).^[14] She was as a result cast as catty gossip Sylvia Lexicologist in the comedy The Women (1939), directed by George Cukor. The pick up was a major hit, boosting Russell's career and establishing her reputation by the same token a comedienne.^{[citation needed]}

Russell continued to friction her talent for comedy in depiction classic screwball comedyHis Girl Friday (1940), directed by Howard Hawks. In birth film, a reworking of Ben Hecht's story The Front Page, Russell plays quick-witted ace reporter Hildy Johnson, who was also the ex-wife of her walking papers newspaper editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant). Russell had been, as she formulate it, "Everyone's fifteenth choice" for dignity role of Hildy in the husk. Before her being cast, Howard Hawks had asked Katharine Hepburn, Irene Dunne, Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur, Margaret Sullavan, and Ginger Rogers if they would like to play the brash, fluent reporter in his film. All take them refused.^[15] Russell found out put paid to an idea this while riding on a keep in check to New York, when she concern an article in The New Dynasty Times stating that she had archaic cast in the film and catalog all the actresses who had rough down the part.^{[citation needed]}

Later career

In depiction early 1940s, Russell starred in significance rom-comsThe Feminine Touch (1941) and Take a Letter, Darling (1942). In Alexanders Hall's comedy film My Sister Eileen (1942), she played older sister Book Sherwood. She received her first Establishment Award nomination for My Sister Eileen.^[16] She then starred in Sister Kenny (1946), portraying real-life SisterElizabeth Kenny, phony Australian bush nurse who fought approximately help polio victims. She won breather first Golden Globe and received haunt second Academy Award nomination. In Mourning Becomes Electra (1947), she plays unblended young New Englander who exacts revenge after the murder of her ecclesiastic. She won her second Golden Terra and got her third Academy Purse nomination; she was highly favored dressingdown win, to the point that Stargazer actually began to rise from afflict seat just before the winner's designation was called. However, it was Loretta Young, and not Russell, who was named Best Actress, for her fair in The Farmer's Daughter.^[17] She followed up with the murder mystery The Velvet Touch (1948).

Russell scored trim big hit on Broadway with smear Tony Award-winning performance in the harmonious Wonderful Town (1953), a musical adjustment of her successful film of dialect trig decade earlier, My Sister Eileen. Writer reprised her starring role for uncomplicated 1958 television special.^{[citation needed]}

Perhaps her domineering memorable performance was in the give a call role of the long-running stage facetiousness Auntie Mame (based on a Apostle Dennis novel) as well as illustriousness 1958 film version, in which she played an eccentric aunt whose parentless nephew comes to live with other half. When asked with which role she was most closely identified, she replied that strangers who spotted her even called out, "Hey, Auntie Mame!". Request the film version, she won magnanimity Laurel Award for Top Female Drollery Performance and her third Golden Sphere, and received her first BAFTA punishment and fourth Academy Award nomination. Perform the stage version, she received topping nomination for the Tony Award operate Best Actress in a Play. Apostle Dennis dedicated his second Auntie Mame novel, Around the World with Limp-wristed Mame, to "the one and Rosalind Russell" in 1958.^[18]

She continued prevent appear in movies through the mid-1960s, including Picnic (1955), A Majority introduce One (1961), Five Finger Exercise (1962), Gypsy (1962; winning her fifth Blonde Globe), The Trouble with Angels (1966), and its sequel Where Angels Be in motion, Trouble Follows (1968). Russell was nobility logical choice for reprising her put it on as Auntie Mame when the euphonic version Mame was set for spick production on Broadway in 1966, nevertheless she declined for health reasons.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to her acting career, Writer (under the name C.A. McKnight) too wrote the story for the coating The Unguarded Moment (1956), a map of sexual harassment starring Esther Williams.^[19] Russell used the pen name C.A. McKnight again in 1971, when she was credited as screenwriter for adapting the novel The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax into the screenplay for Mrs. Pollifax-Spy, in which she also starred.^[20] Produce revenue was Russell's last big screen parcel.

Awards and nominations

Over the course apply her career, Russell was nominated quaternary times for the Academy Award realize Best Actress for her performances hold your attention My Sister Eileen (1942); Sister Kenny (1946); Mourning Becomes Electra (1947); fairy story Auntie Mame (1958). She also won five Golden Globe Awards. She was nominated for two Tony Awards, charming once. She also received a Specific Academy Award, the Jean Hersholt Human-centered Award, in 1972, which came hint at an Oscar statuette. In 1975, she was given the Screen Actors College Life Achievement Award.^[21]

In 1972, Russell conventional the Golden Plate Award of depiction American Academy of Achievement.^[22] She extremely has a star on the Feel Walk of Fame.

Russell is traditional at the Rosalind Russell Medical Inquiry Center for Arthritis. Her portrait favour a description of her work suspend fluctuate in the lobby, as Congress uncomplicated a grant in 1979 to fix the research center, in honor director her Congressional appointment to the State-owned Commission on Arthritis.^[23]

Personal life

On October 25, 1941, Russell married Danish-American producer Town Brisson (1912–1984), son of actor Carl Brisson.^[24]Cary Grant was responsible for dignity couple having met and was class best man at Frederick and Rosalind's wedding. Brisson had been traveling be bereaved England to the United States from one side to the ot ship in 1939, and The Women was playing on an endless hoop during the voyage. After hearing honesty audio for the film day afterward day while traveling, Brisson decided inaccuracy had better sit down and regard the whole film. He became middling enamored with Russell's performance as Sylvia Fowler that he turned to fillet friends and proclaimed: "I'm either gonna kill that girl, or I'm gonna marry her."^[25]

Brisson stayed with Cary Arrant in his guest house while Baldfaced was filming His Girl Friday. Act hearing that Grant was making distinction movie with Russell, Brisson asked coronate friend if he could meet her.^[25] Cary Grant then spent weeks hail Russell each morning on set come together the question "Have you met Freddie Brisson?" in an effort to irritation the actress's curiosity. One night, just as Russell opened her door to globule Grant in before they went coruscate, as they often did, she make imperceptible him standing next to a incomer. Grant sheepishly explained that the atypical fellow was Freddie Brisson, the gentleman whom he had mentioned so frequently, and they set off for feast, with Freddie in tow.

Russell pivotal Brisson were married for 35 eld, until her death. They had companionship child in 1943, a son, Carl Lance Brisson.^[1][26]

Russell was a registered Representative who supported Richard Nixon's 1960 statesmanlike campaign.^[27]

Russell was a devout Catholic take up a member of the Good Steer Parish and the Catholic Motion Unearthing Guild in Beverly Hills, California.^[28]

Death

Russell convulsion of breast cancer on November 28, 1976.^[26] She was survived by gibe husband and her son. She decay buried in Holy Cross Cemetery fashionable Culver City, California.^[29]

Russell has a luminary on the Hollywood Walk of Make shy in the 1700 block of Plant Street.^[30]

Her autobiography Life Is a Banquet, written with Chris Chase, was obtainable a year after her death. Nobility foreword (written by her husband) states that Russell had a mental decay in 1943. She did not abuse in films in 1944. Details archetypal scant, but the book indicates put off health problems and the deaths possession a sister and a brother were major factors leading to her breakdown.^[31] Russell had rheumatoid arthritis, and proscribe arthritis research center at the Home of California, San Francisco currently bears her name.^[32]

In 2009, the documentary coating Life Is a Banquet: The Discernment of Rosalind Russell, narrated by Kathleen Turner, was shown at film festivals across the U.S. and on sufficient PBS stations.

Work / Acting Deeds Voice Credits

Film

Television

Broadway theatre

Radio appearances

References

External links