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May Whitty

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Dame
May Whitty
DBE
Born
Mary Louise Whitty

(1865-06-19)19 June 1865
Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died29 May 1948(1948-05-29) (aged 82)
Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1881–1948
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1892; died 1947)​
Children2, including Margaret

Dame Mary Louise Webster, DBE (née Whitty; 19 June 1865 – 29 May 1948), known professionally as May Whitty and later, for her charity work, Dame May Whitty, was an English stage and film actress. She was one of the first two women entertainers to become a Dame. The British actors' union Equity was established in her home in 1930.

Her film roles included Alfred Hitchcock's thriller The Lady Vanishes (1938) in which she played Miss Froy, a British spy posing as a governess who disappears on a train. After a successful career both on the West End stage and in British films, she moved over to Hollywood films at the age of 72.

Background

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Whitty was born in Liverpool, England, to William Alfred Whitty (circa 1837–1876), a newspaper proprietor,[1] and Mary Louisa (née Ashton, circa 1837–1894). Her grandfather was Michael James Whitty, Chief Constable in Liverpool and founder of the Liverpool Daily Post.[2] She made her first stage appearance in Liverpool in 1881, later moving to London to appear in the West End.[3]

She married the actor-manager Ben Webster on 3 August 1892 in St Giles's Parish Church, London.[4] In 1895 they visited the United States, where Whitty appeared on Broadway. Their first child, a son, died at birth. Their only surviving child, a daughter born in New York in 1905, Margaret Webster, was a producer who held dual US and UK citizenship. She was chair of the Actresses' Franchise League (AFL).[2]

Whitty's stage career continued for the rest of her life. In March 1910, she made her transition to middle-aged and elderly character roles, playing Amelia Madras in Harley Granville-Barker's four-act comedy The Madras House.[5] During World War I she was active in the AFL, working there to help organize the Women's Emergency Corps.[6] In March 1922, she played the role of Mrs. Bennet before the Queen in a benefit performance of Pride and Prejudice. She acted opposite her husband, who played Mr. Darcy.[7]

Honours

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In the 1918 New Year Honours, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE, gazetted under her legal married name Mary Louise Webster) in recognition of her charitable work during the First World War for the Three Arts Women's Employment Fund and the British Women's Hospitals Committee.[2] She was the first stage and film actress to receive a damehood, along with the opera singer Nellie Melba, who was also thus honoured in 1918.[8]

Film career and death

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I've got everything Betty Grable has—I've just had it longer.[5]

Whitty made her Hollywood film debut at the age of 72, recreating her 1935 stage role in the Hollywood film Night Must Fall (1937), which also starred Robert Montgomery and Rosalind Russell. She received an Oscar nomination. This led to several supporting roles in films, including that of the vanishing lady, Miss Froy, in Alfred Hitchcock's The Lady Vanishes (1938).[2]

In 1939, Whitty permanently moved to the United States - although she never became a US citizen; and appeared both on stage and in Hollywood films, usually playing wealthy dowagers. It was one such part, as Lady Beldon in Mrs. Miniver (1942), that brought her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.[2]

She continued to act for the remainder of her life, and died on 29 May 1948 in Beverly Hills, California, from cancer at the age of 82;[2] her husband had died the previous year during surgery. She is commemorated with a plaque at St Paul's parish church in Covent Garden, London, alongside the plaque to her husband.

Stage roles

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Dates are of the first performance.

Date (year, month, day) Title Author(s) City Theatre Role
1890-02-14 The Home Feud Walter Frith London Comedy Helen Joliffe[9]
1890-07-04 Vanity of Vanities Justin Huntly McCarthy London Shaftesbury Princess Nicholas[10]
1891-01-07 Private Enquiry F. C. Burnand (based on Albert Valabrègue’s La Sécurité des Familles) London Royal Strand Mrs. Buckleigh[11]
1891-02-14 Turned Up Mark Melford London Royal Strand Sabina Medway[12]
1891-04-01 Linda Grey Sir Charles L. Young London Princes Lady Broughton[13]
1891-04-15 Our Daughters T.G. Warren & Willie Edouin London Royal Strand Nellie Mayhew[14]
1891-07-01 Mrs. Annesley J. F. Cooke London Criterion Estelle Brandreth[15]
1891-07-27 Fate and Fortune, or, The Junior Partner James J. Blood London Princess's Grace Hasluck[16]
1892-01-06 The Showman’s Daughter Frances Hodgson Burnett London Royalty Linda Hurst[17]
1892-02-16 The Silver Shield Sydney Grundy London Vaudeville Lucy Preston[18]
1892-05-10 A Caprice Justin Huntly McCarthy, adapted from Alfred de Musset's Un Caprice London Vaudeville Mathilde[19]
1892-05-25 The Noble Art Eille Norwood London Terry's Gertie Fullalove[20]
1892-05-26 In the Season Langdon Elwyn Mitchell London Vaudeville Sybil March[21]
1892-09-14 Our Boys Henry James Byron London Vaudeville Mary Melrose[22]
1893-01-28 The Guv’Nor Robert Reece (writing under the pseudonym E.G. Lankester) London Vaudeville Aurelia[23]
1893-02-16 Flight Walter Frith London Terry's Mrs. Amherst[24]
1893-06-09 The Younger Son R.S. Sievier London Gaiety Evelyn Brookfield[25]
1893-06-19 The Adventures of a Night Meyrick Milton, adaptated from Los Empenos de Seis Horas by Pedro Calderón de la Barca London Royal Strand Donna Bianca[26]
1893-12-21 Beauty’s Toils Charles S. Fawcett, founded on Her Fatal Beauty by W.B. Maxell London Royal Strand Ethel Cumming[27]
1894-07-02 Our Flot Mrs. H. Musgrave London Royal Strand Margery Sylvester[28]
1895-03-12 A Loving Legacy Fred W. Sidney London Royal Strand Kitty O'Rourke[29]
1895-04-15 Fanny George Robert Sims and Cecil Raleigh London Royal Strand Grace Dormer[30]
1895-04-15 The Backslider Osmond Shillingford London Royal Strand Mrs. Agatha Dolomite[31]
1895-06-27 Louis XI Dion Boucicault, adaptated by Saimir Delavigne London Lyceum Marie[32]
1895-07-12 The Lyons Mail Charles Reader, adaptation of Le Courrier de Lyon by Émile Moreau, Giraudin & Delacour London Lyceum Julie Lesurques[33]
1895-07-15 The Corsican Brothers Dion Boucicault, adaptation of Alexandre Dumas's The Corsican Brothers London Lyceum Emelie de l'Esparre[34]
1895-07-24 Macbeth William Shakespeare London Lyceum A gentlewoman[35]
1896-12-03 A Princess of Orange Fred James London Lyceum Louise, Princess of Orange[36]
1896-12-10 An Old Song Rev. Freeman Wills and A. Fitzmaurice King London Criterion Signora Sara Rosetti[37]
1897-12-23 Secret Service: A Romance of the Southern Confederacy William Gillette London Adelphi Edith Varney[38]
1898-12-03 Cupboard Love Henry V. Esmond London Court Rosamond Pilliner[39]
1899-06-06 The Heather Field Edward Martyn London Terry's Grace Tyrrell[40]
1899-09-04 The Last Chapter George H. Broadhurst London Royal Strand Katherine Blake[41]
1901-05-11 Toff Jim Fred Wright London Apollo Primrose[42]
1908-01-20 Irene Wycherley Anthony P. Wharton New York Astor Carrie Hardinge[43]
1910-03-01 The Sentimentalists George Meredith London Duke of York's Dame Dresden[44]
1910-03-10 The Madras House Harley Granville-Barker London Duke of York's Amelia Madras[45]
1910-04-05 Trelawny of the Wells Arthur Wing Pinero London Duke of York's Miss Trafalgar Gower[46]
1910-11-18 The Home Coming Cicely Hamilton London Aldwych Mrs. Daly[47]
1911-05-08 The First Actress Christabel Marshall London Kingsway Peg Woffington[48]
1911-05-12 The Baron’s Wager Charles Young London Playhouse Clothislde, Marquise de Marsay[49]
1912-02-01 The Bear-Leaders R. C. Carton London Comedy Dowager Countess of Grimsdal[50]
1912-02-09 Edith Elizabeth Baker London Princess's Mrs. Stott[51]
1912-08-12 Ready Money James Montgomery London New Mrs. John Tyler[52]
1913-03-31 A Matter of Money (first played in Glasgow under the title The Cutting of the Know) Cicely Hamilton London Little Mrs. Channing[53]
1913-03-11 Open Windows A.E.W. Mason London St. James's Lady Cluffe[54]
1913-10-04 The Grand Seigneur Edward Ferris and Bertram P. Matthews London Savoy Comtesse Malise[55]
1914-09-08 The Impossible Woman C. Haddon Chambers London Savoy Mrs. Talcot[56]
1915-04-15 The Green Flag Keble Howard London Vaudeville Mrs. Kesteven[57]
1915-10-16 Iris Intervenes John Hastings Turner London Kingsway Mary Cumbers[58]
1916-02-28 The Arm of the Law Arthur Bourchier, adapted from La Robe Rouge by Eugène Brieux London His Majesty's Mme. Vagret[59]
1916-05-28 The Eternal Snows Michael Orme [pseudonym of Alix Augusta Grein] London Criterion Mary Chartwell[60]
1917-04-09 The Passing of the Third Floor Back Jerome K. Jerome London Playhouse Cheat, Mrs. Sharpe, Lady of the House[61]
1917-07-27 Trelawny of the Wells Arthur W. Pinero London New Miss Trafalgar Gower[62]
1917-09-07 Trelawny of the Wells Arthur W. Pinero London New Miss Trafalgar Gower[63]
1922-03-01 The Enchanted Cottage Arthur Pinero London Duke of York's Mrs. Corsellis[64]
1922-03-24 Pride and Prejudice Eileen H.A. Squire & J.C. Squire, adapted from Jane Austen's novel London Palace Mrs. Bennett[65]
1922-05-18 Life's a Game Michael Orme [pseud. Alix Augusta Grein] London Kingsway Lady Raunds[66]
1922-12-04 Destruction Agnese de Llana London Royalty Ella Singleton[67]
1924-09-18 The Fool Channing Pollock London Apollo Mrs. Henry Gilliam[68]
1925-05-11 My Lady's Dress Edward Knblock London Adelphi La Grisa[69]
1925-06-22 March Hares (The Temperamentalists) Harry Wagstaff Gribble London Little Mrs. Janet Rodney[70]
1925-09-22 The Last of Mrs. Cheyney Frederick Lonsdale London St. James's Mrs. Ebley[71]
1927-12-27 Sylvia James Dyrenforth London Vaudeville Mrs. Considine[72]
1928-04-19 Come With Me Basil Dean and Margaret Kennedy London New Lady Alethea Zaidner[73]
1929-06-01 Sybarites H. Dennis Bradley London Arts Lady Byfleet[74]
1929-07-24 Gentlemen of the Jury Francis A. Campton London Arts Lady Blakeney[75]
1929-09-05 Dear Brutus J. M. Barrie London Playhouse Mrs. Coade[76]
1929-12-03 The Major Explains W.R. Walkes London Prince of Wales [unnamed role][77]
1929-12-03 The Amorists H. Dennis Bradley London Royalty Lady Byfleet[78]
1930-12-26 A Business Marriage Anonymous London Court Mrs. Mabley Jones[79]
1931-10-12 There's Always Juliet John Van Druten London Apollo Florence[80]
1931-10-12 There's Always Juliet John Van Druten New York Empire Florence[81]
1932-08-16 Behold, We Live John van Druten London St. James's Dame Frances Evers[82]
1932-10-02 Please Don’t Be Nervous Ann Stephenson London Shaftesbury Mother[83]
1933-08-08 In Vino Veritas Walter Hudd London Arts Oakley[84]
1933-08-08 The Long Christmas Dinner Thornton Wilder London Arts Mother Bayard[84]
1933-08-01 The Lake Dorothy Massingham (with Murray Macdonald) London Arts Mildred Surrege[85]
1933-08-01 The Lake Dorothy Massingham (with Murray Macdonald) London Westminster Mildred Surrege[86]
1933-11-29 Man Proposes Warren Chetham-Strode London Wyndham's Mary Railton[87]
1934-05-03 The Voysey Inheritance Harley Granville-Barker London Sadler's Wells Mrs. Voysey[88]
1934-06-14 Meeting At Night Marjorie Sharp London Globe Mrs. Crowborough[89]
1934-07-04 The Maitlands Ronald Mackenzie London Wyndham's May Maitland[90]
1934-11-08 It Happened To Adam David Boehm London Duke of York's Mrs. Sloane[91]
1935-03-11 Ringmaster Keith Winter London Shaftesbury Mrs. West[92]
1935-04-07 One Must Go On George Porter London Comedy Mrs. John Brown[93]
1935-05-31 Night Must Fall Emlyn Williams London Duchess Mrs. Bramson[94]
1935-12-01 Farm of Three Echoes Noel Langley London Wyndham's Ouma Gerart[95]
1936-09-28 Night Must Fall Emlyn Williams New York Ethel Barrymore Mrs. Bramson[94]
1938-01-10 Your Obedient Husband Horace Jackson New York Broadhurst Mrs. Scurlock[96]
1938-05-23 Here's To Our Enterprise Edward Knoblock London Lyceum [herself][97]
1940-05-09 Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare New York 51st Street Nurse to Juliet[98]
1941-04-08 The Trojan Women Euripides New York Cort Hecuba[99]
1945-10-09 Therese Thomas Job, based on Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola New York Biltmore Madame Raquin[100]

Filmography

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See the British Film Institute.[101]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ L.H.J., "Histrionic Geography", The Stage (2 March 1893), p. 9.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Casson 2004.
  3. ^ Parker, pp. 869−870
  4. ^ Grimalkin, "Chit Chat", The Stage (4 August 1892), p. 11.
  5. ^ a b Nissen 2007.
  6. ^ Cheryl Law (2000). Women, A Modern Political Dictionary. I.B.Tauris. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-86064-502-0.
  7. ^ Looser, Devoney (2017). The Making of Jane Austen. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-1421422824.
  8. ^ Gaye, p. 1579; and "War Honours", The Times, 8 January 1918, p. 7
  9. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 11.
  10. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 52.
  11. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 87.
  12. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 95.
  13. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 109.
  14. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 112.
  15. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 141.
  16. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 148.
  17. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 185.
  18. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 194-195.
  19. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 216.
  20. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 221.
  21. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 222.
  22. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 250.
  23. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 284.
  24. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 288.
  25. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 319.
  26. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 341.
  27. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 367.
  28. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 413.
  29. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 463.
  30. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 468.
  31. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 469.
  32. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 492-493.
  33. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 499-500.
  34. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 500.
  35. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 502.
  36. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 614.
  37. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 618.
  38. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 708-709.
  39. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 773.
  40. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 811.
  41. ^ Wearing 1976, p. 827.
  42. ^ Wearing 1981, p. 91.
  43. ^ Wearing 1981, p. 597.
  44. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 13.
  45. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 14.
  46. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 16.
  47. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 85.
  48. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 130.
  49. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 132.
  50. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 207-208.
  51. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 211.
  52. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 273.
  53. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 313.
  54. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 323.
  55. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 389.
  56. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 489.
  57. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 562.
  58. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 586.
  59. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 619.
  60. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 642.
  61. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 715.
  62. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 740.
  63. ^ Wearing 1982, p. 743-744.
  64. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 249.
  65. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 258.
  66. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 277.
  67. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 328.
  68. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 531-532.
  69. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 604.
  70. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 623.
  71. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 645.
  72. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 933-934.
  73. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 985.
  74. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 1141.
  75. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 1169.
  76. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 1175.
  77. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 1210.
  78. ^ Wearing 1984, p. 1210-1211.
  79. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 127-128.
  80. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 250.
  81. ^ "There's Always Juliet". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  82. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 364.
  83. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 377.
  84. ^ a b Wearing 1990, p. 425.
  85. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 442.
  86. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 446.
  87. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 530.
  88. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 588-589.
  89. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 608.
  90. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 615.
  91. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 650.
  92. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 701.
  93. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 710.
  94. ^ a b Wearing 1990, p. 731.
  95. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 801.
  96. ^ "Your Obedient Husband". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  97. ^ Wearing 1990, p. 1124.
  98. ^ "Romeo and Juliet". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  99. ^ "The Trojan Women". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  100. ^ "Therese Raquin". IBDB.com. Internet Broadway Database.
  101. ^ "Whitty, Dame May (1865-1948)". British Film Institute. Retrieved 10 October 2024.

Works consulted

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Further reading

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  • Alistair, Rupert (2018). "May Whitty". The Name Below the Title: 65 Classic Movie Character Actors from Hollywood's Golden Age (softcover) (first ed.). Great Britain: independently published. pp. 252–254. ISBN 978-1-7200-3837-5.
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