Biography

Judith Anderson

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Overview

Born
February 10, 1897 · Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Died
January 3, 1992 · Santa Barbara, California, USA (pneumonia)
Birth name
Frances Margaret Anderson
Height
5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)

Mini bio

Dame Judith Anderson was born Frances Margaret Anderson on February 10, 1897 in Adelaide, South Australia. She began her acting career in Australia before moving to New York in 1918. There 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' "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.
- IMDb mini biography by: Steve Shelokhonov

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Trademarks

Rich smooth commanding voice
Has a mole on the lower right corner of her mouth and an imperious Roman nose

Trivia

She was 87 years old when she appeared as the High Priestess in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). She had come out of retirement after being away from motion pictures for 14 years. She was encouraged by her nephew to take the role and received a Saturn Award nomination for that role.
Made her soap opera debut as the grande dame, Minx Lockridge, on the NBC serial Santa Barbara (1984) (which happens to be her hometown). When asked why, she replied "Why not? It's practically the same as doing a play.".
She was awarded Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1960 Queen's New Years Honours List for her services to the performing arts.
It is said that conductor Arturo Toscanini was so carried away by her performance in the title role of "Medea" on Broadway that he nearly fell out of his stage box applauding.
She was the first and possibly the only actress to win two Emmy Awards for playing the same role (Lady Macbeth) in two separate television productions of the same play, the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of William Shakespeare's "Macbeth" on Macbeth (1954) and Macbeth (1960), with the same leading actor, Maurice Evans.

Quotes

I have not myself a very serene temperament.
All of my work is based on nature. I grew up in a rural environment and living in the Bay Area allows for immediate access to wonderful natural environs. Basically, nature is my genius loci, or the place where my spirit resides.
I am inspired by many mediums and use them to express varied aspects of my philosophies and life observations.
Personally, I believe it is important for mankind to respect nature - for homeostasis - and I have volunteered with environmental organizations, I do not attempt to have an environmental leaning regarding my artwork.
There is nothing enduring in life for a woman except what she builds in a man's heart.