Biography

Helen Cherry was a noted actress of stage, screen, and television, acclaimed mostly for her Shakespearean portrayals. Her favorite role was "Rosalind" in "As You Like It." She was the long-suffering wife of actor Trevor Howard, who died in 1988.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

Although her career was somewhat eclipsed by that of her internationally-renowned husband/actor Trevor Howard, blue-eyed, reddish-haired, patrician-looking actress Helen Cherry valiantly managed a long and enviable career throughout on stage, film and TV reputation.

Born Helen Mary Cherry on November 24, 1915, in Worsley, Manchester, England, she was one of three children (she had two brothers) of conservative parents who originally protested against her ideas of acting--at least without the backup of a more reliable career. Initially a commercial artist, she eventually studied voice, dance and theatre and debuted under the footlights in the late 1930s.

Gaining experience and exposure on the classical stage with the Shakespearean plays "Twelfth Night," "The Taming of the Shrew" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream," she met prospective husband Howard while playing his leading lady in "The Recruiting Officer" in 1943. They were a success both on and off stage, and married in September of the following year.

Helen subsequently played for a season at Stratford where the composed beauty served up sturdy portrayals in "Henry IV," "The Tempest" and "The Merchant of Venice," her highlight being that of Rosalind in "As You Like It." As her husband gained prestige in film, Helen began to receive movie offers as well, making her debut as Michael Wilding's younger sister in Katy's Love Affair (1947). She subsequently showed poise and intelligence in second lead roles, particularly that of Stewart Granger's girlfriend in Adam and Evalyn (1949), and went on to play a number of proper, dutiful wives in such films as Operation Disaster (1950), They Were Not Divided (1950), and Young Wives' Tale (1951). Every now and then she was given a showier role such as that of the scheming sister in Her Panelled Door (1950) alongside Phyllis Calvert and Richard Burton.

Off-camera, the Howards had their share of problems and Helen had to endure Trevor's propensity for other women and his chronic battle with the bottle. True to her nature on-camera, Helen remained loyal, despite threats of separation, and stoic. She often accompanied Trevor on his many international shoots. During this time she bounced back and forth between stage and film offers.

In 1953 Helen directed herself towards TV. She was a panelist for four years on Guess My Story (1953) and appeared in a host of dramatic pieces that accentuated her stately beauty and ladylike grace. One would have thought that with Howard's soaring international popularity, his wife would have gone on to appear in many of his films. Such was not the case. Their first movie together was not until The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), in which Helen had only a scene. They also appeared in 11 Harrowhouse (1974) and Conduct Unbecoming (1975).

The actress curtailed her career in 1986 once her husband took seriously ill, spending most of her time caring for him. Howard died two years later and Helen more or less retired. Her last film was a featured part in the romantic fantasy The Girl in a Swing (1988).

Debilitated by severe arthritis in her later years, she suffered a stroke in 1995, then died months later of complications following a second one in early 2001. She was 85 when she died on September 27, 2001, in London.
- IMDb mini biography by: Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net

Married to husband Trevor Howard for 44 years until his death in 1988, their marriage was often tested by his excessive philandering and heavy drinking. She remained supportive, however, and when it was suggested that Howard's chronic alcoholism had spoiled his acting, she was known to come to his defense.

In 1961, as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament struggle was in full effect, she became a staunch supporter and was arrested during a demonstration.

Occasionally appeared in cross-dressing roles during her early theatre career such as her Oberon in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and in 1943's "The Recruiting Officer," which introduced her to her husband.

At some point she had a nose job.

Had plastic surgery on her nose.