Ethel Griffies (born Ethel Woods; 26 April 1878 – 9 September 1975) was an English actress of stage, screen, and television. She is remembered for portraying the

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

Mrs. Bundy in

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's classic '' The Birds'' (1963). She appeared in stage roles in her native England and in the United States, and had featured roles in around 100 motion pictures. Griffies was one of the oldest working actors in the English-speaking theatre at the time of her death at 97 years old. She acted alongside such stars as May Whitty,

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry, (27 February 184721 July 1928), was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and tour ...

, and

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema ...

Biography

Griffies was born in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire ...

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

, the daughter of actor and manager Samuel Rupert Woods and actress Lillie Roberts. Taken onstage at the age of three, she continued to act for the next 86 years. Griffies married actor Walter Beaumont in 1900, and he died in 1910. In 1917, she married actor Edward Cooper, who predeceased his wife by almost two decades. On 9 September 1975, in London, Griffies died of a stroke.

Career

Griffies appeared in numerous plays, making her theatre debut in London in 1899. Having made brief cameos in films since 1917, she started a full career in the industry by 1930 in the film version of the play ''

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlers in the mid-5th ...

'', and appeared in her more than 90 film and television roles in a career that lasted until her retirement in 1967. She played Grace Poole in two versions of ''Jane Eyre'', the 1934 Monogram version and the better-known 1943 version. One of her last well-known roles was the elderly

Mrs. Bundy in

's '' The Birds'' (1963). She also performed in ''

Billy Liar ''Billy Liar'' is a 1959 novel by Keith Waterhouse that was later adapted into a play, a film, a musical and a TV series. The work has inspired and been featured in a number of popular songs. The semi-comical story is about William Fisher, ...

'', the same year as ''The Birds''.

Partial filmography

* ''

The Cost of a Kiss ''The Cost of a Kiss'' is a 1917 British silent drama film directed by Adrian Brunel and starring Bertram Wallis, Marjorie Day and Edward Cooper. It marked the feature film debut of Brunel who went on to become a leading British director of t ...

'' (1917) * ''Hard Cash'' (1920) – Mrs. Hardie * '' Sweet Kitty Bellairs'' (1930) – Gossip (uncredited) * ''

'' (1930) – Adela Heythorp * '' The Millionaire'' (1931) – Mrs. Andrews (uncredited) * ''

Chances Chances may refer to: * ''Chances'' (TV series), an Australian soap opera * ''Chances'' (Philippine TV series), a prime-time soap opera * '' Chances: The Women of Magdalene'', a 2006 documentary film * ''Chances'' (novel), a 1981 novel by Jac ...

'' (1931) – Drunken Flower Vendor in Pub (uncredited) * ''

Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge () is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges. Its name commemorates the victory of the British, Dutch and Prussians at t ...

'' (1931) – Mrs. Hobley, Landlady * '' The Road to Singapore'' (1931) – Mrs. Everard (uncredited) * '' Once a Lady'' (1931) – Miss Bleeker * '' Manhattan Parade'' (1931) – Mrs. Beacon (uncredited) * '' Union Depot'' (1932) – Cross Woman at Magazine Stand (uncredited) * ''

The Impatient Maiden ''The Impatient Maiden'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by James Whale, starring Lew Ayres and Mae Clarke, and released by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Richard Schayer and Winifred Dunn, based on the novel ...

'' (1932) – Nurse Lovett * '' Are You Listening?'' (1932) – Mrs. Peters * '' Devil's Lottery'' (1932) – Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Westward Passage ''Westward Passage'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and starring Ann Harding, Laurence Olivier, ZaSu Pitts and Irving Pichel. The screenplay concerns a woman who falls in love and marries, but soon discovers ho ...

'' (1932) – Lady Caverly * '' Love Me Tonight'' (1932) – Second Aunt * '' Payment Deferred'' (1932) – Customer in Madame Collins' Dress Shop (uncredited) * ''

Evenings for Sale The evening is the period of the day between afternoon and night. Evening may also refer to: * ''Evening'' (magazine), a Japanese magazine * ''Evening'' (novel), a 1998 novel by Susan Minot ** ''Evening'' (film), a 2007 film * ''Evenings'' (f ...

'' (1932) – Boat Passenger (uncredited) * ''

Tonight Is Ours ''Tonight Is Ours'' is a 1933 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Stuart Walker and starring Claudette Colbert, Fredric March and Alison Skipworth. Made by Paramount Pictures, it is based on the play '' The Queen Was in the Parlour'' by No� ...

'' (1933) – Zana * ''

A Lady's Profession ''A Lady's Profession'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Norman Z. McLeod and written by Malcolm Stuart Boylan, Walter DeLeon and Nina Wilcox Putnam. The film stars Alison Skipworth, Roland Young, Sari Maritza, Kent Taylo ...

'' (1933) – Lady McDougal * ''

Looking forward ''Looking Forward'' is the third and final studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and their fifth, overall. It is the fourteenth and final album when conflated with releases by the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released on Reprise ...

'' (1933) – Miss Judd (uncredited) * ''

Horse Play ''Horse Play'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and written by H. M. Walker and Dale Van Every. The film stars Slim Summerville, Andy Devine, Leila Hyams, May Beatty, Una O'Connor and David Torrence. The fi ...

'' (1933) – Emily * '' Midnight Club'' (1933) – The Duchess * '' Torch Singer'' (1933) – Agatha Alden * ''

Doctor Bull ''Doctor Bull'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy film directed by John Ford, based on the James Gould Cozzens novel '' The Last Adam''. Will Rogers portrays a small-town doctor who must deal with a typhoid outbreak in the community. The film ...

'' (1933) – Miss Ace (uncredited) * '' Bombshell'' (1933) – Mrs. Ward – Orphanage Representative (uncredited) * ''

White Woman ''White Woman'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stuart Walker and starring Carole Lombard, Charles Laughton, and Charles Bickford.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' published by The American Film I ...

'' (1933) – Mrs. Chisholm * ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1933) – Miss Simpson the Governess (uncredited) * ''

Four Frightened People ''Four Frightened People'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code adventure film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, Mary Boland, and William Gargan. It is based on the 1931 novel by E. Arnot Robertson. Plot The ...

'' (1934) – Mrs. Ainger's mother * '' The House of Rothschild'' (1934) – Guest at Reception Hall * ''Stolen Sweets'' (1934) – Ship Passenger (uncredited) * ''

Sadie McKee ''Sadie McKee'' is a 1934 American pre-Code, romantic-drama film directed by Clarence Brown, starring Joan Crawford, and featuring Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold, and Esther Ralston. The film is based on the 1933 short story "Pretty ...

'' (1934) – Woman in Subway (uncredited) * ''

Call It Luck ''Call It Luck'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by James Tinling and written by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti. The film stars Pat Paterson, Herbert Mundin, Charles Starrett, Gordon Westcott, Georgia Caine and Theodore von Eltz. The ...

'' (1934) – Lady Poindexter (uncredited) * ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1934) – Grace Poole * '' Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back'' (1934) – Mrs. Field * '' We Live Again'' (1934) – Aunt Marie * '' The Painted Veil'' (1934) – Lady Coldchester (uncredited) * '' Enchanted April'' (1935) – Mrs. Hawkins (uncredited) * ''

The Mystery of Edwin Drood ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is the final novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in 1870. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, it focuses more on Drood's uncle, John Jasper, a precentor, choirmaster and opium ...

'' (1935) – Miss Twinkleton * '' Vanessa: Her Love Story'' (1935) – Winifred Trent * ''

Hold 'Em Yale ''Hold 'Em Yale'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield and written by Damon Runyon, Paul Gerard Smith, and Eddie Welch. The film stars Patricia Ellis, Cesar Romero, Buster Crabbe, William Frawley, Andy Devine, and George ...

'' (1935) – Mrs. Peavey (uncredited) * '' Werewolf of London'' (1935) – Mrs. Whack * ''

Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writt ...

'' (1935) – Mme. Kartasov * '' The Return of Peter Grimm'' (1935) – Mrs. Martha Bartholomew * ''

Twice Branded ''Twice Branded'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Maclean Rogers and starring James Mason, Robert Rendel and Lucille Lisle. It was made at Walton Studios as a quota quickie. Premise A man returning home after serving a prison sentence ...

'' (1936) – Mrs. Etta Hamilton * '' Not So Dusty'' (1936) – Miss Miller * '' Guilty Melody'' (1936) – Lady Rochester * '' Kathleen Mavourneen'' (1938) – Hannah O'Dwyer * '' Crackerjack'' (1938) – Annie * '' The Mysterious Mr. Davis'' (1939) – Mabel Wilcox (uncredited) * '' Over the Moon'' (1939) – Miss Bates – the governess (uncredited) * '' I'm from Missouri'' (1939) – Miss Wildhack * '' The Star Maker'' (1939) – Voice Teacher * '' We Are Not Alone'' (1939) – Mrs. Raymond * ''

Vigil in the Night ''Vigil in the Night'' is a 1940 RKO Pictures drama film based on the 1939 serialized novel '' Vigil in the Night'' by A. J. Cronin. The film was produced and directed by George Stevens and stars Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne and Anne Shirley. P ...

'' (1940) – Matron East * ''

Irene Irene is a name derived from εἰρήνη (eirēnē), the Greek for "peace". Irene, and related names, may refer to: * Irene (given name) Places * Irene, Gauteng, South Africa * Irene, South Dakota, United States * Irene, Texas, United State ...

'' (1940) – Princess Minetti * ''

'' (1940) – Mrs. Clark – Landlady (uncredited) * '' Anne of Windy Poplars'' (1940) – Hester Pringle * ''

Stranger on the Third Floor ''Stranger on the Third Floor'' is a 1940 American film noir directed by Boris Ingster and starring Peter Lorre, John McGuire, and Margaret Tallichet, and featuring Elisha Cook Jr. It was written by Frank Partos. Modern research has shown tha ...

'' (1940) – Mrs. Kane, Michael's landlady * '' Dead Men Tell'' (1941) – Miss Patience Nodbury * ''

Billy the Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at th ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Hanky * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) – Lady Fitzhugh * ''

Man at Large ''Man at Large'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and written by John Larkin. The film stars Marjorie Weaver, George Reeves, Richard Derr, Steven Geray, Milton Parsons and Spencer Charters. The film was released on Sept ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Zagra * ''

Great Guns ''Great Guns'' is a 1941 film directed by Monty Banks, and produced by Sol M. Wurtzel for 20th Century Fox starring Laurel and Hardy. It is also known as ''Forward March''. Plot The young, spoiled but feeble Daniel Forrester IV (Dick Nelson), ...

'' (1941) – Aunt Agatha * ''

How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own persona ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Nicholas, housekeeper * ''

Remember the Day ''Remember the Day'' is a 1941 film released by 20th Century Fox, directed by Henry King, and starring Claudette Colbert and John Payne. Plot Elderly schoolteacher Nora Trinell reflects on her life and teaching career while waiting to see Dew ...

'' (1941) – Undetermined Role (uncredited) * '' Right to the Heart'' (1942) – Minerva Bromley * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) – Matron (uncredited) * ''

Castle in the Desert ''Castle in the Desert'' is a 1942 film featuring the Chinese detective Charlie Chan. It was the eleventh film to feature Sidney Toler as the title character, and the last made by 20th Century Fox. The series continued with Toler, though under m ...

'' (1942) – Madame Saturnia * '' The Postman Didn't Ring'' (1942) – Catherine Vandewater * ''

Between Us Girls ''Between Us Girls'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Henry Koster and starring Diana Barrymore, Kay Francis, Robert Cummings, John Boles (actor), John Boles, Andy Devine, and Scotty Beckett.

'' (1942) – Gallagher * ''

Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch ''Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' is a 1901 novel by American author Alice Hegan Rice, about a southern family humorously coping with poverty. It was highly popular on its release,Lowell Hayes Harrison, ''A New History of Kentucky'' (1997), p. ...

'' (1942) – Mrs. Graham (uncredited) * '' Time to Kill'' (1942) – Mrs. Murdock * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) – Wife of Man in Air Raid Shelter * ''

First Comes Courage ''First Comes Courage'' is a 1943 American war film, the final film directed by Dorothy Arzner, one of the few female directors in Hollywood at the time. The film was based on the 1943 novel ''Commandos'' by Elliott Arnold, adapted by George Skl ...

'' (1943) – Nurse (uncredited) * '' Holy Matrimony'' (1943) – Lady Vale * ''

'' (1943) – Grace Poole (uncredited) * '' Pardon My Rhythm'' (1944) – Mrs. Dean * ''

The White Cliffs of Dover The White Cliffs of Dover is the region of English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face, which reaches a height of , owes its striking appearance to its composition of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposi ...

'' (1944) – Woman on Train Opening Window (uncredited) * ''

It Happened Tomorrow ''It Happened Tomorrow'' is a 1944 American fantasy film directed by René Clair, starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie, and featuring Edgar Kennedy and John Philliber. It is based on the one-act play "The Jest of Haha Laba" by Lord ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. O'Connor, Boardinghouse Tenant (uncredited) * ''

The Keys of the Kingdom ''The Keys of the Kingdom'' is a 1941 novel by A. J. Cronin. Spanning six decades, it tells the story of Father Francis Chisholm, an unconventional Scottish Catholic priest who struggles to establish a mission in China. Beset by tragedy in h ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Glennie (scenes deleted) * '' Music for Millions'' (1944) – Mrs. McGuff * '' The Horn Blows at Midnight'' (1945) – Lady Stover * ''

Thrill of a Romance ''Thrill of a Romance'' (also known as ''Thrill of a New Romance'') is an American Technicolor romance film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1945, starring Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by Tommy ...

'' (1945) – Mrs. Fenway * '' Molly and Me'' (1945) – Mrs. Lamb (uncredited) * '' The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry'' (1945) – Mrs. Nelson (uncredited) * ''

Saratoga Trunk ''Saratoga Trunk'' is a 1945 American Western film (or historical romance film, per the American Film Institute) directed by Sam Wood and starring Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, and Flora Robson. Written by Casey Robinson, based on the novel '' ...

'' (1945) – Clarissa Van Steed * '' Devotion'' (1946) – Aunt Elizabeth Branwell * '' Sing While You Dance'' (1946) – Mrs. Abigail Smith * '' The Brasher Doubloon'' (1947) – Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) * '' Millie's Daughter'' (1947) – Aunt Katherine * '' The Homestretch'' (1947) – Aunt Martha * '' The Birds'' (1963) – Mrs. Bundy, ornithologist * ''

'' (1963) – Grandma Florence * ''

Bus Riley's Back in Town ''Bus Riley's Back in Town'' is a 1965 American drama film written by William Inge, directed by Harvey Hart, and starring Ann-Margret and Michael Parks. Inge was very unhappy with changes made to his script and had his name removed from the cre ...

'' (1965) – Mrs. Spencer

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Griffies, Ethel 1878 births 1975 deaths English film actresses English stage actresses English television actresses Actresses from Sheffield Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses