Elaine Hamill (1911–1981) was a New Zealand actress who appeared on stage and in films in the 1930s. Born in

Hamilton, New Zealand Hamilton (, ) is an inland city in the North Island of New Zealand. Located on the banks of the Waikato River, it is the seat and most populous city of the Waikato, Waikato region. With a territorial population of , it is the country's List of c ...

she studied as a nurse, surviving the Nelson earthquake of 1931. She tried out unsuccessfully for Paramount's ''

Search for Beauty Searching may refer to: Music * " Searchin", a 1957 song originally performed by The Coasters * "Searching" (China Black song), a 1991 song by China Black * "Searchin" (CeCe Peniston song), a 1993 song by CeCe Peniston * " Searchin' (I Gott ...

'' competition in 1933, and then moved to Australia in February 1934 to pursue a modelling and acting career. In 1934, after winning the Cinesound Australian Personality Contest, she was offered a leading role in ''

Grandad Rudd ''Grandad Rudd'' is a 1935 comedy featuring the Dad and Dave characters created by Steele Rudd and based on a play by Rudd. It was a sequel to ''On Our Selection'', and was later followed by ''Dad and Dave Come to Town'' and ''Dad Rudd, MP''. Plo ...

''. She appeared in Cinesound’s film ''

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

'' in 1936, in addition to taking some stage roles for J.C. Williamson. In mid 1936 she spent several months on tour in New Zealand – appearing in ''The Shining Hour'' and ''Fresh Fields.'' Following a return to Sydney and another film for Cinesound – ''

Lovers and Luggers ''Lovers and Luggers'' is a 1937 Australian film directed by Ken G. Hall. It is an adventure melodrama about a pianist ( Lloyd Hughes) who goes to Thursday Island to retrieve a valuable pearl. It was retitled ''Vengeance of the Deep'' in the US ...

'', she moved to London, where she modelled and appeared on stage and in radio dramas. She took a small role in Associated British Films’ '' The Outsider'', featuring

George Sanders George Henry Sanders (3 July 1906 – 25 April 1972) was a British actor and singer whose career spanned over 40 years. His heavy, upper-class English accent and smooth bass voice often led him to be cast as sophisticated but villainous charac ...

and Australian

Mary Maguire Mary Maguire (born Ellen Theresa Maguire 22 February 1919) was an Australian-born actress who briefly became a Hollywood and British film star in the late 1930s. Early life Maguire was born in Melbourne, Australia, to Michael "Mickey" Magu ...

. In 1940 she was active in the Dundee Repertory Theatre, but retired after marrying Dundee businessman Murray Campbell Scarlett in September 1941. She died in Dundee, Scotland, in 1981.

Select credits

* ''Splendid Fellows'' (1934) *''Blue Mountain Melody'' (1934) — stage play *''Niobe'' (1934) — radio play *''Let's Go Dancing'' (1935) — radio musical *''Roberta'' (1935) — stage musical *''The Shining Hour'' (1935) — stage play *''

'' (1935) — film *''

'' (1936) — film *''

'' (1937) — film *'' The Outsider'' (1939) — film

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamill, Elaine New Zealand actresses 1911 births 1981 deaths