Dame Mary Louise Webster, (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 Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. 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 featu ...

's thriller ''

The Lady Vanishes ''The Lady Vanishes'' is a 1938 British Mystery film, mystery Thriller (genre), thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, starring Margaret Lockwood and Michael Redgrave. Written by Sidney Gilliat and Frank Launder, based on the 1936 novel '' ...

'' (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 The cinema of the United States, primarily associated with major film studios collectively referred to as Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood, has significantly influenced the global film industry since the early 20th century. Classical Holly ...

at the age of 72.

Background

Whitty was born in

Liverpool Liverpool is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Merseyside, England. It is situated on the eastern side of the River Mersey, Mersey Estuary, near the Irish Sea, north-west of London. With a population ...

, England, to William Alfred Whitty (circa 1837–1876), a newspaper proprietor, 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 The ''Liverpool Post'' was a newspaper published by Reach plc, Trinity Mirror in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. The newspaper and its website ceased publication on 19 December 2013. Until 13 January 2012 it was a daily morning newspaper, wi ...

''. She made her first stage appearance in Liverpool in 1881, later moving to London to appear in the West End. She married the actor-manager

Ben Webster Benjamin Francis Webster (March 27, 1909 – September 20, 1973) was an American jazz tenor Saxophone, saxophonist. He performed in the United States and Europe and made many recordings with Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Johnny Hodges, a ...

on 3 August 1892 in St Giles's Parish Church, London. 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 Margaret Webster (March 15, 1905 – November 13, 1972) was an American-British theater actress, theatrical producer, producer and theatre direction, director. Critic George Jean Nathan described her as "the best director of the plays of Sha ...

, was a producer who held dual US and UK citizenship. She was chair of the Actresses' Franchise League (AFL). 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 Harley Granville-Barker (25 November 1877 – 31 August 1946) was an English actor, director, playwright, manager, critic, and theorist. After early success as an actor in the plays of George Bernard Shaw, he increasingly turned to directing a ...

's four-act comedy ''The Madras House''. During

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

she was active in the AFL, working there to help organize the Women's Emergency Corps. In March 1922, she played the role of Mrs. Bennet before the Queen in a benefit performance of ''

Pride and Prejudice ''Pride and Prejudice'' is the second published novel (but third to be written) by English author Jane Austen, written when she was age 20-21, and later published in 1813. A novel of manners, it follows the character development of Elizabe ...

''. She acted opposite her husband, who played Mr. Darcy.

Honours

In the

1918 New Year Honours The 1918 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Janu ...

, she was made a

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

(DBE, gazetted under her legal married name Mary Louise Webster) in recognition of her charitable work during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

for the Three Arts Women's Employment Fund and the British Women's Hospitals Committee. She was the first stage and film actress to receive a damehood, along with the opera singer

Nellie Melba Dame Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell; 19 May 186123 February 1931) was an Australian operatic lyric coloratura soprano. She became one of the most famous singers of the late Victorian era and the early twentieth century, and was the f ...

, who was also thus honoured in 1918.

Film career and death

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 Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907November 28, 1976) was an American actress, model, comedian, screenwriter, and singer,Obituary '' Variety'', December 1, 1976, p. 79. known for her role as fast-talking newspaper reporter Hildy Johnson in ...

. She received an Oscar nomination. This led to several supporting roles in films, including that of the vanishing lady, Miss Froy, in

's ''

'' (1938). In 1939, Whitty permanently moved to the United States - although she never became a

US citizen Citizenship of the United States is a citizenship, legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by ...

; and appeared both on stage and in Hollywood films, usually playing wealthy dowagers. It was one such part, as Lady Beldon in ''

Mrs. Miniver ''Mrs. Miniver'' is a 1942 American romantic war drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Inspired by the 1940 novel '' Mrs. Miniver'' by Jan Struther, it shows how the life of an unassuming Britis ...

'' (1942), that brought her a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She continued to act for the remainder of her life, and died on 29 May 1948 in

Beverly Hills Beverly Hills is a city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. A notable and historic suburb of Los Angeles, it is located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills, approximately northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Beverly Hil ...

, California, from cancer at the age of 82; her husband had died the previous year during surgery. She is commemorated with a plaque at St Paul's parish church in

Covent Garden Covent Garden is a district in London, on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit-and-vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist sit ...

, London, alongside the plaque to her husband.

Stage roles

Dates are of the first performance.

Filmography

See the

British Film Institute The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves filmmaking and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery to encourage film production, ...

. *''

Enoch Arden ''Enoch Arden'' is a narrative poem by Alfred, Lord Tennyson, published in 1864 during his tenure as British poet laureate. The story on which it was based was allegedly provided to Tennyson by Thomas Woolner. The poem lends its name to a ...

'' (1914) as Miriam Lane *'' The Little Minister'' (1915) as Nanny Webster *'' Colonel Newcombe, the Perfect Gentleman'' (1920) as Mrs. Mackenzie *'' Keep Your Seats, Please'' (1936) as Aunt Georgina Withers (uncredited) *'' Night Must Fall'' (1937) as Mrs. Bramson *''

Conquest Conquest involves the annexation or control of another entity's territory through war or Coercion (international relations), coercion. Historically, conquests occurred frequently in the international system, and there were limited normative or ...

'' (1937) as Maria Letizia Buonaparte *''

I Met My Love Again ''I Met My Love Again'' is a 1938 American romantic drama film distributed by United Artists, directed by Joshua Logan, Arthur Ripley and George Cukor. The screenplay was written by David Hertz, based on the novel ''Summer Lightning'' by Allene ...

'' (1938) as Aunt William *''Parnell'' (1938, TV movie) as Aunt Caroline *''

'' (1938) as Miss Froy *''Mary Rose'' (1939, TV movie) as Mrs. Morland *''The Royal Family of Broadway'' (1939, TV movie) as Fanny Cavendis *''Rake's Progress'' (1939, TV movie) as Mrs. Mead, Wilkes's mother-in-law *'' Raffles'' (1939) as Lady Melrose *'' Return to Yesterday'' (1940) as Mrs. Truscott *'' A Bill of Divorcement'' (1940) as Aunt Hester Fairfield *'' One Night in Lisbon'' (1941) as Florence *'' Suspicion'' (1941) as Mrs. Martha McLaidlaw *''

'' (1942) as Lady Beldon *'' Thunder Birds'' (1942) as Lady Jane Stackhouse *'' Forever and a Day'' (1943) as Mrs. Lucy Trimble *'' Slightly Dangerous'' (1943) as Baba *''

Crash Dive A crash dive is a maneuver by a submarine in which the vessel submerges as quickly as possible to avoid attack. Crash diving from the surface to avoid attack has been largely rendered obsolete with the advent of nuclear-powered submarines, as th ...

'' (1943) as Grandmother *'' The Constant Nymph'' (1943) as Lady Constance Longborough *''

Stage Door Canteen The Stage Door Canteen was an entertainment venue for American and Allied servicemen that operated in the Broadway theatre district of New York City throughout World War II. Founded by the American Theatre Wing (ATW) in 1942, the entertainers w ...

'' (1943) as herself *''

Lassie Come Home ''Lassie Come Home'' is a 1943 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Technicolor feature film starring Roddy McDowall and canine actor Pal, in a story about the profound bond between Yorkshire boy Joe Carraclough and his rough collie, Lassie. The film was d ...

'' (1943) as Dally *'' Flesh and Fantasy'' (1943) as Lady Pamela Hardwick (Episode 2) *'' Madame Curie'' (1943) as Madame Eugene Curie *'' Gaslight'' (1944) as Miss Bessie Thwaites *'' The White Cliffs of Dover'' (1944) as Nanny *'' My Name Is Julia Ross'' (1945) as Mrs. Hughes *'' Devotion'' (1946) as Lady Thornton *'' Green Dolphin Street'' (1947) as Mother Superior *'' This Time for Keeps'' (1947) as Grandmother Cambaretti *'' If Winter Comes'' (1947) as Mrs. Perch *'' The Sign of the Ram'' (1948) as Clara Brastock *''

The Return of October ''The Return of October'' is a 1948 American sports comedy film directed by Joseph H. Lewis and starring Glenn Ford, Terry Moore and James Gleason.Aaker p.309 It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot Terry is a teenage girl w ...

'' (1948) as Aunt Martha Grant (final film role)

References

Works consulted

* * * * * * * * *

External links

* *
Stage performances listed in Theatre Archive University of Bristol

May Whitty
photo gallery at NY Public Library Billy Rose Collection {{DEFAULTSORT:Whitty, May 1865 births 1948 deaths Actresses awarded damehoods Actresses from Liverpool Deaths from cancer in California Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire English film actresses English silent film actresses English stage actresses Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer contract players 20th-century English actresses English expatriate actresses in the United States 19th-century English actresses 19th-century English people