Jessica Tandy

"Jessica Tandy was born on June 7, 1909, in Stoke Newington, London, England. She was the youngest of three children of Harry Tandy, a travelling salesman for a rope manufacturer, and Jessie Helen Horspool, the head of a school for mentally handicapped children. She attended Dame Alice Owen's School in Islington and developed an early interest in acting. She made her professional debut on the London stage at the age of 18 in 1927. She soon became a leading actress in the West End, playing roles such as Ophelia opposite John Gielgud's Hamlet and Katherine opposite Laurence Olivier's Henry V. She also appeared in British films such as The Indiscretions of Eve (1932) and Murder in the Family (1938). In 1932, she married actor Jack Hawkins, with whom she had a daughter, Susan. They divorced in 1940 after Hawkins had an affair with another actress. In 1942, she married Canadian actor Hume Cronyn, who became her lifelong partner and collaborator. They moved to the United States during World War II and became naturalized citizens in 1952. They had two children, Christopher and Tandy. Tandy's career in Hollywood was initially slow, as she was considered too plain for leading roles. She played mostly supporting parts in films such as The Seventh Cross (1944), The Valley of Decision (1945), Dragonwyck (1946), Forever Amber (1947) and A Woman's Vengeance (1948). She also worked in radio and television, often with Cronyn. Her breakthrough came in 1947, when she originated the role of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire on Broadway. She won a Tony Award for her performance and received critical acclaim for her portrayal of the fragile and delusional Southern belle. She reprised the role in London in 1949, but was replaced by Vivien Leigh in the 1951 film version. Tandy continued to work on stage throughout her career, winning three more Tony Awards for her roles in The Fourposter (1952), The Gin Game (1978) and Foxfire (1983). She also appeared in plays such as The Glass Menagerie (1950), The Honeys (1955), A Delicate Balance (1966), Noël Coward in Two Keys (1974) and The Petition (1986). She often co-starred with Cronyn, who also directed some of their productions. Tandy's film career revived in the 1980s, when she starred in several successful movies such as The World According to Garp (1982), Best Friends (1982), Cocoon (1985) and *batteries not included (1987). She won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as Daisy Werthan, an elderly Jewish widow who develops a friendship with her black chauffeur, played by Morgan Freeman, in Driving Miss Daisy (1989). She was 80 years old at the time, making her the oldest actress to receive the award. She also won a Golden Globe and a BAFTA for the same role. Tandy's last film was Nobody's Fool (1994), in which she played the landlady of Paul Newman's character. She died on September 11, 1994, at her home in Easton, Connecticut, from ovarian cancer. She was 85 years old. She was survived by her husband, who died in 2003, and her three children. She was cremated and her ashes were given to her family or friend. Jessica Tandy was one of the most respected and versatile actresses of her generation. She had a long and distinguished career on stage, film and television, spanning seven decades. She was known for her intelligence, elegance and emotional depth. She received many honors and awards for her work, including an Academy Award, four Tony Awards, a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She was also inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1990."