Dame Gladys Cooper was born December 18th, 1888 in Lewisham, London, England. Although Gladys made movies in the early 1910's and 1920's, she didn't really establish herself until 1940. This year, she made "Rebecca", with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. She played Maxim's (Olivier) sister. Later that year, she played Mrs. Strafford in "Kitty Foyle". This is one of my favorite movies, and Ginger Rogers is wonderful in her Oscar-winning performance as the title character. In 1941, Cooper once again starred with Laurence Olivier and his wife, Vivien Leigh, in "That Hamilton Woman".
In 1942, Gladys starred in one of the roles that would win her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination. It was "Now, Voyager" co-starring Bette Davis and Paul Henreid. Gladys played Bette's mother, Mrs. Henry Windle Vale. She drives her daughter to a nervous breakdown, which forces her to go to a resting place, Cascades. It's owned by Dr. Jacquith (Claude Rains). And even though her daughter improves greatly, Mrs. Vale never accepts her daughter as something special. This movie is one of my favorites...an absolute must see!
In 1943, Gladys starred in her first of many movies with Jennifer Jones. It was "The Song of Bernadette". Gladys played Sister Marie Therese Vauzous, the nun who never believed Bernadette's story of seeing "the pretty lady". Gladys received another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, but she lost again lost. In 1943, Gladys starred with Olivia De Havilland, Jane Wyman, and Harry Davenport in "Princess O'Rourke". In 1944, she played Lady Jean Ashwood in "The White Cliffs of Dover". This also starred Irene Dunne, Van Johnson, Peter Lawford, and Roddy McDowall. In 1945, Gladys was in "The Valley of Decision", starring Greer Garson and Gregory Peck. That same year, Gladys and Jennifer Jones were once again co-stars, this time in "Love Letters". This is a story of a soldier who writes letters for a friend, although he realizes that the girl receiving them is in love with him, and not his friend. As you can expect, this creates a lot of confusion. I love Jennifer and Joseph Cotten in this movie, and Gladys is great as Beatrice Remington, the woman who really straightens everything out. This is a must see movie!
Jennifer Jones and Gladys Cooper made more films together. To find out more information about these movies, go to the next page, and also visit my Jennifer Jones page. A link is provided on the next page.
Links to other sites on the Web
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Elizabeth's Vivien Leigh Page
Elizabeth's Bette Davis Page
Elizabeth's Paul Henreid Page
Elizabeth's Olivia de Havilland Page
Elizabeth's Gregory Peck Page
Thanks to Phillip Oliver for the pictures! Please click on the link provided on the next page, where you will find some more great pictures!
people have visited this site since July 1999
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