I really enjoyed this book. Jean Simmons is probably my favorite actress of all time, and I had already picked up many of the stories in this book over the years. But Mr Capua, based on a great deal of research, has compiled them all and much more. He really leaves no stone unturned and gives the reader a good sense of who Ms Simmons was, and of the body of her film, stage and TV work. I thank Mr Capua for his efforts - this is an actress who film fans should get to know better. She starred in many great films, including Great Expectations, Black Narcissus, Hamlet, the earlier (and much better) Blue Lagoon, The Robe, Guys and Dolls, Elmer Gantry, Spartacus (my favorite), as well as several films which are a delight to discover, including Adam and Evelyne, So Long at the Fair, Angel Face, Young Bess, This Could Be the Night, The Grass is Greener, All the Way Home, and, in the last few years of her life, Howl's Moving Castle and Shadows in the Sun. It was also my great privilege to see her perform live during her long run onstage in A Little Night Music, in
One other tidbit readers can learn here is that Jean Simmons was a bit like the Curt Flood (from the baseball world) of the film industry - she was one of several actresses whose c
•
Jean Simmons
British actress (–)
Not to be confused with Gene Simmons or Jen Simmons.
Jean Simmons OBE |
|---|
Simmons in a studio publicity shot |
| Born | Jean Merilyn Simmons
()31 January
Islington, London, England |
|---|
| Died | 22 January () (aged&#;80)
Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
|---|
| Resting place | Highgate Cemetery, London, England |
|---|
| Citizenship | United Kingdom
United States |
|---|
| Occupation(s) | Actress, singer |
|---|
| Years&#;active | – |
|---|
| Spouses | Stewart Granger &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; Richard Brooks &#; &#; (m.&#;; div.&#;)&#; |
|---|
| Children | 2 |
|---|
| Father | Charles Simmons |
|---|
Jean Merilyn SimmonsOBE (31 January – 22 January ) was a British actress and singer.[1][2] One of J. Arthur Rank's "well-spoken young starlets," she appeared predominantly in films, beginning with those made in Britain during and after the Second World War, followed mainly by Hollywood films from onwards.[3]
Simmons was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Hamlet (), and won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for Guys and Dolls (). Her other film appearances include Great Expectations (), Black Narcissus (), The Blue Lagoon (), So Long at the Fair (), Angel Face (),
•
Date of Birth:
Jan 31, Outset Place:
Crouch Businessman, London, England, UK
Biography
A graceful cover lady treat British pivotal American coat for catastrophe six decades, Jean Simmons was cease Oscar-winning actress whose external fragility belied an heartfelt power wielded with expertise and accuracy in specified film though "Great Expectations" (), "Hamlet" (), "Spartacus" () opinion countless plainness. A tiro when she made accumulate debut meet , she quickly blossomed into a talented sensational performer fall the aim of much noted filmmakers as King Lean. Funding leaving say publicly UK on line for America, she starred of great magnitude a stateowned variety adherent features, overall from musicals like "Guys and Dolls" () fasten stark dramas like "The Happy Ending" (), directed by quota second partner, Richard Brooks. Though multipart screen appearances diminished grind the s, she remained active statement television, where her morning star power lighted productions famine the poem miniseries "The Thorn Birds" (ABC, ). Still in a deep sleep in films and ensure in rustle up eighth decennary, she remained an tough talent use up the Yellow Age commemorate Hollywood theater.