Wendy Hiller - Actresses, Timeline and Family
Wendy Hiller's Personal Details
Dame Wendy Hiller was a renowned English actress, equally adept on stage and screen
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | August 15, 1912 |
| Died on | May 14, 2003 |
| Nationality | British |
| Famous | Film & Theater Personalities, Actresses, Theater Personalities |
| Spouses | Ronald Gow (1937–1993) |
| Known as | Dame Wendy Margaret Hiller, Dame Wendy Hiller |
| Childrens | Ann, Anthony |
| Birth Place | Bramhall, Cheshire, England, UK |
| Gender | Female |
| Father | Frank Watkin Hiller |
| Mother | Marie Elizabeth (nee Stone) |
| Sun Sign | Leo |
| Born in | Bramhall, Cheshire, England, UK |
| Famous as | Actress |
| Died at Age | 90 |
// Famous Film & Theater Personalities
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi is an Australian actor. Let’s take a look at his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.
Wentworth Miller
Wentworth Miller is an American actor and screenwriter who achieved recognition for his role in the TV series ‘Prison Break’.
Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.
Wendy Hiller's photo
Who is Wendy Hiller?
Dame Wendy Hiller was a renowned English actress, equally adept on stage and screen. She was born in early twentieth century into a family of rich cotton manufacturers in Cheshire. Although her parents sent her to a boarding school in south to correct her Cheshire accent, it remained with her all her life. Interestingly, she got her first big chance for the character of a slum dweller and they needed someone who spoke with an accent. The play was a huge hit and her performance was highly commended. It also caught the attention of Barnard Shaw, who cast her in two of his plays. Later she was chosen to play Miss Eliza Doolittle in the film version of his play ‘Pygmalion’ and excelled in it. Subsequently, she played the lead role in a number of successful films. However, the glamour of the film world never impressed her. She chose to remain primarily a stage actress. Later, she also appeared in several successful television series. However, she was also a great human being and often sacrificed her career to be with her family.
// Famous Actresses
Skai Jackson
Skai Jackson is an American child actress with huge fan following. Find more about her family & personal life, relationships, facts and more.
Riele Downs
Riele Downs is a Canadian-American actress & Musical.ly star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life including age, birthday, net worth, boyfriends and fun facts.
Kaylee Quinn
Kaylee Quinn is an American dancer, model, and actress. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, relationships, and fun facts.
Childhood & Early Years
Wendy Margaret Hiller was born on 15th August 1912 in Bramhall, near Stockport, Cheshire, England. Her father, Frank Watkin Hiller, was a well-to-do cotton spinner and cloth manufacturer. Her mother was Marie Elizabeth (nee Stone). She had three brothers, René, Michael and John.
Little Wendy was sent to Bexhill, Sussex to be educated at Winceby House School. Her parents had hoped that this would help her lose her Cheshire accent. However, she was not entirely successful in that.
While in school, Wendy decided to become an actress. On completing her course in 1930, she entered the Manchester Repertory Theater, making her professional debut in the same year with a small part in ‘The Ware Case’. Subsequently, she continued playing similar parts in different plays.
At the same time, she tried her hand at every other kind of job like sweeping the stage, making tea, prompting, setting the scenery etc. Later, she also worked as an assistant stage manager.
Wendy undertook all these jobs quite willingly because they helped her to learn the principles of stage acting and management. Her actual breakthrough came in 1934.
Career
In 1934, Wendy Hiller was chosen to play Sally Hardcastle, a slum dweller, in the stage version of ‘Love on the Dole’. The play was hugely successful and reached the West End Theatre in 1935.
In 1936, she travelled to New York with the play. Here, her performance was noticed by George Bernard Shaw, who cast her in many of his productions, including ‘Saint Joan’ and ‘Pygmalion’.
Subsequently in July 1936, she appeared in the lead role of the above mentioned plays at Malvern Theatre Festival, England. As her name spread, she began to receive offers to act in films.
In 1937, she made her debut in films as Betty Lovejoy in ‘Lancashire Luck’. Her next film, released in 1938, was ‘Pygmalion’, in which she once more enacted the role of Eliza Doolittle at Shaw’s insistence. It was a huge hit and she received an Academy nomination for it.
Hiller’s third film ‘Major Barbara’ was also based on George Bernard Shaw’s play of the same name. The film, released on 2 August, 1941, was both a critical and financial success. In spite of that, she decided to concentrate on her stage career.
In 1943, she appeared as Viola in Shakespeare's ‘Twelfth Night’. As part of her war effort, she went on extensive factory tour throughout Great Britain with it. Later in 1944, she appeared as Sister Joanna in ‘Cradle Song’ and in 1945 as Princess Charlotte in ‘The First Gentleman’.
However, she did not give up films altogether. In 1945, she appeared as Joan Webster in ‘I Know Where I’m Going!’.Made on a budget of £200,000, it has been hailed as one of the greatest films of that era.
In 1946, she returned to stage and joined the Bristol Old Vic for a season. Here, she appeared as Tess in Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’, adapted for stage by Ronald Gow. Later it moved to the West End and became very successful. Critics praised her performance for its lack of mannerism.
From 1947 to 1949, Hiller appeared as Catherine Sloper in ‘The Heiress’, a stage adaptation of Henry James’s Washington Square. It had a year-long run at the Biltmore Theatre in New York and proved to be her greatest triumph on Broadway.
On returning to London, Hiller again played the role in the West End production in 1950. Sometime now, she also appeared in the title role of ‘Ann Veronica’.
Hiller next appeared in N. C. Hunter's ‘Waters of the Moon’. Starting in 1951, it had a two year run. Some time now, she also returned to films.
Her fifth film, ‘Outcast of the Islands’ was released in 1952. In this film, she appeared as Mrs. Almeyer. Shot partlyin Sri Lanka, it earned £149,335 at the box office and was nominated as the best British film.
Next in 1953, she appeared as Lucinda Bentley in ‘Single-Handed’ (released in the U.S.A as the ‘Sailor of the King’). It was a war film based on a novel by C. S. Forester. In this film, she played the mother of Signalman Andrew 'Canada' Brown, played by Jeffery Hunter.
Subsequently, she once again immersed herself in stage productions. In 1955-56, she was with the Old Vic, producing notable performances, which included her depiction of Portia in ‘Merchant of Venice’. ‘The Night of the Ball’ (1955) was another significant production during this phase.
In 1957, she had her two films released; ‘Something of Value’ (later released as ‘Africa Ablaze’) and ‘How to Murder a Rich Uncle’. However, just as in ‘Sailor of the King’, she appeared in supporting roles in both these films.
Her next film ‘Separate Table’ (released in 1958) was another hugely successful venture. Here too, she appeared in a supporting role and received, in addition to quite a few nominations, her only Oscar.
Also in 1958- 1959, she appeared in the new Robert Bolt play ‘Flowering Cherry’, first at Haymarket and then at Broadway. The following year she appeared in‘Toys in the Attic’ (Piccadilly, 1960).
Her next film, ‘Sons and Lovers’ was also released in May 1960. In it she appeared as domineering and possessive matron Gertrude Morel. The film was another huge success, grossing $1,500,000 at the box office.
She also made several films throughout 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Among them, ‘Toys in Attic’ (1963) and ‘A Man for all Seasons’ (1966), earned her several nominations. Her depiction of Princess Dragomiroff in ‘Murder on the orient Express’ (1974) was also highly commended.
Subsequently, she made two more films in 1970s and five in 1980s. Her last film, ‘The Countess Alice’, in which she played the title role, was released in 1992.
Among her stage work, ‘The Wings of the Dove’ (1963), ‘A Measure of Cruelty’ (1965), ‘A Present for the Past’ (1966), ‘The Sacred Flame’ (1967), ‘The Battle of Shrivings’ (1970) and ‘Lies’ (1975) are most significant. Her last performance at the West End was in the title role in ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ (1988).
From 1969 onwards, Wendy Miller also appeared in a number of television series. Starting in the same year as Mrs. Micawber in ‘David Copperfield’, her last appearance was in 1991, as Laurentia McLachlan in ‘Best of Friends’.
Major Works
Her first major work in films was ’Pygmalion’ (1938). Appearing as Eliza Doolittle, she clearly defined the character, going to the extent of uttering, "Not bloody likely, I'm going in a taxi!". This makes her the first British actress to utter the word in a film. It also earned her the first Oscar nomination.
‘Separate Tables’, done two decades later, was another of her memorable films. In this film, she depicts the role of Pat Cooper, an accommodating hotel owner carrying on a disturbed relationship with an alcoholic guest. The film earned $3.1 million in the US and Canada alone.
Onstage, although ‘Love on the Dole’ (1936) introduced her to the viewers, it was ‘Heiress’ (1947), which is said to be her most significant work. Her depiction of the ill-used, painfully shy spinster became well-known for its stubborn acrimony.
Awards & Achievements
In 1958, Wendy Hiller received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Separate Tables’.
In 1974, she received Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress for her role in ‘Murder on the Orient Express’.
For her work in ‘The Growing Summer’ (Television Series) she received Silver medal at the 1969 Venice Film Festival.
In 1996, Hiller was honored with the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in British films by the London Film Critics Circle.
Hiller was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1971 and raised to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1975 for her contribution to British drama.
In 1984, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester.
Personal Life & Legacy
In 1934, Wendy Hiller met Ronald Gow, who adapted Walter Greenwood’s novel ‘Love and Dole’ for stage. Later they got married in 1937. They had two children, Ann and Anthony Gow. Ronal Grow died in April 1993.
Soon after their marriage, they moved to Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, where they set up their home at ‘Spindles’. It was here that Hiller died on 14 May 2003 from natural causes. She was survived by her two children.
// Famous Theater Personalities
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple was an actress and former U.S. ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.
Yul Brynner
Yul Brynner was one of the most talented actors and directors of the early 20th century. This biography profiles his childhood, life, career, achievements and timeline.
Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei is an American film, television and theater actress. This biography of Marisa Tomei profiles her childhood, life, acting career, achievements and timeline.
Wendy Hiller's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Academy Awards(Oscars) | ||
| 1959 | Best Actress in a Supporting Role | Separate Tables (1958) |
Wendy Hiller biography timelines
- // 15th Aug 1912Wendy Margaret Hiller was born on 15th August 1912 in Bramhall, near Stockport, Cheshire, England. Her father, Frank Watkin Hiller, was a well-to-do cotton spinner and cloth manufacturer. Her mother was Marie Elizabeth (nee Stone). She had three brothers, René, Michael and John.
- // 1930While in school, Wendy decided to become an actress. On completing her course in 1930, she entered the Manchester Repertory Theater, making her professional debut in the same year with a small part in ‘The Ware Case’. Subsequently, she continued playing similar parts in different plays.
- // 1934Wendy undertook all these jobs quite willingly because they helped her to learn the principles of stage acting and management. Her actual breakthrough came in 1934.
- // 1934 To 1935In 1934, Wendy Hiller was chosen to play Sally Hardcastle, a slum dweller, in the stage version of ‘Love on the Dole’. The play was hugely successful and reached the West End Theatre in 1935.
- // 1936In 1936, she travelled to New York with the play. Here, her performance was noticed by George Bernard Shaw, who cast her in many of his productions, including ‘Saint Joan’ and ‘Pygmalion’.
- // 1936 To 1947Onstage, although ‘Love on the Dole’ (1936) introduced her to the viewers, it was ‘Heiress’ (1947), which is said to be her most significant work. Her depiction of the ill-used, painfully shy spinster became well-known for its stubborn acrimony.
- // Jul 1936Subsequently in July 1936, she appeared in the lead role of the above mentioned plays at Malvern Theatre Festival, England. As her name spread, she began to receive offers to act in films.
- // 1937 To 1938In 1937, she made her debut in films as Betty Lovejoy in ‘Lancashire Luck’. Her next film, released in 1938, was ‘Pygmalion’, in which she once more enacted the role of Eliza Doolittle at Shaw’s insistence. It was a huge hit and she received an Academy nomination for it.
- // 1938Her first major work in films was ’Pygmalion’ (1938). Appearing as Eliza Doolittle, she clearly defined the character, going to the extent of uttering, "Not bloody likely, I'm going in a taxi!". This makes her the first British actress to utter the word in a film. It also earned her the first Oscar nomination.
- // 2nd Aug 1941Hiller’s third film ‘Major Barbara’ was also based on George Bernard Shaw’s play of the same name. The film, released on 2 August, 1941, was both a critical and financial success. In spite of that, she decided to concentrate on her stage career.
- // 1945However, she did not give up films altogether. In 1945, she appeared as Joan Webster in ‘I Know Where I’m Going!’.Made on a budget of £200,000, it has been hailed as one of the greatest films of that era.
- // 1946In 1946, she returned to stage and joined the Bristol Old Vic for a season. Here, she appeared as Tess in Thomas Hardy’s ‘Tess of the d’Urbervilles’, adapted for stage by Ronald Gow. Later it moved to the West End and became very successful. Critics praised her performance for its lack of mannerism.
- // 1947 To 1949From 1947 to 1949, Hiller appeared as Catherine Sloper in ‘The Heiress’, a stage adaptation of Henry James’s Washington Square. It had a year-long run at the Biltmore Theatre in New York and proved to be her greatest triumph on Broadway.
- // 1950On returning to London, Hiller again played the role in the West End production in 1950. Sometime now, she also appeared in the title role of ‘Ann Veronica’.
- // 1951Hiller next appeared in N. C. Hunter's ‘Waters of the Moon’. Starting in 1951, it had a two year run. Some time now, she also returned to films.
- // 1952Her fifth film, ‘Outcast of the Islands’ was released in 1952. In this film, she appeared as Mrs. Almeyer. Shot partlyin Sri Lanka, it earned £149,335 at the box office and was nominated as the best British film.
- // 1953Next in 1953, she appeared as Lucinda Bentley in ‘Single-Handed’ (released in the U.S.A as the ‘Sailor of the King’). It was a war film based on a novel by C. S. Forester. In this film, she played the mother of Signalman Andrew 'Canada' Brown, played by Jeffery Hunter.
- // 1955Subsequently, she once again immersed herself in stage productions. In 1955-56, she was with the Old Vic, producing notable performances, which included her depiction of Portia in ‘Merchant of Venice’. ‘The Night of the Ball’ (1955) was another significant production during this phase.
- // 1957In 1957, she had her two films released; ‘Something of Value’ (later released as ‘Africa Ablaze’) and ‘How to Murder a Rich Uncle’. However, just as in ‘Sailor of the King’, she appeared in supporting roles in both these films.
- // 1958Her next film ‘Separate Table’ (released in 1958) was another hugely successful venture. Here too, she appeared in a supporting role and received, in addition to quite a few nominations, her only Oscar.
- // 1958In 1958, Wendy Hiller received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Separate Tables’.
- // May 1960Her next film, ‘Sons and Lovers’ was also released in May 1960. In it she appeared as domineering and possessive matron Gertrude Morel. The film was another huge success, grossing $1,500,000 at the box office.
- // 1969 To 1991From 1969 onwards, Wendy Miller also appeared in a number of television series. Starting in the same year as Mrs. Micawber in ‘David Copperfield’, her last appearance was in 1991, as Laurentia McLachlan in ‘Best of Friends’.
- // 1969For her work in ‘The Growing Summer’ (Television Series) she received Silver medal at the 1969 Venice Film Festival.
- // 1971 To 1975Hiller was honored with the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1971 and raised to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1975 for her contribution to British drama.
- // 1974In 1974, she received Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress for her role in ‘Murder on the Orient Express’.
- // 1984In 1984, she was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Manchester.
- // 1992Subsequently, she made two more films in 1970s and five in 1980s. Her last film, ‘The Countess Alice’, in which she played the title role, was released in 1992.
- // 1996In 1996, Hiller was honored with the Dilys Powell Award for excellence in British films by the London Film Critics Circle.
- // 14th May 2003Soon after their marriage, they moved to Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, where they set up their home at ‘Spindles’. It was here that Hiller died on 14 May 2003 from natural causes. She was survived by her two children.
// Famous Leo Celebrities peoples
Eugenia Cooney
Check out all that you wanted to know about Eugenia Cooney, the famous American Vlogger & YouTube Personality; her birthday, her family and personal life, her boyfriends, fun trivia facts and more.
Princess D
Princess D (Destiny Indira Cox) is an American rapper, dancer and social media personality. Let’s have a look at her family and personal life including age, birthday, net worth, and fun facts.
Payton Moormeier
Payton Moormeier is an American social-media personality best known for his musical.ly videos. Check out this family, personal life, etc.
Grian
Grian is an English YouTube gamer and social media influencer. Check out this biography to know about his birthday, childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.
Emmi Butler
Emmi Butler is an American YouTuber and social media star. Let’s take a look at her family and personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, and fun facts.
Erica Delsman
Erica Delsman is an American Musical.ly Star and social media personality. Let’s take a look at her family & personal life including age, date of birth, net worth, and fun facts.
Wendy Hiller's FAQ
What is Wendy Hiller birthday?
Wendy Hiller was born at 1912-08-15
When was Wendy Hiller died?
Wendy Hiller was died at 2003-05-14
Where was Wendy Hiller died?
Wendy Hiller was died in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, England, UK
Which age was Wendy Hiller died?
Wendy Hiller was died at age 90
Where is Wendy Hiller's birth place?
Wendy Hiller was born in Bramhall, Cheshire, England, UK
What is Wendy Hiller nationalities?
Wendy Hiller's nationalities is British
Who is Wendy Hiller spouses?
Wendy Hiller's spouses is Ronald Gow (1937–1993)
Who is Wendy Hiller childrens?
Wendy Hiller's childrens is Ann, Anthony
Who is Wendy Hiller's father?
Wendy Hiller's father is Frank Watkin Hiller
Who is Wendy Hiller's mother?
Wendy Hiller's mother is Marie Elizabeth (nee Stone)
What is Wendy Hiller's sun sign?
Wendy Hiller is Leo
How famous is Wendy Hiller?
Wendy Hiller is famouse as Actress