Jessie Matthews was an English actress known for her performances in films like Waltzes from Vienna, The Good Companions, and It’s Love Again. Born in London, she became a prominent stage star in the late 1920s and 1930s.
Personal and Family Life
Born on March 11, 1907, in a large, impoverished family in Soho, Jessie Matthews rose to fame as a talented performer. She had three marriages, with her second husband, Sonnie Hale, being the father of her only child. Throughout her life, Jessie faced various personal struggles, including health issues and relationship breakdowns.
Death and Legacy
Jessie Matthews passed away on August 19, 1981, due to cancer. Despite her significant contributions to the entertainment industry, she unfortunately ended up in an unmarked grave, a situation that was only rectified after a documentary highlighted her life. Her legacy includes a lasting influence on musical theater and film, as well as friendships with notable figures like Cole Porter.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Waltzes from Vienna | 1934-03-15 | Resi Ebezeder |
| Tom Thumb | 1958-12-04 | Anne |
| The Man from Toronto | 1933-01-01 | Leslie Farrar |
| The Good Companions | 1933-02-28 | Susie Dean |
| It’s Love Again | 1936-05-06 | Elaine Bradford aka Mrs. Smythe-Smythe |
| Evergreen | 1934-04-01 | Harriet Green |
| First a Girl | 1935-11-07 | Elizabeth |
| Sailing Along | 1938-04-15 | Kay Martin |
| Head Over Heels | 1937-02-12 | Jeanne Colbert |
| Candles at Nine | 1944-01-01 | Dorothea Capper, the Heiress |
| Forever and a Day | 1943-01-21 | Mildred Trimble |
| Climbing High | 1938-10-31 | Diana Castle |
| Gangway | 1937-08-19 | Pat Wayne |
| The Midshipmaid | 1932-12-08 | Celia Newbiggin |
| There Goes the Bride | 1932-10-25 | Annette Marquand |
| Out of the Blue | 1931-11-05 | Tommy Tucker |
| The Hound of the Baskervilles | 1978-08-01 | Mrs. Tinsdale |
| Edward & Mrs. Simpson | 1978-11-06 | Aunt Bessie Merryman |
| Friday the Thirteenth | 1933-11-01 | Millie |
| Life Is Nothing Without Music | 1947-01-01 | Herself |
| The Winter Ladies | 1979-05-15 | Lady Bluett |
| Victory Wedding | 1944-01-01 | Narrator |
| Edward and Mrs Simpson | 1978-11-08 | Aunt Bessie Merryman |
| Tales of the Unexpected | 1979-03-24 | Hazel |