Who is Valerie Hobson?
Valerie Hobson studied dancing at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and appeared onstage for the first time at age 16, but she contracted a case of scarlet fever and decided to give up dancing for acting. She journeyed to Hollywood, but became disillusioned with the studio system and returned to Britain, where she was often cast in aristocratic roles.
She subsequently appeared in many films made by a producer. She gave up her acting career and stood strongly by a politician during a distasteful period. In her later years she was devoted to charity work. She died in 1998, aged 81.
Trivia
- Her salary for Bride of Frankenstein (1935) was only $800, since she was a minor at the time.
- Stopped taking her medication which led to the heart attack that killed her.
- Twelve years before playing Estella in Great Expectations (1946), she filmed several scenes as Biddy in Great Expectations (1934) which were eventually cut. Francis L. Sullivan played Mr Jaggers in both films.
- A memorial service was held for her at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 23rd September 1999.
- Became a member of the Screen Actors Guild in late 1935.