Deborah Kerr (born September 30, 1921) is a Scottish film actress.
She was born Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer in Helensburgh, Scotland, and originally trained as a ballet dancer, first appearing on stage at Sadler's Wells in 1938. Having switched careers, she found immediate success as an actress. Her debut in the British film, Contraband, in 1940 was left on the cutting room floor. But that was followed by a series of other films and it was her role as a troubled nun in Michael Powell's Black Narcissus in 1947 which brought her to the attention of Hollywood producers.
Her "English" accent and manner led to a succession of roles, of which the only real departure from stereotype was in From Here to Eternity (1953). However, her most famous role was as the governess Anna Leonowens in the film version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I. She was also well-known for her role opposite Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember.
An un-successful six-time nominee for an Academy Award, she was finally awarded an honorary Oscar in recognition of the "perfection, discipline and elegance" of her screen work.
Deborah Kerr's Academy Award-nominated performances (all for Best Actress):
Filmography
External links
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Last updated: 05-13-2005 07:56:04