Cooper, Gladys DBE (Dame)

1888

1971

The actress Gladys Cooper was born at Lewisham on 18 December 1888, the daughter of William Frederick Cooper and his wife Mabel (née Barnett). Her career, which would extend for 66 years, began at the Theatre Royal, Colchester, where on 18 December 1905 she played Bluebell in a touring production of “Bluebell in Fairy Land”. Her first appearance in London was as Lady Swan in “The Belle of Mayfair” at the Vaudeville Theatre on 23 June 1906. After some years in the chorus of musical productions she enjoyed success as Cecily in “The Importance of Being Earnest” at the St James’s Theatre in June 1911. She played leading roles through the 1910s and entertained troops in France in 1914. She gave a virtuoso performance (G0138) in seven roles in Knoblach’s “My Lady’s Dress” at the Royalty Theatre beginning 21 April 1914. In 1917 she became joint manager with Frank Curzon of the Playhouse Theatre, of which she was also sole lessee for six years beginning in 1926. Some of her roles during that period were Paula in “The Second Mrs Tanqueray” in June 1922 (a role that established her as a star), the title role in “Magda” (March 1923), the title role in Pinero’s “Iris” (March 1925) and Stella Tabret in “The Sacred Flame” (February 1929). Her first appearance on the New York stage was as Mariella Linden in “The Shining Hour” at the Booth Theatre on 13 February 1934. Notable performances later in her career included Felicity in Coward’s “Relative Values” in London (1951), Mrs St Maugham in the premiere of Bagnold’s “The Chalk Garden” in New York (October 1955) and Mrs Moore in “A Passage to India” in New York (January 1962) Numerous films include “Now Voyager” (1942), “The Song of Bernadette” (1943), “Green Dolphin Street” (1947) – she received Academy Awards nominations in supporting roles in the first two – and “Separate Tables” (1958), and she also appeared on television in the 1960s. In 1967 she was honoured with a DBE. Her writings include two volumes of memoirs, “Gladys Cooper” (1931) and “Without Veils” (1953). She was married three times: to H. J. Buckmaster, Sir Neville Arthur Pearson, and Philip Merrivale. Dame Gladys died in London on 17 November 1971. See Sheridan Morley, “Gladys Cooper” (1941, 1979). (WWWT)