Deborah Kerr Overview:

Legendary actress, Deborah Kerr, was born Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer on Sep 30, 1921 in Helensburgh, UK. Kerr died at the age of 86 on Oct 16, 2007 in Botesdale, Suffolk .

MINI BIO:

Lovely red-haired Scottish-born leading lady whose angular beauty got her cast in gentle, ladylike roles. A star of the British cinema in only her third film, she went to Hollywood in 1947, where her struggle to break the well-bred image was unsuccessful, despite her torrid love scenes in From Here to Eternity; the vivacious, fun-loving lady of real life remained a suppressed image for the screen, although she did make some extremely good films within that restriction between 1956 and 1961. Nominated six times for the best actress Oscar but never won; perhaps her unluckiest losing performance was in The Sundowners. Special Oscar, though, in 1994.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Kerr was nominated for six Oscars, she never won a competitive Academy Award. However she won one Honorary Oscar Award in 1993 in appreciation for a full career's worth of elegant and beautifully crafted performances .

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1949Best ActressEdward, My Son (1949)Evelyn BoultNominated
1953Best ActressFrom Here to Eternity (1953)Karen HolmesNominated
1956Best ActressThe King and I (1956)AnnaNominated
1957Best ActressHeaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957)Sister AngelaNominated
1958Best ActressSeparate Tables (1958)Sibyl Railton-BellNominated
1960Best ActressThe Sundowners (1960)Ida CarmodyNominated

Academy Awards (Honorary Oscars)

YearAwardDescription
1993Honorary Awardin appreciation for a full career's worth of elegant and beautifully crafted performances

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She was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Deborah Kerr's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #112 on Mar 22, 1956.

BlogHub Articles:

AND THE OSCAR DOESN’T GO TO…

By Carol Martinheira on Aug 29, 2023 From The Old Hollywood Garden

AND THE OSCAR DOESN’T GO TO… On August 29, 2023 By CarolIn Uncategorized Image from Reel Rundown Of all the people who never won an Oscar, is one of the most surprising ones. Surely one of the most talented actresses of her gener... Read full article


leads an order of nuns in the dazzling “Black Narcissus”

By Stephen Reginald on Aug 18, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

leads an order of nuns in the dazzling “Black Narcissus” Black Narcissus (1947) is a psychological drama directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, and starring , Sabu, David Farrar, and Flora Robson. The film was written and produced by Powell and P... Read full article


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By Rick29 on May 13, 2019 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

Jean Seberg and David Niven. Seventeen-year-old Cecile and her wealthy, widower father split their time between Paris and the French Riveria. Their goal in life is to have fun. The middle-aged Raymond (David Niven) woos young attractive women, keeps them around for a few months, and then discards t... Read full article


THE BLOGATHON: Reunion at Fairborough (1985)

on Sep 30, 2018 From Caftan Woman

Maddy Loves Her Classic Films and is celebrating on the occasion of her birthdate, September 30th, with a blogathon. Click HERE for the tributes to the actress whose name rhymes with star. There is joy in watching experts in their field. Skill and talent can be inspirational. There is ... Read full article


10 Things You May Not Know About

By Stephen Reginald on Oct 5, 2017 From Classic Movie Man

10 Things You May Not Know About (1921 – 2007) is perhaps best remembered as portraying proper British ladies on the screen, but she had quite a range as an actress. She appeared in comedies, dramas, and musicals with ease. 1. Kerr first trained to be a ballet d... Read full article


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Deborah Kerr Quotes:

[Warden brings papers to Holmes' house for his signature, knowing that only his wife would be there]
Karen Holmes: Are these really important?
Sergeant Milton Warden: Yes, but not important they get signed today. Tomorrow's okay.
[She rips them up]
Sergeant Milton Warden: I have copies at the office, so it won't be much work to fix 'em up.
Karen Holmes: That's what I like about you, Sergeant: you have confidence. It's also what I dislike about you.
Sergeant Milton Warden: It's not confidence, ma'am; it's honesty. I just hate to see a beautiful woman going all to waste.
Karen Holmes: Waste, did you say? There's a subject I might tell you something about. I know several kinds of waste, Sergeant. You're probably not even remotely aware of some of them. Would you like to hear? For instance, what about the house without a child? There's one sort for you. Then there's another... You're doing fine, Sergeant. My husband's off somewhere, and it's raining outside, and we're both drinking now. You've probably only got one thing wrong. The lady herself. The lady's not what she seems. She's a... washout, if you know what I mean... and I'm sure you know what I mean!
Sergeant Milton Warden: You going to cry?
Karen Holmes: Not if I can help it. What are you doing?
Sergeant Milton Warden: I'm leaving. Isn't that what you want?
Karen Holmes: I don't know, Sergeant. I don't know.
[He kisses her]


Sister Angela: Only God knows what'll happen to us.
Cpl. Allison, USMC: And He won't tell, huh, ma'am?
Sister Angela: He might.


Martha Radcliffe: Did you have any news from him ?


read more quotes from Deborah Kerr...



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Deborah Kerr Facts
Maureen O'Hara was originally meant to play her role in The King and I (1956), but Yul Brynner specifically asked for Deborah.

Similar to her losing streak at the Oscars, Deborah was finally awarded a BAFTA "Special Award" in 1991 after being nominated four times. She did, however, win the New York Film Critics Award three times and the Golden Globe Award for The King and I (1956).

Lived in Switzerland and Spain after retiring from acting, but returned to England to be with her family when her Parkinson's disease worsened.

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