Norma Shearer Overview:

Legendary actress, Norma Shearer, was born Edith Norma Shearer on Aug 10, 1902 in Montréal, Canada. Shearer appeared in over 60 film roles. Her best known films include The Divorcee, A Free Soul, Marie Antoinette and The Women. Shearer died at the age of 80 on Jun 12, 1983 in Woodland Hills, CA and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Cemetery in Glendale, CA.

MINI BIO:

Shearer married MGM's top producer, Irving Thalberg, and became the studio's first lady until Thalberg's death in 1936. Her well-bred looks and ultra-smart wardrobe made her a byword for chic sophistication.

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

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Norma Shearer was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actress for The Divorcee (as Jerry) in 1929/30.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1929/30Best ActressThe Divorcee (1930)JerryWon
1930/31Best ActressA Free Soul (1931)Jan AsheNominated
1934Best ActressThe Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934)Elizabeth BarrettNominated
1936Best ActressRomeo and Juliet (1936)JulietNominated
1938Best ActressMarie Antoinette (1938)Marie AntoinetteNominated
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She was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Norma Shearer's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #3 on Aug 1, 1927. In addition, Shearer was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame .

BlogHub Articles:

TCM Summer Under the Stars: Day Eleven —

By shadowsandsatin on Aug 9, 2020 From Shadows and Satin

So awesome. Day 10 of Summer Under the Stars is my favorite day, celebrating none other than the great . I was introduced to Shearer through her 1939 film, The Women, which I have literally seen more often than any other movie in existence. It wasn?t until years later after my first vie... Read full article


The Divorcee (1930) with

By Orson De Welles on Dec 10, 2015 From Classic Film Freak

Share This! A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer All Talking Picture! Surprisingly, with that tagline, The Divorcee is a film I only fell asleep through twice- and that’s a bit of a sham. In a never-ending quest to bring new stars into our fold, I had a mission of sorts to bring insightful commentary (or at ... Read full article


Star of the Month Guide:

By Amanda Garrett on Nov 3, 2015 From Old Hollywood Films

TCM's November star of the month is MGM queen . TCM is celebrating the career of with 23 movies airing each Tuesday in November. Here's what you need to know about one of old Hollywood's most glamorous stars . FYI: TCM sometimes changes the air times and /or movies, ... Read full article


5 Things You May Not Know About

By minooallen on Nov 3, 2015 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

5 Things You May Not Know About ….. 1.) She was hatched from the icy north That’s totally a polar bear she is laying on Despite one of classic Hollywood?s greatest stars, Shearer was born nowhere near the Hollywood. In fact, she wasn?t even born in America.... Read full article


and Manic Pixie Dream Boys

By Emma on Nov 11, 2014 From Lets Misbehave: A Tribute to Precode Hollywood

Who’s that girl? It’s not Jess, it’s not even Norma, it’s the men Miss Shearer seemed to gather around her in almost every film role. In her Pre-code performances Shearer is not relegated to a supportive role nor is she doomed to a one-dimensional outlook or perpetually unalt... Read full article


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Norma Shearer Quotes:

Jerry Bernard Martin: [slipping on a diamond ring] Oh, I couldn't think of accepting such a valuable gift!
Offscreen man: But, my dear, my feeling for you is purely platonic.
Jerry Bernard Martin: Really? I've heard of platonic love, but I didn't know there was such a thing as platonic jewellery.


Mme. du Barry: I presume I shall not have the honor of meeting his Royal Highness?
Marie: My husband does not care for dancing, madame.
Mme. du Barry: Quite the family man, isn't he? The fireside, the nursing room and all that? To the duc Orleans: Well, here is my old friend and how well he takes the husband's place!
Marie: I'm sorry you feel your triumph incomplete, madame. My husband has better sense than I. He knows where to draw the line.
King Louis XV: (to du Barry) Will you dance, Madame?
Mme. du Barry: (ignoring the King's request) So that's it? I'm dirt, ah? Not good enough for your high and mightiness?
Marie: But, nooo, madame! Royalty loves an occasional roll in the gutter, don't they Grand-pappa?


Irene Fellara: I told you then that I wasn't everybody. It's true; I'm nobody. But I learned it was no use telling the truth to people whose life was a whole lie.


read more quotes from Norma Shearer...



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Norma Shearer Facts
Interred at Forest Lawn, Glendale, California, USA, in the Great Mausoleum, Sanctuary of Benediction, alongside her first husband Irving Thalberg.

Her sons-in-law were skier Jack Reddish, actor Richard Anderson, and Aspen mayor Bill Stirling.

Was offered the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950), but she turned it down. Gloria Swanson, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

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