Flora Robson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Flora Robson
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Robson in a 1940s studio publicity shot
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Flora McKenzie Robson
28 March 1902 South Shields, County Durham, England
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| Died | 7 July 1984 (aged 82) Brighton, East Sussex, England
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| Alma mater | Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1921–1984 |
Dame Flora McKenzie Robson (born March 28, 1902 – died July 7, 1984) was a famous English actress. She was known for her strong and emotional performances on stage and in movies. She played many different kinds of characters, from queens to even a murderess!
Early Life and Education
Flora McKenzie Robson was born in South Shields, England, on March 28, 1902. Her family had Scottish roots, and she was one of six children. Many of her family members were engineers, especially in shipping. Her father was a ship's engineer, and his job meant the family moved several times when Flora was young. They lived in places like Palmers Green and Southgate in north London, and later Welwyn Garden City.
Flora went to Palmers Green High School. She also studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), which is a very famous drama school. She earned a bronze medal there in 1921.
Acting Career
Flora's father noticed she was very good at reciting poems and stories when she was only 5 years old. He would take her around to perform and compete, which helped her get used to being in front of people.
Flora started her stage career in 1921. By the 1930s, she was starring in many important films in both the UK and Hollywood. She acted alongside big stars like Laurence Olivier.
One of her most famous roles was playing Queen Elizabeth I in two movies: Fire Over England (1937) and The Sea Hawk (1940). She also played Empress Elizabeth in The Rise of Catherine the Great (1934).
Flora was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Saratoga Trunk (1945). In the same year, she gave a powerful performance as Ftatateeta, a nursemaid, in Caesar and Cleopatra (1945).
After World War II, Flora showed how versatile she was. She appeared in movies like Holiday Camp (1947), Black Narcissus (1947), and Good-Time Girl (1948). Later in her film career, she played the Empress Dowager Cixi in 55 Days at Peking (1963) and the Queen of Hearts in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1972).
When she first finished drama school, it was hard for Flora to find acting jobs. She was told she wasn't "pretty enough" for the main dramatic roles at the time. Because she couldn't find work, she stopped acting at age 23 and became a welfare officer at a factory.
However, a director named Tyrone Guthrie asked her to join his theatre company. Her performance in a play called Six Characters in Search of an Author made her very popular in the theatre world. This success led to her becoming a leading actress at the famous Old Vic theatre in 1933.
Flora continued acting throughout her life, even in her later years. She appeared in many American and British television films. Her very last film role was a small part as a Stygian Witch in the fantasy adventure Clash of the Titans in 1981. Both the BBC and ITV celebrated her 80th birthday in 1982 with special TV programs.
Awards and Honours
Flora Robson received many awards and honours for her acting.
- She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Saratoga Trunk (1945).
- She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952.
- She was then made a Dame Commander (DBE) in 1960. This is why she is known as "Dame Flora Robson."
- In 1958, she received an honorary degree from Durham University.
- She was also the first famous person to become president of the Brighton Little Theatre.
Personal Life and Passing
Flora Robson's private life mostly revolved around her large family, especially her sisters, nephews, and nieces. She shared a home in Wykeham Terrace, Brighton with her sisters, Margaret and Shela.
Flora passed away in Brighton on July 7, 1984, at the age of 82. She died peacefully in her sleep from cancer. She never married and did not have any children. Her two sisters, with whom she lived, also passed away around the same time.
Legacies
Many places and plaques remember Flora Robson:
- A road in South Shields, called Dame Flora Robson Avenue, was named after her in 1962.
- There are plaques on her former homes in Brighton and Welwyn Garden City.
- A blue plaque was put up at her family home in Southgate in 2010.
- The Flora Robson Playhouse theatre in Newcastle upon Tyne was named in her honour in 1962.
Images for kids
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A memorial tablet for Flora Robson at St Nicholas Church in Brighton.
See also
In Spanish: Flora Robson para niños
