Jill Esmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jill Esmond
Esmond in 1932
Born	Jill Esmond Moore (1908-01-26)26 January 1908 London, England
Died	28 July 1990(1990-07-28) (aged 82) Wandsworth, London, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1924–1956
Spouse(s)	Laurence Olivier ​ ​ (m. 1930; div. 1940)​
Children	1
Parent(s)	Henry V. Esmond Eva Moore

Jill Esmond Moore (born January 26, 1908 – died July 28, 1990) was an English actress. She performed on stage and in films.

Early Life and Acting Dreams

Jill Esmond was born in London. Her parents, Henry V. Esmond and Eva Moore, were both actors. Famous people like playwright W.S. Gilbert were her godparents.

Jill spent her childhood at boarding schools. This was because her parents often traveled with theater groups. At age 14, she decided she wanted to be an actress too.

Her first role on stage was playing Wendy in Peter Pan. She acted alongside Gladys Cooper. However, her early success did not last long. In 1922, her father suddenly died from pneumonia in Paris. This made Jill think about giving up acting.

After some time, she decided to continue her dream. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. In 1924, she returned to the West End stage. The West End is a famous theater area in London. In 1925, she acted with her mother in a play called Mary, Mary Quite Contrary. She later earned praise for her role in Outward Bound.

Marriage and Film Career

Esmond in 1930

In 1928, Jill Esmond met Laurence Olivier while they were both acting in a play called Bird in the Hand. Olivier quickly fell in love with Jill and asked her to marry him.

When Bird in the Hand moved to Broadway in New York, Jill was chosen for the American show. Olivier was not. But he was determined to be near her. He traveled to New York and found acting work there. Jill received great reviews for her performance.

Olivier kept asking Jill to marry him. She finally agreed, and they got married on July 25, 1930, in London. They had one son named Tarquin Olivier.

After returning to the United Kingdom, Jill made her first film. It was an early Alfred Hitchcock movie called The Skin Game (1931). Over the next few years, she appeared in several British and Hollywood films. One of these was Thirteen Women (1932). She also acted in two Broadway plays with Olivier. These included Private Lives in 1931 and The Green Bay Tree in 1933.

Jill's acting career was doing very well. Olivier's career was not as strong at first. But when his career started to improve, Jill began to turn down roles. Jill and Olivier also starred together in one film, a British comedy called No Funny Business (1933).

In 1937, Jill and Olivier acted together in Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" at London's Old Vic theatre. Around this time, their marriage began to have problems. Their marriage ended in 1940.

Later Years in Acting

Jill Esmond continued to act. In 1942, she starred in a Broadway play called The Morning Star. This play was also the first acting job for Gregory Peck.

Over time, Jill appeared in fewer acting roles. Her last film was in 1955. Around the same time, she played Eleanor of Aquitaine twice in the TV series The Adventures of Robin Hood.

Personal Life

Esmond with Olivier in 1932

Jill Esmond was married to Laurence Olivier from 1930 to 1940. They had one son, Tarquin Olivier, who was born in 1936. Their marriage ended in 1940.

After their divorce, Jill continued her acting career. She appeared in films like Journey for Margaret, The Pied Piper, and Random Harvest, all in 1942. She also acted in My Pal Wolf (1944), The White Cliffs of Dover (1944), and The Bandit of Sherwood Forest (1946). In 1946, she moved back to the UK and kept acting. Her last stage appearance was in 1950, and her last film was in 1955.

Jill stayed in touch with Olivier throughout her life. She even attended his memorial service in October 1989 at Westminster Abbey.

Death

Jill Esmond passed away on July 28, 1990. She was 82 years old. She died in Wandsworth, London.

Complete Filmography

Selected Stage Appearances

• Gertie Maude by John Van Druten (1937)
• Party Manners by Val Gielgud (1950)

See also

In Spanish: Jill Esmond para niños