Martita Hunt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martita Hunt
in Folly to Be Wise
Born	(1900-01-30)30 January 1900 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Died	13 June 1969(1969-06-13) (aged 69) Hampstead, London, England
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1920–1969

Martita Edith Hunt (born January 30, 1900 – died June 13, 1969) was a talented actress from Argentina who became famous in British theatre and films. She was known for her strong stage presence and played many powerful characters. People remember her best for her amazing performance as Miss Havisham in David Lean's movie Great Expectations.

Martita Hunt's Life Story

Growing Up and Starting Out

Martita Hunt was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 30, 1900. Her parents, Alfred and Marta Hunt, were English. She lived in Argentina for the first 20 years of her life. Then, she moved to the United Kingdom with her parents. There, she went to Queenwood Ladies' College in Eastbourne. After that, she trained to become an actress.

Becoming a Theatre Star

Martita began her acting journey in repertory theatre in Liverpool. This is where actors perform different plays regularly. Later, she moved to London. Her first show there was in May 1923 at the Kingsway Theatre.

From 1923 to 1929, she appeared in many plays in London's West End. She played roles like the Principessa della Cercola in W. Somerset Maugham's Our Betters. She also played Mrs. Linde in Ibsen's A Doll's House. She even performed in plays by Anton Chekhov, like The Cherry Orchard and Three Sisters.

In September 1929, Martita joined the famous Old Vic theatre company. Over the next eight months, she took on many important roles. She played Queen Elizabeth in George Bernard Shaw's The Dark Lady of the Sonnets. But she was most known for her roles in Shakespearean plays. She played the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Portia in The Merchant of Venice, and the Queen in Richard II. She even acted alongside the famous actor John Gielgud in plays like As You Like It and Hamlet.

Many critics said she was excellent in these roles. One writer, Donald Roy, said that Martita had a striking look and a powerful presence on stage. He felt she was especially good at playing strong, sad characters. Some critics even called her performance as Gertrude in Hamlet the best they had ever seen.

She continued to act in many more plays in the West End. Some of her notable roles included Edith Gunter in Autumn Crocus and Masha in Chekhov's The Seagull. She also played Mrs Cheveley in Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband.

Stepping into Films

Martita Hunt also appeared in many British films. She often played supporting roles, which means she helped the main actors. Some of her early films included Good Morning, Boys (1937) and Trouble Brewing (1939).

Her movie The Wicked Lady (1945) was a big success around the world. But her next film role was her most famous. This was in David Lean's Great Expectations (1946). In this movie, she played the unforgettable character of Miss Havisham. She had actually played this role before in a stage play in 1939. Her performance as Miss Havisham was highly praised. Film critic Roger Ebert said in 1999 that she truly "dominated" the early parts of the film. He described her as a "shabby figure, bedecked in crumbling lace and linen."

Later Career and Achievements

After Great Expectations, Martita Hunt worked in both British and American films, as well as continuing her stage work. In 1949, she won a Tony Award. This is a very important award for theatre in America. She won it for her first Broadway role as Countess Aurelia in The Madwoman of Chaillot.

Her last stage role was in May 1956 in a play called Hotel Paradiso. She acted in this play with John Gielgud again.

Martita appeared in many other films too. These included Anna Karenina (1948), Anastasia (1956), and The Brides of Dracula (1960). She also appeared in Becket (1964) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964). She even acted on TV in 1962.

Her Final Years

Martita Hunt passed away from a breathing problem called bronchial asthma. She died at her home in Hampstead, London, on June 13, 1969, at the age of 69. She never married. She was also the aunt of another actor, Gareth Hunt.

She was cremated on June 19, and her ashes were placed in the Ivor Novello Rose Bed at Golders Green Crematorium.

Selected Films

Martita Hunt acted in many movies throughout her career. Here are some of them:

• A Rank Outsider (1920)
• Service for Ladies (1932)
• I Was a Spy (1933)
• Friday the Thirteenth (1933)
• The Mill on the Floss (1936)
• Good Morning, Boys (1937)
• Trouble Brewing (1939)
• Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939)
• The Man in Grey (1943)
• The Wicked Lady (1945)
• Great Expectations (1946) as Miss Havisham
• Anna Karenina (1948)
• The Fan (1949)
• The Story of Robin Hood and His Merrie Men (1952)
• Folly to Be Wise (1953)
• Anastasia (1956)
• Three Men in a Boat (1956)
• The Admirable Crichton (1957)
• The Brides of Dracula (1960)
• The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)
• Becket (1964)
• The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964)
• Bunny Lake Is Missing (1965)
• The Best House in London (1969) (her last film)

Images for kids

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  Martita Hunt in Folly to Be Wise