Sara Allgood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sara Allgood
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Allgood c. 1912
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| Born |
Sarah Ellen Allgood
30 October 1880 Dublin, Ireland
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| Died | 13 September 1950 (aged 69) |
| Resting place | Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1918–1950 |
| Spouse(s) |
Gerald Henson
(m. 1916; died 1918) |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Maire O'Neill (sister) |
Sara Allgood (born October 30, 1880, died September 13, 1950) was a famous actress from Ireland. She later became an American citizen. She first learned acting with a group called the Daughters of Ireland. She was also there when the Irish National Theatre Society first opened.
In 1904, she got her first big acting part in a play called Spreading the News. The next year, she became a full-time actress. She traveled to Australia and New Zealand in 1915, playing the main role in Peg o' My Heart. Sara Allgood continued her acting career in Dublin, London, and the U.S. She appeared in many movies. One of her most famous roles was as Beth Morgan in the 1941 film How Green Was My Valley. For this role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She became an American citizen in 1945 and passed away in 1950.
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Early Life and Family
Sara Allgood was born on October 30, 1880, in Dublin, Ireland. At that time, Dublin was part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Her mother, Margaret, was Catholic, and her father, George, was Protestant. She was baptized twice, once as a Catholic and once as a Protestant.
She had seven brothers and sisters. One of her sisters, Maire O'Neill, also became an actress. Her brother, Tom, became a Roman Catholic priest.
When Sara was young, her father passed away. Her mother then worked as a furniture trader. Sara started working as soon as she could. She learned to be a French polisher, which is someone who polishes furniture.
Acting Career Highlights
Sara Allgood joined the Daughters of Ireland, where she began to study acting. Her teachers were Maud Gonne and William Fay. She started her acting career at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. She was part of the very first show of the Irish National Theatre Society.
Her first important role was in December 1904. This was in Lady Gregory's play Spreading the News. By 1905, she was a full-time actress. She toured around England and North America.
In 1915, Sara Allgood played the main character in the play Peg o' My Heart. She toured Australia and New Zealand with this play in 1916. She also starred in the 1918 silent film Just Peggy with her husband, Gerald Henson. After her husband's death, she returned to Ireland. She continued to perform at the Abbey Theatre.
One of her most famous performances was in Seán O'Casey's play Juno and the Paycock in 1923. She also received great praise in London for her role as Bessie Burgess in O'Casey's The Plough and the Stars in 1926.
Film Roles and Recognition
Sara Allgood often appeared in early films by the famous director Alfred Hitchcock. These included Blackmail (1929), Juno and the Paycock (1930), and Sabotage (1936). She also had a big role in Storm in a Teacup (1937).
After many successful theater tours in America, she started a career in movies. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1941 film How Green Was My Valley.
She also had memorable parts in other films. These include Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), Jane Eyre (1943), The Lodger (1944), and The Spiral Staircase (1946). Her last film was the original Cheaper by the Dozen (1950).
Personal Life
In September 1916, Sara Allgood married Gerald Henson. They were both starring in the play Peg o' My Heart at the time. They were touring in Melbourne when they got married.
In January 1918, they had a daughter named Mary. Sadly, Mary passed away one day after she was born. In November of that same year, Gerald Henson died from a widespread illness.
Sara Allgood moved to Hollywood in 1940. She became an American citizen in 1945.
Death
Sara Allgood passed away on September 13, 1950. She was 69 years old. She died from a heart attack at her home in Woodland Hills, California. She was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.
Images for kids
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Allgood with J. M. Kerrigan in 1911
