Selena Royle facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Selena Royle
Publicity still from 1948
Born	(1904-11-06)November 6, 1904 New York City, New York, U.S.
Died	April 23, 1983(1983-04-23) (aged 78) Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Other names	Selena Royale
Occupation	Actress, writer
Years active	1921-1957
Spouse(s)	Earle Larrimore ​ ​ (m. 1932; div. 1942)​ Georges Renavent ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 1969)​

Selena Royle (born November 6, 1904 – died April 23, 1983) was a talented American actress. She performed on stage, radio, television, and in movies. Later in her life, she also became a writer.

Early Life and Acting Career

Selena Royle was born in New York City. Her father, Edwin Milton Royle, was a playwright, and her mother, Selena Fetter, was also an actress. Selena had an older sister named Josephine.

A Star is Born: Selena's First Stage Moment

Selena's mother often took her to rehearsals and performances. One night, when Selena was just seven years old, she went missing backstage. Her mother searched for her, causing a delay in the play.

Suddenly, young Selena appeared on stage! She was wearing her mother's costume for the second act. She took a bow, and the audience loved it. Selena later said, "That is the first time I was ever on stage, and I liked it so well I stayed."

From Broadway to Radio

Selena's father wrote a play called Lancelot and Elaine in 1921. This play gave Selena and her sister Josephine their first professional acting jobs. Selena played the role of Guinevere.

After that, Selena got a part in a 1923 play called Peer Gynt. She became a respected actress on Broadway, which is a famous theater district in New York City.

In the 1930s, Selena made one movie, Misleading Lady. But she mostly worked on stage and in radio shows. She started her radio career around 1926 or 1927 and performed almost constantly.

She played many different characters on radio. For example, she was the main character in Hilda Hope, M.D. She also appeared in shows like Woman of Courage and The O'Neills.

Movie Roles and Later Years

In the 1940s, Selena returned to making movies. She often played caring mother figures. She was the mother in The Fighting Sullivans (1944) and the mother of Jane Powell in A Date with Judy (1948). She also played the mother of Ingrid Bergman's character in the movie Joan of Arc (1948).

Selena also appeared on early television shows. However, her acting career ended in 1951. She was listed in a publication called Red Channels, which named people thought to have communist sympathies. Selena refused to answer questions from the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). She later won a lawsuit against the group that published Red Channels. Her last movie was Murder Is My Beat in 1955.

Becoming an Author

After her acting career, Selena became a writer. She wrote several books, including Guadalajara: as I Know It, Live It, Love It. She also wrote a couple of cookbooks and articles for magazines.

Personal Life and Legacy

During the difficult time of the Great Depression, Selena Royle helped others. She and Elizabeth Beatty started the Actors Free Dinner Club. This club provided meals for actors who were struggling. It was set up so that everyone, whether volunteering or needing help, felt comfortable.

Selena was married twice. Her first husband was Earle Larrimore. They married in 1932 and divorced in 1942. She then married actor Georges Renavent in 1948. They stayed together until he passed away in 1969.

Selena Royle died in Guadalajara, Mexico, on April 23, 1983. She was 78 years old.

Filmography

See also

• Hollywood blacklist