Belita
Biography
Belita was a British figure skater, dancer and film actress who competed for the United Kingdom at the 1936 Winter Olympics and later moved into Hollywood films. Born in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, she trained in classical Russian ballet and was a partner to Anton Dolin in the Dolin-Markova Ballet. With Monogram Pictures she made several movies, skating in Silver Skates (1943) and in Lady, Let's Dance (1944). Her Monogram work also included the film noir Suspense (1946), where she skated and took the dramatic lead, The Gangster (1947), which gave her the female lead, and The Hunted (1948), in which she again skated and played the dramatic role. Her later films included The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949), in which she appeared with Charles Laughton, Never Let Me Go (1953) with Clark Gable, and Silk Stockings (1957), where she danced with Fred Astaire. She retired from skating in 1956 and left show business after 1963.
82years old at death
- Born Nether Wallop
- Died Montpeyroux
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Belita Gladys Lyne Jepson-Turner (birth name)Also credited as Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner, Jepson-Turner, Belita Gladys Olive Lyne, Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner, Maria Belita Jepson-Turner and Belita Jepson-Turner
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 10 years1946 to 1956
Every film, newest first
- 1956Invitation to the DanceIMDb rating 6.4
- 1949The Man on the Eiffel TowerIMDb rating 5.8
- 1946SuspenseIMDb rating 6.5
Genres
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A first
Belita skated for the United Kingdom at the 1936 Winter Olympics, placing 16th in the singles, before her career turned toward Hollywood.
Early training
Belita's classical Russian ballet training carried over into her skating. While still a young ballerina, she appeared with the Dolin-Markova Ballet as Anton Dolin's partner.
Beyond film
In 1981, Belita made a brief appearance on the ice at New York City's Madison Square Garden, in a short production based on Duke Ellington's "Solitude".
Belita movies on Netflix
Worked with
Belita made one film with each of them. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Burgess Meredith's page
Byron Foulger's page
George Chandler's page
Wilfrid Hyde-White's page
Gene Kelly's page
Charles Laughton's page
Irving AllenDirector, 1 film, 1949
All films by Irving Allen
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.