Deborah Kerr
Biography
Deborah Kerr was a British actress known for portraying proper, ladylike women. Born in Hillhead, Glasgow, she trained as a ballerina before moving to the stage, where she acted in Shakespeare productions and small plays. Her film debut came in Major Barbara (1941), and roles in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943) and I See a Dark Stranger (1946), as well as Black Narcissus (1947), led to a Hollywood contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Edward, My Son (1949) earned her a first Oscar nomination, and From Here to Eternity (1953) restored her standing as a serious actress. Three more nominations followed, for The King and I (1956) and for Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), along with Separate Tables (1958). Later credits included An Affair to Remember (1957), The Innocents (1961), and The Night of the Iguana (1964). She received six Best Actress Oscar nominations and an honorary Academy Award in 1994.
86years old at death
- Born Hillhead
- Died Suffolk
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer (birth name)Also credited as Deborah Trimmer, Deborah J. Kerr, Deborah Kerr Viertel and Deborah Jane Trimmer
Movie Career
- Films
- 33
- Career span
- 83 years1941 to 2024
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First role
Kerr's first film role, in Contraband (1940), was cut from the finished picture; she was 18 or 19 at the time.
A role that slipped away
In 1965, Kerr declined Carry On Screaming! even though its producers offered a fee similar to what the rest of the cast earned together. She chose instead a stage version of Flowers for Algernon that was aborted.
A first
In the comedy Casino Royale (1967), Kerr acted again with Niven. At 45, she was the oldest "Bond girl" in any James Bond film, until Monica Bellucci took that distinction at 50 in Spectre (2015).
A first
For Edward, My Son (1949), Kerr received her first Best Actress Academy Award nomination and drew critical praise, making her the first Scottish person ever nominated for an acting Oscar.
A first
Kerr received six nominations for Best Actress, a record, and never won. She shares second place for the most nominations without a win with Thelma Ritter and Amy Adams, behind Glenn Close, who has eight.
Deborah Kerr movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp1943as Edith Hunter / Barbara Wynne / Johnny Cannon
IMDb rating 8.018K votes
Most often with
John Huston directed three of these films, Emeric Pressburger two and Michael Powell two. David Niven appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
David Niven's page
Felix Aylmer's page
Burt Lancaster's page
Cary Grant's page
John Mills's page
Roland Culver's page
All films by John Huston
All films by Emeric Pressburger
All films by Michael Powell
Also three films together1 more actor
- Wendy HillerWitness for the Prosecution (1982), Separate Tables (1958) and Major Barbara (1941)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Deborah Kerr's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$179 million
15 of the 33 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 33 films: 15 worldwide figure; 2 us gross only; 2 never in cinemas; 14 figure not found.
- 15Worldwide figure
- 2US gross only
- 2Never in cinemas
- 14Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 90% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$42M23.3% of the total
- 2$31M17.0% of the total
- 3$21M11.9% of the total
- 4$21M11.7% of the total
- 5$15M8.4% of the total
- 6$13M7.4% of the total
- 7$12M6.7% of the total
- 8$6.0M3.4% of the total
$18.3 millionfrom the other 7 films with a worldwide figure, 10% of the total
Awards
Eight awards and honors from 1956 to 1993, two of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | |||
| 1993 | Honorary Award | Honorary | |
| Golden Globes | |||
| 1956 | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | The King and I | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 1991 | Special Award, BAFTA | Won | |
| 1959 | David di Donatello for Best Foreign Actress | Separate Tables | Won |
| 1958 | Henrietta Award | Won | |
| Commander of the Order of the British Empire | Won | ||
| Donaldson Awards | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.