(August 15, 1879 - June 18, 1959)
Known as the "First Lady" of American theatre, Ethel Barrymore was a charismatic, award-winning star of the stage and early screen for over forty years as well as an activist of union rights. 1 Born in Philadelphia as Ethel Mae Blythe, Barrymore's destiny seemed laid out before she was even born. Her grandmother, Louisa Lane Drew, founded an acting company in Philadelphia, and both of her parents - Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew - had noted comedic stage careers and were often on tour during Barrymore's childhood. Indeed, her two siblings, Lionel and John, went on to become famous stage and film stars, and she is the great aunt of contemporary actor/producer Drew Barrymore.
Barrymore grew up a strict Roman Catholic, living and attending school at the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Philadelphia, with dreams of becoming a concert pianist, although familial financial hardship and good genes led her to the stage. She made her debut in New York in 1894 as Julia in The Rivals. Almost immediately, Barrymore was noticed for her distinctive voice, youthful appearance, and a certain regality and sophistication of character. She was welcomed into the theatrical elite in London, and was the starring lead in the 1901 Broadway success Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines. She toured England and America extensively, including a memorable performance at Toledo, Ohio's Valentine Theatre on Halloween night, 1908.
For a time, Barrymore was considered a member of the elites. It is rumored that Winston Churchill proposed marriage to her. Her "royal" status was solidified when she married socialite Russell Griswold Colt in 1909, and the couple would go one to have three children, Samuel, John, and Ethel, all who took their turns in the entertainment industry. For a turn, Barrymore's career was quite successful, with noted roles such as Nora in A Doll's House (1905) and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (1922). In 1928, Barrymore starred in the The Kingdom of God, which opened in the newly named Ethel Barrymore Theatre, a New York landmark which is still in operation.
In addition, Barrymore grew up in the golden age of cinema, and made her film debut in 1914. Although she preferred the stage to the screen, she utilized the opportunity for financial gain, especially during the years of the Great Depression, when an acting career proved difficult. She was a noted activist in the great Actor's Equity Strike in 1919. Soon thereafter, her divorce from Colt in 1921 proved difficult for her.
Beginning in 1932, Barrymore's cinematic career took a long upward turn when she starred in Rasputin and the Empress with her brothers Lionel and John. She moved from her beloved New York to Hollywood in the early 40's, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor opposite Cary Grant in None But the Lonely Heart. She became known for her supporting roles that featured matronly women and had consistent success in film through the mid 1950s.
Despite this, Ethel maintained a staunch love for theatre in its pure form, publicly denouncing the changes the theatrical genre made in what she saw as a pandering to the film industry, giving voice to her opinions in her well received 1955 published memoirs. She died in Beverly Hills in 1959. Of her chosen profession, she has famously said, "For an actress to be a success, she must have the face of a Venus, the brains of a Minerva, the grace of Terpsichore, the memory of a MaCaulay, the figure of Juno, and the hide of a rhinoceros." 2
1. Encyclopaedia Brittanica
2. Brainyquote.com
Resources
Barrymore, Ethel. Memoirs. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1955.
"Barrymore, Ethel." Encycloaedia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9013506 5 Oct. 2007.
Basic article about her life. Not necessarily greater than any other bio, but mainly acts as a reliable source that verifies basic information I have found elsewhere. Mainly, the three main bio sites I used contained the same base information and added small amounts of new detail. None seemed to me extremely thorough and conclusive. There really aren't any books devoted to her.
"Ethel Barrymore." Brainy Quotes. http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/e/ethelbarry100768.html 5 October 2007.
I found at least twenty "quote" websites that contained four or five of the same quotes by Barrymore. This is one of her most famous, as well as a line from a play where she says, "That's it. There isn't any more."
"Ethel Barrymore." IMBD. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000856/bio 3 October 2007.
"Ethel Barrymore." Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethel_Barrymore 3 October 2007.
"Playing the Valentine Some Big Names From the Past Plied These Boards." Toledo Blade. 3 October 1999: Article ID 9910030055.
Excellent article in that it rather reads like a bibliography of important players and dates at the Valentine. Am thrilled that I came across this. I wasn't able to find the original review in 1908 for Barrymore, but at least we know it exists.