Australians in Hollywood : Biographical Notes

Coral Browne
Coral Browne (1913-1991) established herself as a stage actress in her hometown of Melbourne before sailing for England in 1934. There she trod the boards with the likes of Laurence Olivier and Gracie Fields, and developed a strong reputation as a comedienne. She appeared in numerous British films of the 30s and 40s, including The Nursemaid Who Disappeared (1939) and Picadilly Incident (1946). In 1958 she went to Hollywood to deliver an acclaimed performance in Warners' Auntie Mame. Subsequent films included The Ruling Class (1972) and Xanadu (1980). In 1983 she played herself in the British TV drama An Englishman Abroad, and was rewarded with a best actress BAFTA. (The film was based on Browne's real-life encounter, during a tour of the Soviet Union , with the exiled spy Guy Burgess.) In 1974 she married the actor Vincent Price, with whom she had co-starred in Theatre of Blood (1973).

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