Evans, Edith (1888-1976), was one of the leading English actresses of the 1900’s. Evans was particularly noted for her performances in the plays of William Shakespeare as well as Restoration comedies. She also starred in plays by dramatists of the 1800’s and 1900’s, including Anton Chekhov, Noel Coward, Oscar Wilde, and, especially, George Bernard Shaw. Perhaps her best-known role was Lady Bracknell first on the stage and then in the 1952 film production of Wilde’s comedy The Importance of Being Earnest.
Edith Mary Evans was born on Feb. 8, 1888, in London. She made her professional stage debut in 1912. She appeared in two silent films in 1915 and 1916 and then did not make another movie until The Queen of Spades (1948). Then, at the age of 60, Evans launched a notable motion-picture career. She received Academy Award nominations for her performances in Tom Jones (1963), The Chalk Garden (1964), and The Whisperers (1966). King George VI made Evans a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946, and she became known as Dame Edith Evans. She died on Oct. 14, 1976.
