About

Known credits:
40
Birthday:
1917-04-14
Place of birth:
Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Website:
N/A

Valerie Hobson

Overview

Valerie Hobson (14 April 1917 – 13 November 1998) was a British actress who appeared in a number of British films during the 1940s and 1950s. She was born Babette Valerie Louise Hobson in Larne, County Antrim, Ireland.

She appeared as Baroness Frankenstein in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) with Boris Karloff and Colin Clive, taking over the role from Mae Clarke, who had played it in the original Frankenstein (1931). Hobson also played opposite Henry Hull that same year in Werewolf of London, the first Hollywood werewolf movie, predating The Wolf Man by six years.

The latter half of the 1940s saw Hobson in perhaps her two most memorable roles: as the adult Estella in David Lean's 1946 adaptation of Great Expectations, and as the refined and virtuous Edith D'Ascoyne in the 1949 black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets.

In 1952 she divorced her first husband, film producer Sir Anthony Havelock-Allan (1904–2003), and married MP John Profumo (1915–2006) in 1954, giving up acting shortly afterwards

Valerie Hobson's last starring role was in the original London production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical play The King and I which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on October 8, 1953. She played Mrs. Anna Leonowens opposite Herbert Lom's King.

After Profumo's ministerial career ended in disgrace in 1963, following revelations he had lied to the House of Commons about his affair with Christine Keeler, she stood by him, and they worked together for charity for the remainder of her life.

Hobson's eldest son, Simon Anthony Clerveaux Havelock-Allan was born in May 1944 with Down's Syndrome. Her middle child, Mark Havelock-Allan, was born on 4 April 1951. Her youngest child is author David Profumo, (b. 16 October 1955) wrote Bringing the House Down (2006) about the scandal.

She died of a heart attack in London in 1998 and is buried in Surrey, England.

Description above from the Wikipedia Valerie Hobson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Known for

Acting

1954 Monsieur Ripois Actor Catherine Ripois 58
Average
1953 Background Actor Barbie Lomax 59
Average
1952 The Voice of Merrill Actor Alycia Roche 59
Average
1952 Meet Me Tonight Actor Stella Cartwright 59
Average
1952 Who Goes There! Actor Alex Cornwall 59
Average
1952 The Card Actor Countess of Chell 59
Average
1949 The Rocking Horse Winner Actor Hester Grahame 59
Average
1949 The Interrupted Journey Actor Carol North 59
Average
1949 Kind Hearts and Coronets Actor Edith D'Ascoyne 68
Fair
1949 Train of Events Actor Stella 59
Average
1948 The Small Voice Actor Eleanor Byrne 59
Average
1948 Blanche Fury Actor Blanche Fury 59
Average
1946 Great Expectations Actor Estella 64
Fair
1946 The Years Between Actor Diana Wentworth 58
Average
1943 The Adventures of Tartu Actor Maruschuka Lanova 58
Average
1942 Unpublished Story Actor Carol Bennett 59
Average
1941 Atlantic Ferry Actor Mary Ann Morison 58
Average
1940 Contraband Actor Mrs. Sorensen 59
Average
1939 The Spy in Black Actor The School Mistress 59
Average
1939 This Man in Paris Actor Pat Drake N/A
N/A
1939 The Silent Battle Actor Draguisha N/A
N/A
1939 Q Planes Actor Kay Lawrence 59
Average
1938 The Drum Actor Mrs. Carruthers 59
Average
1938 This Man Is News Actor Pat Drake 58
Average
1937 When Thief Meets Thief Actor Glory Fane 59
Average
1936 No Exit Actor Laura Anstey 59
Average
1936 Tugboat Princess Actor Sally N/A
N/A
1936 Secret of Stamboul Actor Tania 59
Average
1936 August Week End Actor Claire Barry 59
Average
1935 The Great Impersonation Actor Eleanor Dominey N/A
N/A
1935 Chinatown Squad Actor Janet Baker 59
Average
1935 Werewolf of London Actor Lisa Glendon 59
Average
1935 Bride of Frankenstein Actor Elizabeth 69
Fair
1935 Rendezvous at Midnight Actor Sandra Rogers N/A
N/A
1935 The Mystery of Edwin Drood Actor Helena Landless 58
Average
1935 Life Returns Actor Mrs. Kendrick 58
Average
1934 Strange Wives Actor Mauna N/A
N/A
1934 The Path of Glory Actor Maria N/A
N/A
1934 Badger’s Green Actor Molly Butler N/A
N/A
1932 His Lordship Actor Last Face in Montage (uncredited) 59
Average