Hiller, Wendy (1912–2003)

British actress. Name variations: Dame Wendy Hiller. Born Wendy Margaret Hiller, Aug 15, 1912, in Bramhall, Cheshire, England; died May 14, 2003, in Beaconsfield; dau. of Frank Watkin Hiller (mill director) and Elizabeth (Stone) Hiller; m. Ronald Gow (playwright), Feb 25, 1937 (died 1993); children: 1 son, 1 daughter.

Acclaimed for her portrayal of Mary of Teck in Crown Matrimonial (1972), began career at Manchester Rep, where she worked her way up from apprentice to actor-manager and made stage debut as the Maid in The Ware Case (1930); made London debut as Sally Hardcastle in Love on the Dole (1935) and was an instant success (made NY debut in same role, 1936); launched film career in Lancashire Luck (1937), adapted from Love on the Dole, followed by Pygmalion (1938) with Leslie Howard, which brought her an Academy Award; captured another Academy Award (1958) for portrayal of Miss Cooper in Separate Tables; other films include Major Barbara (1941), Something of Value (1957), Sons and Lovers (1960), Toys in the Attic (1963), A Man for All Seasons (1966), David Copperfield (1970), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Voyage of the Damned (1976), The Cat and the Canary (1978), The Elephant Man (1980) and The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987); appeared in several plays by husband, notably Tess in his adaptation of Tess of the D'Urbervilles (1946), and title role in his adaptation of Ann Veronica (1949); was also memorable as Catherine Sloper in The Heiress (1947), Josie Hogan in A Moon for the Misbegotten (1937), Tina in The Aspern Papers (1962) and Gunhild in John Gabriel Borkman (1975). Named a Dame of the British Empire (1975).

See also Women in World History.