Born December 18, 1888 in Lewisham, London, England; died in 1971.
A chorine at 16, Cooper was the foremost pinup girl during WW I. In the early 1920s, she achieved stardom on the legitimate British stage and managed London’s Playhouse Theatre.
She appeared occasionally in silent British films from 1913, but her major screen career began in 1940 in Hollywood, where for three decades she played character roles exemplifying British dignity.
Cooper was nominated three times for a Supporting Academy Award, for “Now Voyager” (1942), “The Song of Bernadette” (1943), and “My Fair Lady” (1964). She also appeared in the TV series “The Rogues” (1964).
Her third husband was actor Philip Merivale.
Oscar Nominations
1942: Supporting Actress, Now Voyager
1943: Supporting Actress, The Song of Bernadette
1964: Supporting Actress, My Fair Lady
Oscar Context
In 1942, the winner of the Supporting Actress Oscar was Teresa Wright for “Mrs. Miniver,”
in 1943, Katina Paxinou for “For Whom the Bell Tolls,”
and in 1964, Lila Kedrova for “Zorba the Greek.”
