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Nora Swinburne
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Occupation
Actress
Children
Francis Cooper
Role
Actress
Name
Nora Swinburne
Years active
1920–1974
Full Name
Leonora Mary Johnson
Born
24 July 1902 (
1902-07-24
)
Bath, Somerset, England
Died
May 1, 2000, London, United Kingdom
Spouse
Esmond Knight (m. 1946–1987)
Parents
Leonora Tamar, Henry Swinburne Johnson
Movies
The River, Helen of Troy, Quo Vadis, Conspiracy of Hearts, The End of the Affair
Similar People
Esmond Knight, Rosalind Knight, Edward Ashley‑Cooper, Ken Annakin, Ralph Thomas
Leonora Mary Johnson (24 July 1902 – 1 May 2000), known professionally as Nora Swinburne, was a British actress, best known for her appearances in many British films.
She married English character actor Francis Lister in 1924, actor Edward Ashley-Cooper in 1934, and actor Esmond Knight in 1946. Her stepdaughter is the actress Rosalind Knight.
Early years
Swinburne was born in Bath, Somerset, the daughter of Henry Swinburne Johnson and his wife Leonora Tamar (née Brain). She was educated at Rosholme College, Weston-super-Mare, and studied for the stage at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. As a member of Clive Currie's Young Players in 1914, she appeared at the Grand, Croydon, Court and Little Theatres, during that year.
In 1914 she attended an audition with the ballerina Phyllis Bedells and later Anna Pavlova who considered her too young, even if very talented, for the corps de ballet. Nora instead joined the Italia Conti school where she obtained her first real part as a child actress in Where the Rainbow Ends. She performed in the show in London and in all the big cities of Britain for eighteen shillings (90p) a week.
At the end of 1915 she gained a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. While still a student at the Academy she appeared at the New Theatre on 11 April 1916 as the Wild Flowers in Paddly Pools; appeared at the Comedy Theatre, September 1916, as a dancer in the revue, This and That; and in October 1916 appeared in Samples at the Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud Theatre). She also appeared at the Globe in March 1917 as Gabrielle in Suzette. Other early roles included Lulu in Yes, Uncle! at the Prince of Wales Theatre in December 1917, and Regina Waterhouse at the Strand Theatre in December 1918.
At the Apollo Theatre in 1919 she played the title role in Tilly of Bloomsbury "for about six weeks", according to her personal notes in Who's Who in the Theatre, followed by the role of Roselle in The Betrothal at the Gaiety in January 1921, concluding the year with what she charmingly called "several cinema plays".
Stage career
Subsequent theatre roles included:
Miss Dale Ogden in The Bat, St James's Theatre, January 1922
Evadne in The Mountebank, Lyceum Theatre, New York, May 1923
Sheila in Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, Belasco Theatre, New York, September 1923
Lorna Webster in In the Next Room, St Martin's Theatre, London, June 1924
Veronica Duane in You and I, The Little Theatre, John Adam Street, London WC1, December 1924
Joan Lee Tevis in Tarnish, Vaudeville Theatre, March 1925
Nora in No. 17, New Theatre, August 1925
Marion Lennox in The Best People, Lyric Theatre, March 1926
Lady Blair in Regatta, and Ann in Outward Bound by Sutton Vane, Prince of Wales Theatre, January 1928
Susan Cunningham in The Fourth Wall, Haymarket, February 1928
Hyacinth in Out She Goes Criterion Theatre, December 1928
Sonia in Fame, St James's Theatre, February 1929 (108 performances)
Sylvia Arnitage in Murder on the Second Floor, Lyric Theatre, June 1929
Yolande Probyn in Lady Clara, Booth Theatre, New York, April 1930
Betty Mainwaring in Lucky Dip, Comedy Theatre, October 1930
Laurel Prescottin in The Ninth Man, Prince of Wales Theatre, February 1931
Helen in Disturbance, Grafton Theatre, July 1931
Fay d’Allary in The Gay Adventure, Whitehall Theatre, December 1931
Lady Moynton in Never Come Back, Phoenix Theatre, October 1932
Anne Vernon in It’s You I Want, Daly's Theatre, February 1933
Sybil Kingdom in The Old Folks at Home, Queen’s Theatre, December 1933
Helen Storer in Lovers’ Leap, Vaudeville Theatre, October 1934
Phyllis Manton in All Rights Reserved, Criterion Theatre, April 1935
Helen Westdrake in Disturbance (for Charta Theatre), Westminster Theatre, May 1935
Marie in Sauce for the Gander, St Martin's Theatre, January 1936
Judith Godfrey in The King’s Leisure, Daly’s Theatre, May 1936
Louise Dexter in The Astonished Ostrich, Duke of York's Theatre, December 1936
Tony Campion in Wise To- Morrow (Stephen Powys), Lyric Theatre, February 1937 (first co-starring with future husband Esmond Knight as Peter Marsh)
Lady Hazel in African Dawn, Daly’s Theatre, May 1937
Maryka in The Laughing Cavalier, Adelphi Theatre, October 1937
Edith Cartrwright in Dodsworth, Palace Theatre, February 1938
Dinah Lot in Lot’s Wife (for London International), Duke of York’s Theatre, April 1938; then under her own management at the Whitehall Theatre, June 1938; subsequently transferring to the Aldwych and Savoy Theatres.
Fanny Grey in Autumn Crocus, King’s Theatre, Hammersmith, April 1939
Ann Mordaunt in Third Party Risk, St Martin’s Theatre, May 1939
Mrs Oswald Pink in Married For Money, Aldwych Theatre, November 1939
Frances Courtenay in The Peaceful Inn, Duke of York’s Theatre, May 1940
Mrs. Purdie in Dear Brutus (Barrie), Globe Theatre, January 1941
Sorel Tree in Ducks and Drakes, Apollo Theatre, November 1941
Carole Markoff in Full Swing, Palace Theatre, April 1942
Succeeded Valerie Taylor as Natalia Petrovna in A Month in the Country, St James’s Theatre, August 1943
Succeeded Diana Wynyard as Sara Muller in Watch on the Rhine, Aldwych Theatre, October 1943
Diana Wentworth in The Years Between, Wyndham’s Theatre, January 1945 ("which ran for over a year.")
Lady Clare Marten in Miranda, Embassy Theatre, June 1947
Elsa Meredith in Honour and Obey, Saville Theatre, November 1947
Caroline Ashley in Caroline, Arts Theatre, March 1949
Jane Cooper in Red Letter Day, Garrick Theatre. February 1952
Mrs. Arbuthnot in A Woman of No Importance, Savoy Theatre, February 1953
Naomi Martyn in The Secret Tent, Grand Theatre, Blackpool, October 1954
Mrs. Astley in The Lost Generation, Garrick Theatre, June 1955
Adelaide Lovell in The Call of the Dodo, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, October 1955
Catherine Hayling in Fool’s Paradise, Apollo Theatre, April 1959
Diana in I Seem To Know Your Face, Everyman Theatr, Cheltenham, June 1960
Chief Minister’s Wife in Music at Midnight (Peter Howard), Westminster Theatre, May 1962; subsequently touring the US, January 1963
Liz in All Good Children, Hampstead Theatre Club, April 1964
Violet in The Family Reunion, 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, October 1973
Julia Shuttlethwaite in The Cocktail Party, 69 Theatre Company, Manchester, September 1975
Filmography
Actress
1974
The Early Life of Stephen Hind (TV Series) as
Mary Duquesne
- Episode #1.3 (1974) - Mary Duquesne
- Episode #1.2 (1974) - Mary Duquesne
- Episode #1.1 (1974) - Mary Duquesne
1974
Notorious Woman (TV Mini Series) as
Comtesse de Musset
- Conflict (1974) - Comtesse de Musset
1974
Fall of Eagles (TV Mini Series) as
Katharina Schratt
- Indian Summer of an Emperor (1974) - Katharina Schratt
1969
ITV Playhouse (TV Series) as
Dora Randolph / Lavender Collingham
- Dear Octopus (1972) - Dora Randolph
- Murder: Return to Yesterday (1969) - Lavender Collingham
1972
Dead of Night (TV Series) as
Mariella Jubb
- Death Cancels All Debts (1972) - Mariella Jubb
1972
Dixon of Dock Green (TV Series) as
Mrs. Raven
- Mrs. Raven (1972) - Mrs. Raven
1972
Man at the Top (TV Series) as
Lady Belmont
- Living Like a Lord (1972) - Lady Belmont
1972
The Chastity Belt as
The Mistress Of The Bed Chamber - Lady-In-Waiting
1971
Kate (TV Series) as
May Barnett
- The Great Female Rebellion (1971) - May Barnett
1970
Manhunt (TV Series) as
The Countess
- What Did You Do in the War Daddy? (1970) - The Countess
1969
Anne of the Thousand Days as
Lady Kingston
1968
The Jazz Age (TV Series) as
Lady Cavan
- Post Mortem (1968) - Lady Cavan
1968
Interlude as
Mary
1968
A Man of our Times (TV Series) as
Mrs. Prentice
- Got Yourself Sorted Out at All? (1968) - Mrs. Prentice
1967
The Forsyte Saga (TV Series) as
'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- Swan Song (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- Birth of a Forsyte (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- In the Web (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- In Chancery (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- Indian Summer of a Forsyte (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- Into the Dark (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- A Man of Property (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- Dinner at Swithins (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- A Family Scandal (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
- A Family Festival (1967) - 'Aunt Hester' Forsyte
1967
Emergency-Ward 10 (TV Series) as
Miss Metcalf
- Play Now Pay Later (1967) - Miss Metcalf
1967
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (TV Series) as
Lady Crabbe
- The Brown Hand (1967) - Lady Crabbe
1966
A Man Could Get Killed as
Lady Frazier (uncredited)
1966
BBC Play of the Month (TV Series) as
Mrs. Herriton
- Where Angels Fear to Tread (1966) - Mrs. Herriton
1965
Armchair Theatre (TV Series) as
Mrs. Breeze
- The Gong Game (1965) - Mrs. Breeze
1965
Decision at Midnight as
Margaret
1965
Armchair Mystery Theatre (TV Series) as
Elizabeth
- The Last Reunion (1965) - Elizabeth
1965
Compact (TV Series) as
Lady Marsden
- The End of a Song (1965) - Lady Marsden
- Food for Thought (1965) - Lady Marsden
1964
Thursday Theatre (TV Series) as
Julia Shuttlethwaite
- The Cocktail Party (1964) - Julia Shuttlethwaite
1964
The Hidden Truth (TV Series) as
Mrs. Pargeter
- One of the Hampshire Pargeters (1964) - Mrs. Pargeter
1961
Drama 61-67 (TV Series) as
Mrs. Phillips
- Drama '61: The Dinner Party (1961) - Mrs. Phillips
1961
BBC Sunday-Night Play (TV Series) as
Mrs. Augusta Dill / Sybil Birling
- Fury in Petticoats (1961) - Mrs. Augusta Dill
- An Inspector Calls (1961) - Sybil Birling
1961
Knight Errant Limited (TV Series) as
Debbie Fitzwilliam O'Shaughnessy
- The Colonel's Ghost (1961) - Debbie Fitzwilliam O'Shaughnessy
1960
The Small House at Allington (TV Series) as
Mrs. Dale
- Part 6 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
- Part 5 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
- Part 4 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
- Part 3 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
- Part 2 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
- Part 1 (1960) - Mrs. Dale
1960
Conspiracy of Hearts as
Sister Tia
1959
Third Man on the Mountain as
Frau Matt
1959
Theatre Night (TV Series) as
Catherine Hayling
- Fool's Paradise (1959) - Catherine Hayling
1958
The Veil (TV Mini Series) as
Mrs. Willowden
- Jack the Ripper (1958) - Mrs. Willowden
1958
Female Fiends as
Mrs. Friend
1956
ITV Television Playhouse (TV Series) as
Prioress / Carla Grahame
- The Cradle Song (1958) - Prioress
- The Lady Asks for Help (1956) - Carla Grahame
1958
The Winslow Boy (TV Movie) as
Grace Winslow
1958
Television World Theatre (TV Series) as
Madame Ranevsky
- The Cherry Orchard (1958) - Madame Ranevsky
1957
O.S.S. (TV Series) as
Madame Latour
- Operation Dagger (1957) - Madame Latour
1957
ITV Play of the Week (TV Series) as
Mrs. Hartley
- The Guinea Pig (1957) - Mrs. Hartley
1957
The First Mrs. Fraser (TV Movie) as
Janet Fraser
1957
Sailor of Fortune (TV Series) as
Mrs. Mostovoy
- The Diamond Chips (1957) - Mrs. Mostovoy
1957
A Woman of Property (TV Movie) as
Mrs. Lucy Penfold
1954
Rheingold Theatre (TV Series) as
Mary / Grace Stevens / Mrs. Stratton / ...
- A Train to the Sea (1956) - Mary
- The Long White Line (1955) - Grace Stevens
- The Heirloom (1954) - Mrs. Stratton
- Second Wind (1954) - Alice
1956
Helen of Troy as
Hecuba
1955
The End of the Affair as
Mrs. Bertram
1954
Betrayed as
'The Scarf's' Mother
1951
Quo Vadis as
Pomponia
1951
The River as
The Mother
1950
Operation X as
Ava Constantin
1949
Landfall as
Admiral's Wife
1949
Christopher Columbus as
Joanna de Torres
1949
Marry Me as
Enid Lawson
1949
Fools Rush In as
Angela Dickson
1949
The Bad Lord Byron as
Lady Jersey
1948
Quartet as
Mrs. Peregrine (segment "The Colonel's Lady")
1948
The Blind Goddess as
Lady Dearing
1948
Good-Time Girl as
Miss Mills
1947
Jassy as
Mrs. Hatton
1946
They Knew Mr. Knight as
Celia Blake
1944
Man of Evil as
Mrs. Hopwood
1943
Dear Octopus as
Edna
1943
The Man in Grey as
Mrs. Fitzherbert (as Norah Swinburne)
1942
We Serve (Short) as
ATS Officer (uncredited)
1942
Wings and the Woman as
ATA Commandant
1941
The Farmer's Wife as
Araminta Grey
1940
It Happened to One Man as
Alice Quair
1938
Lily of Laguna as
Gloria Grey
1938
The Citadel as
Mrs. Thornton
1937
Dinner at the Ritz as
Lady Railton
1936
Lonely Road as
Lady Anne
1936
The Gay Adventure as
Fay d'Allary
1936
Jury's Evidence as
Mary Trent
1935
Lend Me Your Husband as
Virgie Green
1934
Boomerang as
Elizabeth Stafford
1934
The Office Wife (Short) as
Anne
1933
Too Many Wives as
Hilary Wildely
1933
Perfect Understanding as
Lady Stephanie Fitzmaurice
1932
Edgar Wallace's White Face the Fiend as
Inez Landor
1932
The Man Who Won as
Diana Trenchard
1932
A Voice Said Goodnight (Short) as
Joan Creighton
1931
A Man of Mayfair as
Elaine Barclay
1931
These Charming People as
Julia Berridge
1931
Potiphar's Wife as
Lady Diana Bromford
1930
Nay, Nay, Nero (Short) as
Nero's Wife
1930
Caste as
Esther Eccles
1930
The Royal Four-Flusher (Short) as
The Queen
1930
Alf's Button as
Lady Isobel Fitzpeter
1926
One Colombo Night as
Jean Caldicott
1925
A Girl of London as
Vee-Vee
1924
His Grace Gives Notice as
Cynthia Bannock
1924
The Unwanted as
Joyce Mannering
1923
Hornet's Nest as
Lady Rona
1922
Die weisse Wüste as
Karin
1922
Wee MacGregor's Sweetheart as
Jessie Mary
1922
Allein im Urwald as
Lydia Gyldendal
1921
The Autumn of Pride as
Peggy Naylor
1921
The Fortune of Christina McNab as
Christina McNab
1920
Saved from the Sea as
Nancy Brooks
1920
Branded as
Doris Jerningham
Self
1989
Coral Browne: Caviar for the General (TV Special) as
Self
1959
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Self
- Perilous Assignment (1959) - Self
1957
This Is Your Life (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Esmond Knight (1957) - Self
Archive Footage
1963
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Frau Matt / Frau Matt (edited from: Third Man on the Mountain)
- Banner in the Sky: The Killer Mountain (1963) - Frau Matt
- Banner in the Sky: To Conquer the Mountain (1963) - Frau Matt (edited from: Third Man on the Mountain)