Born in Lewisham, London, England. A chorine at 16, she entered British silent films in 1913 and became famous for her delicate beauty; she was the foremost pinup girl during WW I. In the early 20s she achieved stardom on the legitimate British stage and managed London's Playhouse Theatre. Her major screen career began in 1940 in Hollywood, where for three decades she played distinguished character roles exemplifying British dignity. Twice nominated for the Tony Award as Best Actress in a Play for her performances in The Chalk Garden (1956) and A Passage to India (1962), she also appeared in the TV series "The Rogues" (1964). Notable screen credits include REBECCA and KITTY FOYLE (both 1940), THAT HAMILTON WOMAN and A YANK IN THE R.A.F. (both 1941), THIS ABOVE ALL, EAGLE SQUADRON and NOW, VOYAGER (all 1942), FOREVER AND A DAY, MR. LUCKY, PRINCESS O'ROURKE and THE SONG OF BERNADETTE (all 1943), THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER and MRS. PARKINGTON (both 1944), VALLEY OF DECISION and LOVE LETTERS (both 1945), THE GREEN YEARS, THE COCKEYED MIRACLE and BEWARD OF PITY (all 1946), GREEN DOLPHIN STREET and THE BISHOP'S WIFE (both 1947), HOMECOMING and THE PIRATE (both 1948), THE SECRET GARDEN and MADAME BOVARY (both 1949), THUNDER ON THE HILL (1951), AT SWORD'S POINT (1952), THE MAN WHO LOVED REDHEADS (1955), SEPARATE TABLES (1958), "Pygmalion" (TV) and THE LIST OF ADRIAN MESSENGER (both 1963), MY FAIR LADY (1964), THE HAPPIEST MILLIONAIRE (1967) and her last film, A NICE GIRL LIKE ME (1969). Her third husband was actor Philip Merivale. Autobiography: Without Veils (1953). She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1967.    Nominated for Supporting Actress 1942: NOW, VOYAGER    Nominated for Supporting Actress 1943: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE    Nominated for Supporting Actress 1964: MY FAIR LADY 3 nominations