Born at Ellerker Gate, Richmond, Surrey, England. Primarily a stage actress (from 1928), she gave several remarkable film performances, most memorably as the refined, restrained romantic heroine of BRIEF ENCOUNTER (1945) and as the heroine of two other filmed Noël Coward works, IN WHICH WE SERVE (1942) and THIS HAPPY BREED (1944). Other notable credits include A LETTER FROM HOME (1941), DEAR OCTOPUS (1943), THE ASTONISHED HEART (1949), I BELIEVE IN YOU and THE HOLLY AND THE IVY (both 1952), THE CAPTAIN'S PARADISE (1953), A KID FOR TWO FARTHINGS (1955), THE GOOD COMPANIONS (1957) and her last feature film, THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODY (1969). She appeared in several adaptations of plays for British television. Her last appearance was as the Countess of Rousillon in "All's Well That Ends Well" (1981, TV).    Nominated for Actress 1946: BRIEF ENCOUNTER 1 nomination