Born in Melbourne, Australia. In the US from her late teens, she stumbled on acting as a means of livelihood when she was left a widow with three children in 1884. She appeared in numerous stage productions on the road and on Broadway, in both leads and supporting roles, and by the turn of the century had developed into a highly respected character player. She made occasional appearances in silent films, but her main screen career took place in the 30s, when she played a long string of character roles in a variety of major Hollywood productions. She typically portrayed a crusty or domineering society matron but is best remembered for her striking portrayal of Damon Runyon's Apple Annie in Frank Capra's LADY FOR A DAY (1933). Other notable screen credits include LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE and IF I HAD A MILLION (both 1932), DINNER AT EIGHT, DANCING LADY and ALICE IN WONDERLAND (all 1933), RECKLESS and ANNA KARENINA (both 1935), A STAR IS BORN (1937), THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, BRINGING UP BABY and FOUR DAUGHTERS (all 1938), NURSE EDITH CAVELL (1939), GRANNY GET YOUR GUN and IRENE (both 1940), MILLION DOLLAR BABY (1941) and her last film, JOAN OF PARIS (1942). Miss Robson holds the distinction of being the earliest-born actress to receive an Academy Award nomination.    Nominated for Actress 1932-33: LADY FOR A DAY 1 nomination