Martita Hunt(1900-1969)
- Actress
- Additional Crew
Popular British character actress known for her rich cluster of queens,
dowagers, shrews and evildoers, Martita Hunt was born on a ranch in
Argentina to British parents, but moved with her family to England at
age 10 for her formal education. On stage at age 21 with the Liverpool
Repertory Theatre, she grew in stature as a dramatic actress with the
Old Vic before expanding her sights to include film in the 30s. Her
imposing glare and fervent gait reminded one of the equally
horsey-looking Edna May Oliver, and lent itself to a number of
scene-stealing supports in such top-quality British efforts as When Knights Were Bold (1936),
Nine Days a Queen (1936), The Mill on the Floss (1936), and The Wicked Lady (1945). But it was her brilliant performance as
the mad, reclusive Miss Havisham in the classic period piece Great Expectations (1946)
that earned her international recognition and Hollywood quickly took
notice. More flavorful roles came her way in the post-war years, both
regal and ravaged, with Anastasia (1956), Becket (1964) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964) the highlights. In
1949, she won a Broadway Tony award for her "The Madwoman of Chaillot".
Martita Hunt died at age 69 of natural causes in London.
