Judith Anderson

Judith Anderson (1897–1992) was an Australian-American stage, film, and television actress celebrated for Shakespearean roles and for playing Mrs. Danvers in Rebecca.

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Rebecca (1940 film): A psychological thriller directed by Alfred Hitchcock, adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s novel. Anderson’s Mrs. Danvers made the housekeeper a chilling center of the film.
Alfred Hitchcock: An English film director known for suspense films including Rebecca, Rear Window, and Vertigo. He directed the film that gave Anderson her best-known screen role.
Adelaide: The capital city of South Australia, founded in 1836. Anderson was born in Adelaide before pursuing an acting career abroad.
Emmy Award: An American award recognizing excellence in television programming and performance. Anderson received an Emmy for her performance in the television film Macbeth.
Medea (play): A tragedy by Euripides in which Medea takes revenge on Jason by killing their children. Anderson’s acclaimed stage performance brought the Greek tragic heroine to modern audiences.
Daphne du Maurier: An English author whose novels include Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, and My Cousin Rachel. Her novel supplied the character Anderson transformed into an iconic film presence.
Australian theatre: The performance tradition and institutions of theater in Australia. Her early professional training began within this theatrical world.
Tony Award: An American award recognizing achievement in Broadway theater. Her Broadway career earned her a Tony Award for Medea.
Macbeth: A tragedy by William Shakespeare about ambition, murder, and political ruin in Scotland. Anderson played Lady Macbeth, one of her major Shakespearean roles.
Laurence Olivier: An English actor and director acclaimed for Shakespearean stage and screen performances. Olivier played Maxim de Winter opposite Anderson in Rebecca.