Merle Oberon

Ice Enchantress Merle Oberon in publicity for the 1934 film THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL. Estelle Merle Thompson was born in India on February 19, 1911 of Welsh and Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) descent. She was educated in that country until the age of 17, when she left for London. She began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933) and after her success in "The Scarlet Pimpernel" (1934), she travelled to the United States to make films such "The Dark Angel" (1935), "These Three" (1936), "Lydia" (1941), "The Lodger" (1944) and "A Song To Remember" (1945). Her most critically acclaimed performance--hailed by some critics as "masterful" -- was as Cathy Linton in “Wuthering Heights” (1939). After her role in “Berlin Express” (1948) she would not be seen on the screen again until four years later, as Elizabeth Rockwell in “The Lady from Boston” (1951). Oberon was off the screen again for more than a year, returning in “Désirée” (1954). There were no films for her in 1955, only one in 1956 and then none until “Of Love and Desire” (1963). In between she did appear on television to host “Assignment Foreign Legion” (1956). Her final film was “Interval” (1973). Most of her life Oberon protected herself by concealing the truth about her heritage. To avoid prejudice over her mixed background, she created a "cover story" of being born and raised in Tasmania, Australia, and her birth records being destroyed in a fire. The story eventually unravelled after her death - (she is known to have been to Australia only twice). After her career finally ended she lived in quiet retirement until her death of a stroke on November 23, 1979, in Malibu, California.

(www.hollywoodpinups.com)