Belita
Encyclopedia
Maria Belita Gladys Olive Lyne Jepson-Turner (25 October 1923 – 18 December 2005), known professionally as Belita, was a British
Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress.
Born at Nether Wallop
, Hampshire
, she skated (as Belita Jepson-Turner) for Great Britain
in the 1936 Winter Olympics where she was placed 16th in the Ladies' singles competition, then her career turned towards Hollywood. She had classical Russian ballet training which carried over into her skating, and she was considered far superior to others skating at that time. As a young ballerina she was partner to Anton Dolin
, appearing with the Dolin-Markova Ballet.
She appeared in films including Never Let Me Go (1953), with Clark Gable
and The Cherry Orchard
, opposite Charles Laughton
. She made several highly profitable productions for Monogram Pictures
, including Silver Skates (1943), Lady, Let's Dance
(1944) and Suspense
(1946).
In 1946 Belita married Joel McGinnis; they divorced in 1956. She remarried, Irish actor James Berwick, né James Kenny (1929–2000). In 1956 she retired from skating and three years later gave up show business altogether. She appeared briefly on the ice at Madison Square Garden
in New York City in 1981 in a short production based on "Solitude" by Duke Ellington
.
She retired to live in Montpeyroux
, France
, where she died in 2005, aged 82.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Olympic figure skater, dancer and film actress.
Born at Nether Wallop
Nether Wallop
Nether Wallop is a village in central Hampshire, England.It is part of The Wallops: Nether, Middle and Over Wallop. The name derives from 'waella' and 'hop' or 'the valley of springing water'...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, she skated (as Belita Jepson-Turner) for Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the 1936 Winter Olympics where she was placed 16th in the Ladies' singles competition, then her career turned towards Hollywood. She had classical Russian ballet training which carried over into her skating, and she was considered far superior to others skating at that time. As a young ballerina she was partner to Anton Dolin
Anton Dolin
Sir Anton Dolin was an English ballet dancer and choreographer.Dolin was born in Slinfold in Sussex as Sydney Francis Patrick Chippendall Healey-Kay but was generally known as Patrick Kay. He joined Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in 1921, was a principal there from 1924, and was a principal...
, appearing with the Dolin-Markova Ballet.
She appeared in films including Never Let Me Go (1953), with Clark Gable
Clark Gable
William Clark Gable , known as Clark Gable, was an American film actor most famous for his role as Rhett Butler in the 1939 Civil War epic film Gone with the Wind, in which he starred with Vivien Leigh...
and The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard
The Cherry Orchard is Russian playwright Anton Chekhov's last play. It premiered at the Moscow Art Theatre 17 January 1904 in a production directed by Constantin Stanislavski. Chekhov intended this play as a comedy and it does contain some elements of farce; however, Stanislavski insisted on...
, opposite Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton
Charles Laughton was an English-American stage and film actor, screenwriter, producer and director.-Early life and career:...
. She made several highly profitable productions for Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures
Monogram Pictures Corporation is a Hollywood studio that produced and released films, most on low budgets, between 1931 and 1953, when the firm completed a transition to the name Allied Artists Pictures Corporation. Monogram is considered a leader among the smaller studios sometimes referred to...
, including Silver Skates (1943), Lady, Let's Dance
Lady, Let's Dance
Lady, Let's Dance is a 1944 black-and-white film directed by Frank Woodruff that was nominated for two Oscars. Produced by Monogram Studios, the film is unique as an ice skating musical....
(1944) and Suspense
Suspense (1946 film)
Suspense is a film noir directed by Frank Tuttle. The ice-skating-themed movie starred Barry Sullivan and former Olympic skater Belita , who would team up again in 1947 for the film, The Gangster. It was also the last film appearance of actor Eugene Pallette...
(1946).
In 1946 Belita married Joel McGinnis; they divorced in 1956. She remarried, Irish actor James Berwick, né James Kenny (1929–2000). In 1956 she retired from skating and three years later gave up show business altogether. She appeared briefly on the ice at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
in New York City in 1981 in a short production based on "Solitude" by Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
.
She retired to live in Montpeyroux
Montpeyroux
Montpeyroux may refer to the following places in France:* Montpeyroux, Aveyron, a commune of the Aveyron département* Montpeyroux, Dordogne, a commune of the Dordogne département* Montpeyroux, Hérault, a commune of the Hérault département...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, where she died in 2005, aged 82.