Constance Smith
Encyclopedia
Constance Smith was an Irish film actress, known as a contract player of 20th Century Fox
in the 1950s.
, working for the Irish Army
, and he died when Constance was eleven years old. Her mother was not able to support all her children and Constance was sent to a convent
. When Smith won a Dublin beauty contest
at age 16, her mother sent the photo to a film studio. As a result, Smith won a screen test
, and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the actress.
Smith moved to London
, where she shortly attended the Rank Organisation
. Studio executives were unamused with Smith's attitude, and she was eventually fired before she made her breakthrough. She moved back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British B films. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in The Mudlark
. Impressed with her performance, 20th Century Fox
offered her a contract. Upon her arrival in Hollywood, producer Darryl F. Zanuck
casted her opposite Tyrone Power
in I'll Never Forget You (1951). However, he soon decided she was not experienced enough and replaced her with Ann Blyth
.
She was most active in 1950s, appearing in Hollywood
features such as Man in the Attic
(1953). Smith was also a presenter at the Academy Awards
ceremony in 1952.
She made her last film appearance in 1959. In 1962 she was sentenced to three months in prison for stabbing her boyfriend, the documentary maker and film historian Paul Rotha. On 4th February 1968 she stabbed Rotha for the second time and was charged with attempted murder. She and Rotha married in 1974.
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
in the 1950s.
Biography
Smith was born into a poor family as the first of eleven children. Her father was a foot soldierInfantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, working for the Irish Army
Irish Army
The Irish Army, officially named simply the Army is the main branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland. Approximately 8,500 men and women serve in the Irish Army, divided into three infantry Brigades...
, and he died when Constance was eleven years old. Her mother was not able to support all her children and Constance was sent to a convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
. When Smith won a Dublin beauty contest
Beauty contest
A beauty pageant or beauty contest, is a competition that mainly focuses on the physical beauty of its contestants, although such contests often incorporate personality, talent, and answers to judges' questions as judged criteria...
at age 16, her mother sent the photo to a film studio. As a result, Smith won a screen test
Screen test
A screen test is a method of determining the suitability of an actor or actress for performing on film and/or in a particular role. The performer is generally given a scene, or selected lines and actions, and instructed to perform in front of a camera to see if they are suitable...
, and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the actress.
Smith moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she shortly attended the Rank Organisation
Rank Organisation
The Rank Organisation was a British entertainment company formed during 1937 and absorbed in 1996 by The Rank Group Plc. It was the largest and most vertically-integrated film company in Britain, owning production, distribution and exhibition facilities....
. Studio executives were unamused with Smith's attitude, and she was eventually fired before she made her breakthrough. She moved back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British B films. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in The Mudlark
The Mudlark
The Mudlark is a 1950 film made in Britain by 20th Century Fox, is a fictionalized account of how Queen Victoria was eventually brought out of her mourning for her dead husband, Prince Albert...
. Impressed with her performance, 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
offered her a contract. Upon her arrival in Hollywood, producer Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl F. Zanuck
Darryl Francis Zanuck was an American producer, writer, actor, director and studio executive who played a major part in the Hollywood studio system as one of its longest survivors...
casted her opposite Tyrone Power
Tyrone Power
Tyrone Edmund Power, Jr. , usually credited as Tyrone Power and known sometimes as Ty Power, was an American film and stage actor who appeared in dozens of films from the 1930s to the 1950s, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads such as in The Mark of Zorro, Blood and Sand, The Black Swan,...
in I'll Never Forget You (1951). However, he soon decided she was not experienced enough and replaced her with Ann Blyth
Ann Blyth
Ann Marie Blyth is an American actress and singer, often cast in Hollywood musicals, but also successful in dramatic roles. Her performance as Veda Pierce in the 1945 film Mildred Pierce was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.-Life and career:Blyth was born in Mount Kisco,...
.
She was most active in 1950s, appearing in Hollywood
Cinema of the United States
The cinema of the United States, also known as Hollywood, has had a profound effect on cinema across the world since the early 20th century. Its history is sometimes separated into four main periods: the silent film era, classical Hollywood cinema, New Hollywood, and the contemporary period...
features such as Man in the Attic
Man in the Attic
Man in the Attic is a 1953 mystery film directed by Hugo Fregonese. It was released in the United States on December 23 by Twentieth Century Fox...
(1953). Smith was also a presenter at the Academy Awards
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
ceremony in 1952.
She made her last film appearance in 1959. In 1962 she was sentenced to three months in prison for stabbing her boyfriend, the documentary maker and film historian Paul Rotha. On 4th February 1968 she stabbed Rotha for the second time and was charged with attempted murder. She and Rotha married in 1974.