Constance Worth
Encyclopedia
Constance Worth was an Australian actress who became a Hollywood star in the late 1930s.
Sydney before developing a career on stage in Australia and New Zealand with J. C. Williamson Ltd.
(1933) and The Silence of Dean Maitland
(1934). Cinesound paid for her to tour Australia as their rising star. Ken Hall
claimed Howarth’s first screen test showed “light and shade, good diction, no accent and (that) she undoubtedly could act with no sign of the self-consciousness which almost always characterised the amateur.” In late 1933, Smith's Weekly
raved enthusiastically about the young actress; "Young Joy Howarth who leapt into publicity when she became the Squatter's Daughter a few months ago, is just the big hit nowadays, and even George Fuller's "out every night" story pales into significance besides Joy's record of parties.”
In April 1936 she sailed for the United States and Hollywood. In October 1936 she signed a contract with RKO
, taking the leading female roles as Constance Worth, in China Passage and Windjammer, both made in 1937. RKO offered her no more films, and for the next twelve years she appeared in a mix of supporting and leading roles in a number of mostly B films. In 1941 she appeared in an uncredited minor role in Alfred Hitchock’s Suspicion, and in the same year, a leading role in the gangster B film Borrowed Hero. Her last film was a minor role in the 1949 Johnny Mack Brown
western Western Renegades. Throughout her career and as late as 1961, publicity in Australia repeatedly suggested she was on the verge of signing a major studio contract.
, but after only a few weeks they separated, and a divorce was granted the same year. The marriage and drama of the divorce attracted enormous newspaper publicity in Australia. Denis O’Brien comments that even in 1939 “the Weekly
was still dredging the Howarth saga” in its report on her latest film Mystery of the White Room (1939).
In January 1946 she was again in newspapers, cited in divorce proceedings by the wife of Hollywood scriptwriter W. A. Pierce. Both denied any impropriety, but within a year of his divorce they married.
In 1947 Australian newspapers reported that she had been severely injured in a car accident and had undergone plastic surgery. Constance Worth died, aged 51, in Hollywood on 18 October 1963, an “ordinary housewife”, reportedly from anemia. Ken Hall remarked "unhappy circumstances" surrounded her death.
She is occasionally mistaken for a British silent era film actress of the same name, active 1919–1922.
Early life and career
She was born Jocelyn Howarth in Sydney. She was also known as “Joy.” She attended Ascham SchoolAscham School
Ascham School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for girls', located in Edgecliff, an Eastern Suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
Sydney before developing a career on stage in Australia and New Zealand with J. C. Williamson Ltd.
Film career
As Jocelyn Howarth, she experienced success in Ken Hall’s films The Squatter's DaughterThe Squatter's Daughter
The Squatter's Daughter is a 1933 Australian melodrama starring Jocelyn Howarth. It is based on a 1907 play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan which had been previously filmed in 1910.-Synopsis:...
(1933) and The Silence of Dean Maitland
The Silence of Dean Maitland
-Synopsis:The plot concerns a clergyman, Cyril Maitland , living in a small seaside town, who impregnates the beautiful Alma Lee despite being engaged to another woman. When Alma's father Ben finds out about the pregnancy, he attacks Maitland and is killed in a fall...
(1934). Cinesound paid for her to tour Australia as their rising star. Ken Hall
Ken G. Hall
Kenneth George Hall, AO OBE , better known as Ken G. Hall, was an Australian film director, considered one of the most important figures in the history of the Australian film industry.-Early years:...
claimed Howarth’s first screen test showed “light and shade, good diction, no accent and (that) she undoubtedly could act with no sign of the self-consciousness which almost always characterised the amateur.” In late 1933, Smith's Weekly
Smith's Weekly
Smith's Weekly was an Australian tabloid newspaper published from 1919 to 1950. An independent weekly published in Sydney, but read all over Australia, Smith’s Weekly was one of Australia’s most patriotic newspaper-style magazines....
raved enthusiastically about the young actress; "Young Joy Howarth who leapt into publicity when she became the Squatter's Daughter a few months ago, is just the big hit nowadays, and even George Fuller's "out every night" story pales into significance besides Joy's record of parties.”
In April 1936 she sailed for the United States and Hollywood. In October 1936 she signed a contract with RKO
RKO Pictures
RKO Pictures is an American film production and distribution company. As RKO Radio Pictures Inc., it was one of the Big Five studios of Hollywood's Golden Age. The business was formed after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum theater chains and Joseph P...
, taking the leading female roles as Constance Worth, in China Passage and Windjammer, both made in 1937. RKO offered her no more films, and for the next twelve years she appeared in a mix of supporting and leading roles in a number of mostly B films. In 1941 she appeared in an uncredited minor role in Alfred Hitchock’s Suspicion, and in the same year, a leading role in the gangster B film Borrowed Hero. Her last film was a minor role in the 1949 Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown
Johnny Mack Brown was an All-American college football player and film actor originally billed as John Mack Brown at the height of his screen career.-Early life:...
western Western Renegades. Throughout her career and as late as 1961, publicity in Australia repeatedly suggested she was on the verge of signing a major studio contract.
Personal life
In May 1937 she married US actor George BrentGeorge Brent
George Brent was an Irish film and television actor in American cinema.-Early life:He was born George Brendan Nolan in Raharabeg, County Roscommon on the opposite bank of the River Shannon from the town of Shannonbridge, County Offaly, Ireland, the son of a British Army officer.During the Irish...
, but after only a few weeks they separated, and a divorce was granted the same year. The marriage and drama of the divorce attracted enormous newspaper publicity in Australia. Denis O’Brien comments that even in 1939 “the Weekly
Australian Women's Weekly
The Australian Women's Weekly is an Australian monthly women's magazine published by ACP Magazines, a division of PBL Media based in Sydney. Audited circulation in 2009 exceeded 500,000 copies monthly, making it the largest magazine in Australia.-History:...
was still dredging the Howarth saga” in its report on her latest film Mystery of the White Room (1939).
In January 1946 she was again in newspapers, cited in divorce proceedings by the wife of Hollywood scriptwriter W. A. Pierce. Both denied any impropriety, but within a year of his divorce they married.
In 1947 Australian newspapers reported that she had been severely injured in a car accident and had undergone plastic surgery. Constance Worth died, aged 51, in Hollywood on 18 October 1963, an “ordinary housewife”, reportedly from anemia. Ken Hall remarked "unhappy circumstances" surrounded her death.
She is occasionally mistaken for a British silent era film actress of the same name, active 1919–1922.
Select Filmography
- The Squatter's DaughterThe Squatter's DaughterThe Squatter's Daughter is a 1933 Australian melodrama starring Jocelyn Howarth. It is based on a 1907 play by Bert Bailey and Edmund Duggan which had been previously filmed in 1910.-Synopsis:...
(1933) - The Silence of Dean MaitlandThe Silence of Dean Maitland-Synopsis:The plot concerns a clergyman, Cyril Maitland , living in a small seaside town, who impregnates the beautiful Alma Lee despite being engaged to another woman. When Alma's father Ben finds out about the pregnancy, he attacks Maitland and is killed in a fall...
(1934) - China Passage (1937)
- WindjammerWindjammer (1937 film)Windjammer is a 1937 American film directed by Ewing Scott.- Cast :*George O'Brien as Bruce Lane*Constance Worth as Betty Selby*William Hall as Captain Morgan*Brandon Evans as Commodore Russell P. Selby*Gavin Gordon as J. Montague Forsythe...
(1937) - Meet Boston BlackieMeet Boston BlackieMeet Boston Blackie is a 1941 crime film starring Chester Morris as Boston Blackie, a notorious, but honorable jewel thief. Although the character had been the hero of a number of silent films, this was the first talking picture...
(1941) - Boston Blackie goes to Hollywood (1942)
- G-Men vs the Black DragonG-Men vs the Black DragonG-Men vs The Black Dragon is a Republic Pictures Movie serial. It is noteworthy among adventure serials as containing an unusually high number of fistfights, all staged by director William Witney and a team of stuntmen....
(1943) - Klondike Kate (1943)
- DilingerDillinger (1945 film)Dillinger is a 1945 gangster film telling the story of John Dillinger. The film was directed by Max Nosseck. Dillinger was the first major film to star Lawrence Tierney. The B-movie was shot in black and white and features a smoke-bomb bank robbery edited into the film from the 1937 Fritz Lang...
(1945)