Actress and theatrical performer Ethel Barrymore was a hugely accomplished and gifted American. She was partially destined to become an actor because she is a member of the Barrymore acting family. Young Barrymore, like other family members, couldn’t resist the allure of the theatre and soon began her career as a stage performer during the 1894–1895 New York City season. Barrymore’s youthful stage appearance, upbeat personality, and wit set her apart from other musicians of her generation. She became known as the “First Lady” of American theater thanks to her striking look and superb voice. Interestingly, during her London trip, the English were the ones who first noticed her undiscovered beauty and untapped skill. Barrymore didn’t just perform in plays; she also appeared in radio, television, and movies. For her work in the movie “None But A Lonely Heart,” she was also honored with an Academy Award. She launched the Shubert family’s 1928 opening of the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, which is still open and running today.
Early Childhood & Life
Maurice Barrymore and Georgiana Drew welcomed Ethel Mae Blythe into the world in Philadelphia on August 15, 1879. She was the second of the couple’s three children to be born. Young Ethel was a member of the Barrymore acting clan, which included her parents, brothers, aunts, and grandmother. As a result, it was not unexpected that Ethel would follow in her family’s footsteps and work in the entertainment industry.
She was educated in a variety of Roman Catholic institutions. It’s interesting to note that her first goal was to become a concert pianist. Barrymore, however, was unable to withstand the stage’s allure for very long.
Ethel Barrymore’s Career
Ethel made her stage debut in 1893, just after her mother passed away suddenly. She was enticed to join the troupe of her grandmother Louisa Lane Drew as a theatrical actress. During the 1894–1895 New York City season, Barrymore made her debut as a professional.
She was a natural on stage, helped by her distinct voice and eminently enjoyable personality. ‘The Imprudent Young Couple’ was the play she made her Broadway debut in 1895. She had an appearance in the drama “Rosemary” the year after.
She traveled to London in 1897 to assume the characterization of Miss Kittridge in William Gillette’s play “Secret Service.” She was given the chance to play with the legendary English theater actor Henry Irving thanks to her youthful stage presence and natural flair for acting. She then went on a lengthy London tour, appearing in two plays—”The Bells” in 1897 and “Peter the Great” in 1898.
After having great success in London, Barrymore came back to the United States. She already had a solid track record as a theatrical performer. She was then cast in “Catherine” by Charles Frohman and afterward in “His Excellency the Governor.”
Despite having a flourishing career, Ethel made a significant breakthrough with Clyde Fitch’s play “Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines” in 1901. She received significant praise and fame for her portrayal of Madame Trentoni, and she went on to become a well-known actress in her own right. She had eclipsed well-known actors of her era in popularity after the tour.
After her outstanding performance in “Captain Jinks,” she went on to star in some of the most illustrious plays, such as “A Doll’s House,” “Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire,” “Mid-Channel,” “Trelawney of the Wells,” “Déclassée,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,” “The Constant Wife,” “Scarlet Sister Mary,” She opened the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City, which bears her name, in 1928. ‘The Kingdom of God’ was the first play presented in the theater. The theater is still in operation today with the same name.
Despite her first love being the stage, Drew Barrymore did not avoid the silver screen because she saw its promise. With the release of “The Nightingale” in 1914, she made her debut on the big screen. She appeared in more than 15 silent movies up to 1919. She had a prominent activist role and was an ardent supporter of the Actors Equity Association. She had a prominent role in the 1919 actor’s strike and actively supported it.
She appeared in just one movie between the 1920s and 1930s, “Rasputin and the Empress,” where she co-starred with her two brothers, John and Lionel. The three siblings only appear in this movie. After “Rasputin and the Empress,” she said goodbye to Hollywood and focused her efforts on the theater for a decade. She developed her most captivating stage act during this time, “The Corn is Green,” during this period.
She shifted her base to Hollywood in the 1940s. She played a struggling Cockney mother in the contemplative 1944 film “None But A Lonely Heart.” She won her first Academy Award for the movie’s Best Supporting Actress category. In 1949, she was nominated for an Academy Award in the same category for the film “Pinky.”
She appeared in numerous films during the 1940s, such as “The Spiral Staircase” (1946), “The Paradine Case” (1947), and “The Portrait of Jennie” (1948). ‘Johnny Trouble,’ which was released in 1957, was her final acting project.
In addition to acting in movies, Barrymore also built a name for herself in television, making guest appearances on NBC’s All-Star Revue and the radio program “What’s My Line?” Her autobiography, “Memoir, An Autobiography,” was released in 1955.
Ethel’s Bigger Works
‘Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines’ was Barrymore’s most successful project. She took on the role of Madame Trenton for the television program. She gained fame immediately after her performance and was praised for being a gifted and young stage performer. She then appeared in several theater productions, including “A Doll’s House,” “Alice By the Fire,” “Mid-Channel,” and “Trelawney of the Wells,” all of which featured her in the title character.
She first tried her hand at the big screen after building a name for herself on stage. In her career, she appeared in almost 15 silent films, but ‘None But A Lonely Heart’, for which she earned an Academy Award, included her best performance.
Recognition & Achievements
She received the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her exceptional work in the film “None But A Lonely Heart.”
Personal Legacy & Life
Young Winston Churchill had become friends with Ethel on her 1898 tour of London, and after being enamored with her beauty, elegance, and grace, he proposed to her. But she turned down the offer since she didn’t want to marry a politician.
On March 14, 1909, she and Russel Griswold Colt exchanged vows. Three children were a blessing for the couple. Early on, the marriage was in trouble; Ethel only requested a divorce in 1911. In 1923, the two finally parted ways. Although she was entitled to alimony, she insisted that her children receive the money instead.
She had heart issues for years before passing away on June 18, 1959, due to cardiovascular disease. In the Calvary Cemetery, she was laid to rest. Ethel Barrymore Theatre, which still stands today and serves as a constant reminder of Barrymore’s enormous contribution as a theatre artist and performer, was something she initiated long before she passed away. She and her brothers John and Lionel were inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame together.
Estimated Net Worth
One of the wealthiest stage actors from the United States is Ethel. According to our research, Ethel Barrymore has a net worth of $5 million, as reported by Forbes, Wikipedia, and Business Insider.
Trivia
She co-starred with her two brothers, John and Lionel, in the movie “Rasputin and the Empress,” where she played the lead role. The three siblings only appear in this movie.