Jane Baxter

Jane Baxter ( 9 September 1909-13 September 1996) was an English actress and one of the most glamorous performers on the London stage in a career that spanned half a century. She also appeared in a number of films and in television.

Baxter was born Fedora Kathleen Alice Forde in Bremen, Germany to an Anglo-Irish naval engineer father and Hedwig von Dieskau of noble parentage. The latter had been lady-in-waiting to Princess Charlotte, sister of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Fedora was named after Charlotte's daughter who committed suicide in 1945. She was brought to London at the age of six and studied acting at the Italia Conti Academy. She made her debut on the London stage at the age of 13 in 1925 as an urchin in a short-lived musical, "Love's Prisoner". Her breakthrough occurred in 1928 when she substituted as Peter Pan for Jean Forbes-Robertson, being her understudy. On the advice of the play's author J. M. Barrie she changed her name to Jane Baxter. She was spotted by the writer Ian Hay, who suggested her for the lead in" A Damsel in Distress", a play he had written with P.G. Wodehouse.

She made her screen debut in 1930 in a B-movie, "Bed and Breakfast", and acted in a succession of films in the 1930s. She also performed in several West End shows and in 1935 she joined the repertory company at the Liverpool Playhouse. Here the leading actor was Michael Redgrave who found her "a delightful actress" and in time she became godmother to Redgrave's daughter, Vanessa. She had further success in London in 1937 with "George and Margaret" which ran for two years and in 1947 she co-starred on Broadway with John Gielgud and Margaret Rutherford in "The Importance of Being Earnest", in which she played Cicely Cardew. Another classic role in 1948 was Viola in "Twelfth Night" at the Old Vic, directed by Alec Guinness. After a year's run in "Dial M for Murder" in 1952, she continued to work in the theatre for 20 years her last West End appearance being in "A Voyage Round My Father", co-starring her friend Michael Redgrave. Her television work included plays and series such as "Upstairs, Downstairs", and her last appearance was in a 1992 documentary, "Missing Believed Lost", with John Mills. Baxter married Clive Dunfee, the racing driver, in 1930, and tragically saw him crash to his death in a race at Brooklands two years later. In 1939 she married Arthur Montgomery, a well-to-do quiet and stable businessman, with whom she had two daughters and one son.

Jane Baxter was described by Vallance as "the epitome of middle-class breeding - sensible and practical, pretty rather than glamorous, with a delicate complexion. Perfect elocution, a beaming smile and just a hint of the coquette behind the cool exterior." A pleasant, very balanced personality, she was modest about her own achievements, ascribing them to "good luck".Winston Churchill, an ardent fan, once described her as, "that charming lady whose grace personifies all that is best in British womanhood." A fitting comment, though a somewhat paradoxical one from him towards a person of Irish-German parentage, holding both nationalities in low esteem.

Filmography

*"Bed and Breakfast" (1930) Character: Audrey Corteline
*"Down River" (1931)
*"The Constant Nymph" (1933),
*"Wives Beware" (1933) Character: Alison Drury
*"The Night of the Party" (1934) Character: Peggy Studholme
*"We Live Again" (1934) Character: Missy Kortchagin
*"Blossom Time" (1934)
*"Enchanted April" (1935) Character: Lady Caroline
*"Line Engaged" (1935)
*"The Clairvoyant" (1935) Character: Christine Shawn
*"Drake of England" (1935) Character: Elizabeth Sydenham
*"Dusty Ermine" (1936) Character: Linda Kent
*"The Man Who Could Work Miracles" (1936)
*"April Blossoms" (1937) Character: Vicki
*"The Ware Case" (1938) Character: Margaret Ware
*"Chinese Bungalow" (1940) Character: Charlotte Merivale
*"Ships with Wings" (1941) Character:Celia Wetherby
*"The Flemish Farm" (1943) Character: Tresha

References

*Tom Vallance "Jane Baxter: Obituary" The Independent, London, Sep 17 1996