Valerie Hobson

Birthday: 1917-04-14
Deathday: 1998-11-13
Birthplace: Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

Valerie Hobson (14 April 1917 – 13 November 1998) was a British actress who appeared in a number of British films during the 1940s and 1950s. She was born Babette Valerie Louise Hobson in Larne, County Antrim, Ireland.

She appeared as Baroness Frankenstein in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) with Boris Karloff and Colin Clive, taking over the role from Mae Clarke, who had played it in the original Frankenstein (1931). Hobson also played opposite Henry Hull that same year in Werewolf of London, the first Hollywood werewolf movie, predating The Wolf Man by six years.

The latter half of the 1940s saw Hobson in perhaps her two most memorable roles: as the adult Estella in David Lean's 1946 adaptation of Great Expectations, and as the refined and virtuous Edith D'Ascoyne in the 1949 black comedy Kind Hearts and Coronets.

In 1952 she divorced her first husband, film producer Sir Anthony Havelock-Allan (1904–2003), and married MP John Profumo (1915–2006) in 1954, giving up acting shortly afterwards

Valerie Hobson's last starring role was in the original London production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical play The King and I which opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane on October 8, 1953. She played Mrs. Anna Leonowens opposite Herbert Lom's King.

After Profumo's ministerial career ended in disgrace in 1963, following revelations he had lied to the House of Commons about his affair with Christine Keeler, she stood by him, and they worked together for charity for the remainder of her life.

Hobson's eldest son, Simon Anthony Clerveaux Havelock-Allan was born in May 1944 with Down's Syndrome. Her middle child, Mark Havelock-Allan, was born on 4 April 1951. Her youngest child is author David Profumo, (b. 16 October 1955) wrote Bringing the House Down (2006) about the scandal.

She died of a heart attack in London in 1998 and is buried in Surrey, England.

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Credits

Year Title Character
1954-09-30 Monsieur Ripois Catherine Ripois
1953-11-09 Background Barbie Lomax
1952-12-01 The Voice of Merrill Alycia Roche
1952-09-09 Meet Me Tonight Stella Cartwright
1952-06-09 Who Goes There! Alex Cornwall
1952-02-25 The Card Countess of Chell
1949-11-30 The Rocking Horse Winner Hester Grahame
1949-10-11 The Interrupted Journey Carol North
1949-06-21 Kind Hearts and Coronets Edith D'Ascoyne
1949-01-18 Train of Events Stella
1948-11-27 The Small Voice Eleanor Byrne
1948-02-19 Blanche Fury Blanche Fury
1946-12-26 Great Expectations Estella
1946-07-08 The Years Between Diana Wentworth
1943-10-01 The Adventures of Tartu Maruschuka Lanova
1942-08-10 Unpublished Story Carol Bennett
1941-09-06 Atlantic Ferry Mary Ann Morison
1940-05-11 Contraband Mrs. Sorensen
1939-08-03 The Spy in Black The School Mistress
1939-07-01 This Man in Paris Pat Drake
1939-03-01 The Silent Battle Draguisha
1939-02-21 Q Planes Kay Lawrence
1938-09-29 The Drum Mrs. Carruthers
1938-09-16 This Man Is News Pat Drake
1937-01-01 When Thief Meets Thief Glory Fane
1936-11-26 No Exit Laura Anstey
1936-10-15 Tugboat Princess Sally
1936-10-05 Secret of Stamboul Tania
1936-02-17 August Week End Claire Barry
1935-12-08 The Great Impersonation Eleanor Dominey
1935-05-31 Chinatown Squad Janet Baker
1935-05-13 Werewolf of London Lisa Glendon
1935-04-20 Bride of Frankenstein Elizabeth
1935-02-11 Rendezvous at Midnight Sandra Rogers
1935-02-04 The Mystery of Edwin Drood Helena Landless
1935-01-02 Life Returns Mrs. Kendrick
1934-11-30 Strange Wives Mauna
1934-10-08 The Path of Glory Maria
1934-03-11 Badger’s Green Molly Butler
1932-06-02 His Lordship Last Face in Montage (uncredited)