Jean Simmons

[scarlettina]

I woke this morning to news of the death of actress Jean Simmons. Ms. Simmons figures large in my education as a movie lover. With her roles in Spartacus and Guys and Dolls, she left a huge impression on me about what a great actress can achieve in a career. When she moved to working on TV, a move a great many actresses of her generation never managed but which would have saved their careers, I was delighted to find her in roles in The Thorn Birds and Star Trek: The Next Generation (in an episode in which she out-acted everyone else on screen) among others--wonderful character roles the left me almost more impressed with her than her leading-lady roles ever did.

Not only was she extraordinarily beautiful, she had a husky, distinctive voice that I can still summon in memory.

Respect and admiration, Ms. Simmons. And thanks for the wonderful hours of entertainment.

Comments

[garyomaha.livejournal.com]

Every time I see that userpic I could swear it's flickering, but when I stare at it, it doesn't move.

It's just too bad what the candle represents -- I always mutter "uh-oh" when an entry with that userpic shows up.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

I guess it's my online yarzheit candle. :(

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

This is the first I'd heard the news. Loved her as the femme fatale in Angel Face and as the young Indian (!) beauty, Kanchi, in Black Narcissus. What a career.

[skidspoppe.livejournal.com]

I actually met her once. It was amazing. I went to LA to see a friend who was doing Hamlet and Lear in rep and after one of the performances, the director called everyone into the theatre to introduce one of his guests, an elderly woman with vibrant eyes. We all sat mesmerized for the next two hours as she told stories of working with Olvier and others.

[scarlettina.livejournal.com]

How very, very cool! I have the Envy. :-)