Jean Gillie

Also known as Jean Coomber, Jean Mabel Coomber

Actress (former)

Born: Oct 14, 1915
nationality: British

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Career

Active 1935 – 1947

Biography

About Jean Gillie

Edited by the community

British actress Jean Gillie is best remembered for her femme fatale turn in the 1946 film noir Decoy, a role that made her a cult figure decades after her early death. Born Jean Mabel Coomber in London on October 14, 1915, she began on stage in 1932 and made her film debut in the musical comedy His Majesty and Co (1935). Her smoldering looks and comedic timing caught the attention of musical hall star Jack Buchanan, who cast her in Brewster's Millions (1935) and later in This'll Make You Whistle (1936), Sweet Devil (1938), and The Middle Watch (1940). She also played lead roles in School for Stars (1935), While Parents Sleep (1935), The Live Wire (1937), and the title role in Tilly of Bloomsbury (1940). During the early 1940s she shifted to dramatic parts, appearing in the WWII propaganda film The Gentle Sex (1943) and as Simon Templar's love interest in The Saint Meets the Tiger (1941). She returned to lighter fare with Tawny Pipit (1944) and Flight from Folly (1945) before meeting associate producer Jack Bernhard, who changed her career path forever.

Gillie married Bernhard in May 1944 while he was stationed in England during WWII. After his discharge, he brought her to America, intending to mold her into a Hollywood star. In 1946, while she was working on The Macomber Affair, Bernhard produced and directed Decoy, casting her as the villainous Margot Shelby. In the film, she runs over a man, steals another's love, and nearly kills a detective before meeting her end. Despite her performance, American audiences did not accept her British accent, and the camera revealed she was already well into her thirties. Her marriage to Bernhard fell apart, and they divorced in 1947. She returned to England in 1948, but died allegedly of pneumonia on February 19, 1949, at age 33. She was never heard from again and achieved near total anonymity until her premature death. Today she is remembered for that one iconic role in Decoy, which has since gained a cult following.

Profile details

Personal

Died: Saturday 19th of February 1949 (age 33)
Years Active: 1935-1947 (started around 19 years old; 12 years active)
Birthplace: London, City of London, England, United Kingdom
Ethnicity: Caucasian
Sexuality: Straight

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Frequently asked

How did Jean Gillie end up in Hollywood?

She married American associate producer Jack Bernhard in May 1944, and after his WWII discharge, he brought her to the US to build her into a film star.

Why did her Hollywood career stall?

American audiences failed to accept her British accent, and film cameras could not hide that she was well into her thirties.

Who directed her in Decoy?

Her husband at the time, Jack Bernhard, produced and directed Decoy and cast her as Margot Shelby.