All The Babes
Joan Fontaine
Also known as Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland
Career
Active 1935 – 1994
Biography
About Joan Fontaine
Joan Fontaine was a British actress who worked in Hollywood for nearly sixty years, from 1935 to 1994. She appeared in more than 45 films, often playing elegant, poised characters. She was nominated for the Best Actress Oscar three times, winning once for Suspicion (1941). She also earned two New York Film Critics Circle Award nominations, winning that award once as well.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, and raised partly in California, Fontaine was the sister of fellow actress Olivia de Havilland. The two had a famously strained relationship, a fact that drew public interest throughout her career. Standing 5'4" with a slim build and brown hair, she brought a refined presence to the screen. She died in 2013 at the age of 96.
Record
Profile details
Frequently asked
How does her Oscar win in Suspicion relate to her other nominations?
Joan Fontaine won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Suspicion (1941), which was her second of three Oscar nominations. She also received nominations for Rebecca (1940) and The Constant Nymph (1943).
What is known about her relationship with her sister Olivia de Havilland?
The sisters had a famously contentious relationship, which was widely covered by the press. Their rivalry was a notable aspect of her public life.
Did you know
- She was born in Tokyo, Japan, to British parents, making her a British national by birth.
- Her career began at age 18 and spanned 59 years, ending in 1994.
- She was nominated for both an Academy Award and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for the same film, Suspicion (1941), winning both.
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