Merle Oberon Autograph

Profession:
(1911-1979) Anglo-Indian actress

Year of Birth: 1903

Merle Oberon was an acclaimed British actress who had a remarkable career in Hollywood during the 1930s and 1940s. She was born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson on February 19, 1911 in Mumbai, India to a British father, Arthur Thompson, and an Indian mother, Charlotte Selby. Her parents were never married, and her father abandoned the family when she was three years old. She was raised by her mother and her aunt, Lilian Selby, who had a major influence on her life.

In 1921, Merle was sent to England to be educated at a convent school in Westgate-on-Sea. She was discovered by a talent scout for the British film company, Gainsborough Pictures, while she was attending school and made her film debut in The Private Life of Don Juan in 1934. She quickly became a star in the UK, appearing in a number of films for Gainsborough, including The Private Life of Henry VIII and The Scarlet Pimpernel.

In 1935, Merle moved to Hollywood where she was signed to a contract with RKO Pictures. She starred in a number of films, including The Dark Angel (1935), which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She went on to star in other films such as The Scarlet Empress (1934), Wuthering Heights (1939), and The Lodger (1944).

In addition to her film career, Merle was also an accomplished stage actress. She appeared in a number of Broadway productions, including A Kiss for Cinderella (1925) and The Swan (1926). She also appeared in a number of London productions, including The Mask of Virtue (1932) and The Doctor's Dilemma (1933).

Merle Oberon married twice during her lifetime. Her first marriage was to film producer Alexander Korda in 1939, which ended in divorce in 1945. She then married Bruno Pagliai, an Italian actor, in 1948. They remained married until his death in 1977.

Merle Oberon died on November 23, 1979 in Malibu, California at the age of 68. She was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. During her lifetime, she was seen as an accomplished actress who brought a sense of sophistication and elegance to every role she played. Her legacy as an actress is still remembered and celebrated today.