Elegant, sophisticated British lead and supporting actress who fluctuated between stage and screen on both sides of the Atlantic. First wife of Laurence Olivier (1930-40), with whom she went to Hollywood for a screen test in 1931; both secured contracts with RKO, but Esmond was judged the more desirable film property and made several Hollywood films, often playing socialites, before returning to the London stage with Olivier in the early 1930s. She became a supporting player during the 1940s. Mother of Olivier's first son, (Simon) Tarquin Olivier.
Education
-
Bedales School, Hampshire, England, 1913-23
-
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, London, England
Milestones
-
1922 First role on London stage as Nibs in "Peter Pan", starring Gladys Cooper
-
1924 Returned to stage in "Eternal Spring"
-
1925 Acted with mother Eva Moore in stage play "Mary, Mary Quite Contrary"
-
1925 Appeared in Noel Coward's "Hay Fever"
-
1927 Breakthrough theatrical role, a suicide in "Outward Bound"
-
1928 Met Laurence Olivier when they appeared together on stage in London in "Bird in Hand"
-
1928 Starred in Broadway production of "Bird in Hand"; Olivier was not invited to reprise his role in NYC
-
1930 Film acting debut in the British "The Chinese Bungalow"; billed as Jill Esmond-Moore
-
1930 Returned to London
-
1930 Returned to USA to co-star with Olivier on Broadway in Coward's "Private Lives"
-
1931 Appeared in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Skin Game"
-
1931 Hollywood debut, "Once a Lady"
-
1933 Returned to London
-
1939 Made early TV appearance in the BBC presentation "Prison Without Bars"
-
1940 Moved to the USA (New York City) to avoid the repeated bombings in London during WWII; lived with Jessica Tandy
-
1941 Relocated to Los Angeles; shared a house with Ella Donat and her children
-
1942 Acted in "Eagle Squadron"; son Tarquin made film debut
-
1942 Co-starred with Gregory Peck and Gladys Cooper in the short-lived Broadway production "Morning Star"
-
1942 Had featured role in "Random Harvest"
-
1945 Returned to London
-
1946 Appeared in the West End and on tour in "The Eagle Has Two Heads"
-
1946 Appeared as the Queen in "The Bandit of Sherwood Forrest"; mother Eva Moore had small role in film
-
1955 Final feature, "A Man Called Peter"; played the title character's Scottish mother
-
1955 Had recurring role as Queen Eleanor on "The Adventures of Robin Hood"
-
Put under contract by RKO
-
Was a strong candidate for female lead in George Cukor's "A Bill of Divorcement" (1932); lost part to Katharine Hepburn