British actress Jean Simmons, known as much for her versatility as her stunning beauty, died of lung cancer Saturday at the age of 80. I love her in so many movies and I think she possessed the most beautiful speaking voice to ever grace a motion picture. So powerful and bewitching was her screen presence that we completely understood and believed that larger-than-life men – Brando, Kirk Douglas and Burt Lancaster — would fall head-over-heels for her because we fell right along with them. Here is my favorite Jean Simmons performance.
Over a career that spanned more than 60 years, she appeared in about 55 feature films and nearly as many television productions. All the talent in the world can’t pull a scene like that off without the right actress, and Jean Simmons was always the right actress. Pure movie star — beauty, talent, and above all, class. She will be missed.
She had that instantly recognizable voice. Epic.
ReplyDeleteI was home all weekend and hadn't heard the news. I really loved her movies although I saw more of her more current ones. I did love Guys and Dolls though. She will be missed.
ReplyDeleteOh what a loss to Hollywood. And you said it- what class she had.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real shame we will be left soon with no real style left in Hollywood soon. These new "movie stars" don't come close to the talent and style of old Hollywood! RIP Ms. Simmons.
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty she was.
ReplyDeleteShe was great and will be missed for sure. Thank goodness, we have all those films she made to remind us of her talent.
ReplyDeleteWhat a loss. She always sort of reminded me a little of Vivan Leigh.
ReplyDeleteI loved her in Guys and Dolls... the show that introduced a young drag queen to musical theatre! RIP!
ReplyDeleteWe miss her already.
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