Jessie Matthews was a British dancer, born in 1907 in Soho, who died in 1981.
Biography
Jessie Margaret Matthews (11 March 1907 – 19 August 1981) was an English actress, dancer and singer who rose to fame in the 1920s and 1930s, with her career continuing into the post-war period.
After a string of hit stage musicals and films in the mid-1930s, such as Evergreen, Matthews developed a following in the United States, where she was dubbed "The Dancing Divinity". Her British studio was reluctant to let go of its biggest name, however, which resulted in offers for her to work in Hollywood being repeatedly rejected.
After the decline of her film career, Matthews achieved a comeback in her native Britain when she took over the role of Mary Dale in the popular BBC Radio serial The Dales (previously known as Mrs Dale's Diary).
Contemporaries
William Chappell
dancer, ballet designer (1907–1994)
Christianna Brand
British writer (1907-1988)
Gretchen Franklin
English actress (1911-2005)
Elsa Lanchester
British-American actress (1902–1986)
Alex Moore
British dancer (1901–1991)
Rosemary Du Cros
aviator, one of the 'first eight' female pilots in Air Transport Auxiliary (1901-1994)
Facts from Wikidata (Q459294), CC0.