Una O'Connor (actress)

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Una O'Connor (born Agnes Teresa McGlade; 23 October 1880 – 4 February 1959) was an Irish-born American actress who worked extensively in theatre before becoming a character actress in film and in television. She often portrayed comical wives, housekeepers and servants. In 2020, she was listed at number 19 on The Irish Times list of Ireland's greatest film actors.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Life and work

O'Connor was born to a Catholic nationalist family at 14 Alexander Street West in Belfast, Ireland. She was the daughter of James McGlade, a publican, and the former Maria Murphy.Template:Cn Her mother died when she was two; her father was a landowner/ farmer, ensuring that the family always had income from family land.<ref name=cockney>"Notes on a Cockney Accent," New York Times (1 September 1940).</ref> He soon left for Australia and McGlade was brought up by an aunt, studying at St Dominic's School, Belfast, convent schools and in Paris. Thinking she would pursue teaching, she enrolled in the South Kensington School of Art.<ref name=cockney/>

Before taking up teaching duties, she enrolled in the Abbey School of Acting (affiliated with Dublin's Abbey Theatre).<ref name=cockney/> Her career with the Abbey lasted from 1912 - 1934 where she performed in many productions; these are listed in the Abbey Theatre Archives.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She changed her name when she began her acting career with the Abbey Theatre. One of her earliest appearances was in George Bernard Shaw's The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet in which she played the part of a swaggering American ranch girl. The production played in Dublin as well as in New York, opening 20 November 1911 at the Maxine Elliott Theatre, marking O'Connor's American debut.<ref name=cockney/><ref>"The Irish Players," Billboard (2 December 1911), pp. 8, 49.</ref>

By 1913, she was based in London, where she appeared in The Magic Jug, The Starlight Express (1915-16 at the Kingsway Theatre), and Paddy the Next Best Thing. In the early 1920s, she appeared as a cockney maid in Plus Fours followed in 1924 by her portrayal of a cockney waitress in Frederick Lonsdale's The Fake.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a single paragraph review, an unnamed reviewer noted "Una O'Connor's low comedy hotel maid was effectively handled."<ref>"London Sees 'The Fake'," Billboard (22 March 1924), p. 21.</ref> The latter show also played in New York (with O'Connor in the cast), opening 6 October 1924 at the Hudson Theatre. A review of the New York performances of The Fake recounts details of the plot, but then mentions

two players of more than ordinary excellence. In the third act of The Fake occurs a scene between Una O'Connor and Godfrey Tearle, with Miss O'Connor as a waitress trying a crude sort of flirtation with Mr. Tearle. He does not respond at all and the longing, the pathos of this servant girl when she has exhausted her charms and receives no encouragement, is the very epitome of what careful character portrayal should be. Miss O'Connor is on the stage for only this single act, but in that short space of time she registers an indelible impression. Rightly, she scored one of the best hits of the performance.<ref>Gordon Whyte, "New Plays on Broadway: 'The Fake'," Billboard (18 October 1924), p. 36.</ref>

These two plays in which she portrayed servants and waitresses appear to have portended her future career. Returning to London, she played in The Ring o' Bells (November 1925), Autumn Fire (March 1926), Distinguished Villa (May 1926),<ref name=cockney/> and Quicksands of Youth (July 1926).<ref>"The Playmates," The Stage (8 July 1926), p. 20.</ref> When Autumn Fire toured the U.S., opening first in Providence, Rhode Island, a critic wrote: "Una O'Connor, who plays Ellen Keegan, the poor drudge of a daughter, bitter against life and love, does fine work. Her excellence will undoubtedly win her the love of an American public."<ref>"Plays Out Of Town: Autumn Fire," Variety (27 October 1926), p.98.</ref>

She made her first appearance on film in Dark Red Roses (1929), followed by Murder! (1930) directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and an uncredited part in To Oblige a Lady (1931).

Despite her lengthy apprenticeship, she had attracted little attention. British critic Eric Johns recalled meeting her in 1931 in which she confessed: "I don't know what I'm going to do if I don't get work ... The end of my savings is in sight and unless something happens soon, I'll not be able to pay the rent".<ref name=Johns>Eric Johns, "Fame Came at Fifty to Una O'Connor," The Stage (12 February 1959).</ref> Her luck changed when she was chosen by Noël Coward to appear in Cavalcade at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane in 1933. When she expressed surprise that Coward had noticed her, Coward replied that he had watched her for years and wrote the part with her in mind.<ref name=Johns/> She portrayed an Edwardian servant who transforms herself into a self-made woman.<ref name=Johns/> When the curtain came down after a performance attended by Hollywood executives, they exclaimed to each other "We must have that Irish woman. That is obvious".<ref name=Johns/> Her success led her to reprise her role in the film version of Cavalcade, released in 1933, and with its success, O'Connor decided to remain in the United States.

Among O'Connor's most successful and best remembered roles are her comic performances in James Whale's The Invisible Man (1933) as the publican's wife, and in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) as the Baron's housekeeper. She also appeared in two films for director John Ford: The Informer (1935) and The Plough and the Stars (1936). Feeling homesick, in 1937 she returned to London for twelve months in the hope of finding a good part but found nothing that interested her. While in England she appeared in three live BBC Television productions,<ref name=imdb>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> including a play by Irish playwright Teresa Deevy called In Search of Valour (1939)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> in which she played the part of Stasia Claremorris. After her return to America, the storage facility that housed her furniture and car was destroyed in one of The Blitz strikes, which she took as a sign to remain in America.<ref name=Johns/>

Her film career continued with roles in Michael Curtiz's The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938) and The Sea Hawk (1940); and in Leo McCarey's The Bells of St. Mary's (1944). She appeared in stage productions in supporting roles and achieved an outstanding success in the role of Janet McKenzie, the nearly deaf housemaid, in Agatha Christie's Witness for the Prosecution at Henry Miller's Theatre on Broadway from 1954 to 1956; she also appeared in the film version in 1957, directed by Billy Wilder. As one of the witnesses, in what was essentially a serious drama, O'Connor's character was intended to provide comic relief. It was her final film performance.<ref name=Johns/>

After a break from her initial forays in television, she took up the medium again by 1950.<ref name=imdb/> In 1952, she was able to state that she had been in 38 productions that year alone.<ref name=tv>Una O'Connor, "Television in America," The Stage (20 November 1952), p. 7.</ref> In a rare article written by O'Connor, she called working in television "the most exacting and nerve-racking experience that has ever come my way. It is an attempt to do two things at once, a combination of stage and screen techniques with the compensations of neither".<ref name=tv/> Observing many actors disliked television work, O'Connor took the opposite view in liking the medium it because it allowed her to play many parts. She lamented that preparation for television work was too short a period for an actor to fully realize the depths of role characterization, but it showed an actor's mettle by the enormous amount of work needed. "Acting talent alone is not enough for the job. It requires intense concentration, an alert-quickmindedness that can take changes in direction at the last minute".<ref name=tv/> O'Connor concluded presciently: "It sounds fantastic and that is just exactly what it is, but it also an expanding field of employment that has come to stay. As such it is more than welcome here, where the living theatre seems determinedly headed the opposite way".<ref name=tv/>

Reportedly she was "happily resigned" to being typecast as a servant. "There's no such thing as design in an acting career. You just go along with the tide. Nine times out of ten one successful part will set you in a rut from which only a miracle can pry you".<ref>"Una O'Connor Dies; Played Servant Roles," New York Herald Tribune (6 February 1959).</ref>

Her weak heart was detected in 1932 when her arrival in America began with detention at Ellis Island because of a "congenital heart condition".<ref>"U.S. Admits Una O'Connor; British Actress's Heart Ailment Causes Special Inquiry," New York Herald Tribune (20 September 1932).</ref> By the time of her appearance in the stage version of Witness for the Prosecution she had to stay in bed all day, emerging only to get to the theater and then leaving before the curtain call in order to return to her bed. Her appearance in the film version was intended to be her last.<ref name=Johns/>

Critical responses

Eric Johns described O'Connor as

... a frail little woman, with enormous eyes that reminded one of a hunted animal. She could move one to tears with the greatest of ease, and just as easily reduce an audience to helpless laughter in comedies of situation. She was mistress of the art of making bricks without straw. She could take a very small part, but out of the paltry lines at her disposal, create a real flesh-and-blood creature, with a complete and credible life of its own.<ref name=Johns/>

She admired John Galsworthy and claimed to have read all his works.<ref name=Johns/>

She once said "Acting is a gift from God. It is like a singer's voice. I might quite easily wake up one morning to find that it has been taken from me."<ref name=Johns/>

Personal life and death

O'Connor became an American citizen on 3 March 1952.<ref>Naturalization paperwork for Una O'Connor; ancestry.com; accessed 11 November 2015.</ref> She had been living at the Windsor House at 100 West 58th Street in Manhattan.<ref name=cockney/> She died, having never married nor had children, in New York City from heart disease, aged 78, on 4 February 1959 at the Mary Manning Walsh Home. She is interred in Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York.<ref>Wilson, Scott. Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.: 2 (Kindle Locations 25047-25048). McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. Kindle Edition.</ref>

Complete filmography

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Stage credits

Dates are of the first performance.

Date (year, month, day) Title Author(s) City Theater Role
1911-11-20 The Playboy of the Western World John Millington Synge New York City Maxine Elliott's Theatre IBDB.<ref>IBDB.com</ref>
1911-11-20 The Well of the Saints John Millington Synge New York City Maxine Elliott's Theatre IBDB.<ref>IBDB.com</ref>
1911-12-15 The Shewing-Up of Blanco Posnet George Bernard Shaw New York City Maxine Elliott's Theatre Jessie<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1912-02-12 The Countess Cathleen William Butler Yeats Dublin Abbey Theatre Angel<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1912-02-16 An Tincear agus an t-Sidheog Douglas Hyde Dublin Abbey Theatre Bean Og<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1912-02-22 The Land of Heart's Desire William Butler Yeats Dublin Abbey Theatre Maire Bruin<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1912-02-29 Spreading the News Lady Gregory Dublin Abbey Theatre Mrs. Fallon<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1912-10-03 The Country Dressmaker George Fitzmaurice Dublin Abbey Theatre Ellie Clohessy<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1913-01-03 The Dean of St. Patrick's G. Sidney Paternoster Dublin Abbey Theatre Mistress Anne Long<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1913-02-20 Hannele Gerhart Hauptmann Dublin Abbey Theatre Sister Martha<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1913-04-17 The Stronger August Strindberg translated by Edith and Warner Oland Dublin Abbey Theatre Mdlle. Y<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1913-04-17 Broken Faith Suzanne R. Day and Geraldine Cummins Dublin Abbey Theatre Mrs. Gara<ref>Abbey Theatre Archives</ref>
1913-06-28 The Country Dressmaker George Fitzmaurice London Royal Court Theatre MinTemplate:Sfn
1913-06-28 The Magic Glasses George Fitzmaurice London Royal Court Theatre Aunt JugTemplate:Sfn
1915-12-29 The Starlight Express Algernon Blackwood London Kingsway Theatre GrannieTemplate:Sfn
1916-01-18 Bauldy Patrick Wilson London Royalty Theatre Martha DoyleTemplate:Sfn
1916-02-25 The Holy Bond Monica Ewer London New Theatre MaryTemplate:Sfn
1917-12-16 Insurrection W. F. Casey London Criterion Theatre Nora O'ConnellTemplate:Sfn
1920-04-05 Paddy the Next Best Thing W. Gayer Mackay and Robert Ord (Edith Ostlere) London Strand Theatre Miss O'HaraTemplate:Sfn
1923-01-17 Plus Fours Horace Annesley Vachell and Harold Simpson London Haymarket Theatre Mrs. PlumbridgeaTemplate:Sfn
1923-12-26 Paddy the Next Best Thing Gayer Mackay and Robert Ord (Edith Ostlere) London Savoy Theatre Miss O'HaraTemplate:Sfn
1924-03-13 The Fake Frederick Lonsdale London Apollo Theatre WaitressTemplate:Sfn
1925-05-10 By Right of Conquest Michael Morton London Scala Theatre AnnieTemplate:Sfn
1925-07-01 The Show John Galsworthy London St Martin's Theatre CookTemplate:Sfn
1925-07-01 The Ring o' Bells Neil Lyons London Comedy Theatre Miss BibbyTemplate:Sfn
1926-01-20 The Man Who Was Thursday Ada Elizabeth Chesterton and Ralph Neale London Everyman Theatre CookTemplate:Sfn
1926-01-31 Beyond the Horizon Eugene O'Neill London Regent Theatre Mrs. AtkinsTemplate:Sfn
1926-03-28 The Rescue Party Phyllis Morris London Regent Theatre MaidTemplate:Sfn
1926-04-13 Autumn Fire T. C. Murray London Little Theatre Ellen KeeganTemplate:Sfn
1926-05-02 Distinguished Villa Kate O'Brien London Aldwych Theatre Mabel HemworthTemplate:Sfn
1926-07-04 Quicksands of Youth Roy Jordan London Scala Theatre Mrs. RedmainTemplate:Sfn
1927-07-18 The Village Vere Sullivan London Globe Theatre Martha SmithTemplate:Sfn
1927-09-11 Chance Acquaintance John Van Druten London Strand Theatre Miss CathcartTemplate:Sfn
1927-09-24 Master Marjorie Ling London Arts Theatre Mrs. KerridgeTemplate:Sfn
1927-10-23 Mr. Sleeman Hjalmar Bergman London Arts Theatre Mrs. MinaTemplate:Sfn
1927-09-11 Chance Acquaintance John Van Druten London Criterion Theatre Miss CathcartTemplate:Sfn
1927-11-14 The Big Drum Harold Holland London Adelphi Theatre Mrs. JowettTemplate:Sfn
1927-12-11 Tamaresque Clive Currie London Strand Theatre Mrs. BonnettTemplate:Sfn
1927-12-13 The Soul of Nicholas Snyders Jerome K. Jerome London Everyman Theatre Dame ToelastTemplate:Sfn
1928-02-06 Macbeth William Shakespeare London Royal Court Theatre Third WitchTemplate:Sfn
1928-03-11 Nicholas Nickleby H. Sims, adapted from Charles Dickens London Arts Theatre Fanny SqueersTemplate:Sfn
1928-03-25 The Way Lady Constance Malleson London Arts Theatre GretaTemplate:Sfn
1928-03-25 Love in a Village Isaac Bickerstaffe and Thomas Arne London Lyric Theatre Mrs. Deborah WoodcockTemplate:Sfn
1928-07-01 The Tragic Muse Hubert Griffith London Arts Theatre Mme. CarréTemplate:Sfn
1928-10-25 Birthright T. C. Murray London Arts Theatre Maura MorrisseyTemplate:Sfn
1928-11-05 The Silver Box John Galsworthy London Everyman Theatre Mrs. JonesTemplate:Sfn
1928-12-09 Wrongs and Rights Gordon Whitehead London Strand Theatre Fanny HuntTemplate:Sfn
1928-12-22 The Passing of the Third Floor Back Jerome K. Jerome London Everyman Theatre Miss KiteTemplate:Sfn
1929-03-08 The Pleasure Garden Beatrice Mayor London Everyman Theatre Clergyman's wifeTemplate:Sfn
1929-05-05 After All John Van Druten London Apollo Theatre Miss MinnisterTemplate:Sfn
1929-05-15 Wrongs and Rights Gordon Whitehead London Strand Theatre Fanny HuntTemplate:Sfn
1929-06-19 Exiled John Galsworthy London Wyndham's Theatre WomanTemplate:Sfn
1929-10-11 The Silver Tassie Sean O'Casey London Apollo Theatre Mrs. ForanTemplate:Sfn
1929-12-23 The Passing of the Third Floor Back Jerome K. Jerome London Everyman Theatre Miss KiteTemplate:Sfn
1930-06-18 Long Shadows Philip Johnson London Everyman Theatre Mrs. DoddTemplate:Sfn
1930-09-01 The Far-Off Hills Lennox Robinson London Everyman Theatre Ellen NolanTemplate:Sfn
1930-10-26 Chassis Aubrey Ensor London Apollo Theatre Bridget MaloneyTemplate:Sfn
1931-02-17 Etienne Gilbert Wakefield London St James's Theatre Cousin ValérieTemplate:Sfn
1931-02-22 Something Strange Frank Vosper London Phoenix Theatre Mrs. HighleyTemplate:Sfn
1931-03-15 The Accomplice Frank Popham-Young London Arts Theatre MercyTemplate:Sfn
1931-03-15 The Gaol Gate Lady Gregory London Arts Theatre Mary CushinTemplate:Sfn
1931-03-15 Love at First SightTemplate:Sfn - London Arts Theatre
1931-03-15 The Perfect Plot Aubrey Ensor London Arts Theatre Sara AllgoodTemplate:Sfn
1931-03-15 Strange Adventure of a Maiden Lady Rosalind Wade London Arts Theatre Maiden LadyTemplate:Sfn
1931-10-13 Cavalcade Noël Coward London Drury Lane Theatre Ellen BridgesTemplate:Sfn
1931-10-25 The Nag's Head Ernest George London Arts Theatre BarmaidTemplate:Sfn
1939-02-12 The Appointment Reginald Purdell London Vaudeville Theatre WomanTemplate:Sfn
1945-09-24 The Ryan Girl Edmund Goulding New York City Plymouth Theatre Weavy Hicks<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-ryan-girl-1724#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>
1948-03-02 The Linden Tree J. B. Priestley New York City Music Box Theatre Mrs. Cotton<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-linden-tree-1810#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>
1949-01-18 The Shop at Sly Corner Edward Percy New York City Booth Theatre Mrs. Catt<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-shop-at-sly-corner-2102#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>
1950-01-18 The Enchanted (English adaptation by Maurice Valency) Jean Giraudoux New York City Lyceum Theatre Leonide Mangebois<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-enchanted-1853#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>
1954-01-13 The Starcross Story Diana Morgan New York City Royale Theatre Ellen<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-starcross-story-2433#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>
1954-12-16 Witness for the Prosecution Agatha Christie New York City Henry Miller's Theatre Janet Mackenzie<ref>https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/witness-for-the-prosecution-2485#OpeningNightCast IBDB.com</ref>

Television

  • The Moon in the Yellow River (BBC 1938) as Aunt Columba
  • Death at Newtown-Stewart (BBC 1939)
  • In Search of Valour (BBC 1939) as Stasia Claremorris

References

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Sources

Further reading

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