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{{Short description|Irish actress (1929–2003)}}
{{Short description|Irish actress (1929–2003)}}
{{for|the English reinvigorator of Mothering Sunday|Constance Adelaide Smith}}
{{for|the English reinvigorator of Mothering Sunday|Constance Adelaide Smith}}
{{for|the missing child|Disappearance of Connie Smith}}
⚫
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Use Irish English|date=June 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
⚫
{{Use Irish English|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| image = Constance Smith.jpg
| image = Constance Smith in Man in the Attic.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| name = Constance Smith
| name = Constance Smith
| birthname =
| birthname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1929|2|7|df=yes}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|2|7|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Limerick]], Ireland
| birth_place = [[Limerick]], Ireland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|6|30|1928|1|22|df=yes}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2003|6|30|1929|2|7|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Islington]], [[London]], England
| death_place = [[Islington]], [[London]], England
| occupation = Actress
| occupation = Actress
| years_active = 1947–1959
| years_active = 1947–1959
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Bryan Forbes]]|1951|1955|end=divorced}}
| spouse = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|[[Bryan Forbes]]|1951|1955|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Araldo de Crollalanza|1956|end=annulled}}
* {{marriage|[[Paul Rotha]]|1974|1978|end=divorced}}
}}
}}
}}
'''Constance Smith''' (7 February 1929 – 30 June 2003) was an Irish film actress, and contract player of [[20th Century Fox]] in the 1950s.
'''Constance Smith''' (7 February 1929 – 30 June 2003) was an Irish film actress, and contract player of [[20th Century Fox]] in the 1950s.


==Early life==
==Early life==
Smith was born into a family as the first of 11 children.<ref name="oakland">''[[The Oakland Tribune]]'', 18 March 1962, Oakland, California. p.25: ''Do You Remember Constance Smith?''</ref> Her father was an [[infantry]]man, working for the [[Irish Army]], and he died when Constance was 11.<ref name="oakland" /> Her mother was not able to support all her children and Constance was sent to a [[convent]].<ref name="oakland" /> When Smith won a [[Dublin]] [[beauty contest]] at age 16 to find the girl who looked most like [[Hedy Lamarr]], Smith's mother sent the photo to a film studio.<ref name="oakland" /> As a result, Smith won a [[screen test]], and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the actress.<ref name="oakland" />
Smith was born into a family as the first of 11 children.<ref name="oakland">''[[The Oakland Tribune]]'', 18 March 1962, Oakland, California. p.25: ''Do You Remember Constance Smith?''</ref> Her father was an [[infantry]]man, working for the [[Irish Army]], and he died when Constance was a child.<ref name="oakland" /> Her mother was not able to support all her children and Constance was sent to a [[convent]].<ref name="oakland" /> When Smith won a [[Dublin]] [[beauty contest]] at age 16 to find the girl who looked most like [[Hedy Lamarr]], Smith's mother sent the photo to a film studio.<ref name="oakland" /> As a result, Smith won a [[screen test]], and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the actress.<ref name="oakland" />


==Career==
==Career==
Smith moved to [[London]], where she briefly joined the [[Rank Organisation]]. Studio executives were unamused by Smith's attitude, and she was eventually sacked before she made her breakthrough.<ref name="oakland" /> She moved back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British [[B film]]s. She had an uncredited role as a singer in the 1948 film noir ''[[Brighton Rock (1947 film)|Brighton Rock]]''. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in ''[[The Mudlark]]''. Impressed with her performance, [[20th Century Fox]] offered her a contract.<ref name="oakland" /> Upon her arrival in [[Hollywood]], producer [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] cast her opposite [[Tyrone Power]] in ''[[I'll Never Forget You (film)|I'll Never Forget You]]'' (1951). However, he soon decided Smith was not experienced enough and replaced her with [[Ann Blyth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=78984&category=Notes |title=Notes for I'll Never Forget You (1951) |accessdate=19 February 2010|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref>
Smith moved to [[London]], where she briefly joined the [[Rank Organisation]]. Studio executives were unamused by Smith's attitude, and she was eventually sacked before she made her breakthrough.<ref name="oakland" /> She moved back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British [[B film]]s. She had an uncredited role as a singer in the 1948 film noir ''[[Brighton Rock (1947 film)|Brighton Rock]]''. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in ''[[The Mudlark]]''. Impressed with her performance, [[20th Century Fox]] offered her a contract.<ref name="oakland" /> Upon her arrival in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], producer [[Darryl F. Zanuck]] cast her opposite [[Tyrone Power]] in ''[[I'll Never Forget You (film)|I'll Never Forget You]]'' (1951). However, he soon decided Smith was not experienced enough and replaced her with [[Ann Blyth]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title.jsp?stid=78984&category=Notes |title=Notes for I'll Never Forget You (1951) |accessdate=19 February 2010|work=[[Turner Classic Movies]]}}</ref>


She was most active in the 1950s, appearing in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] features such as ''[[Man in the Attic]]'' and ''[[Treasure of the Golden Condor]]'' (1953) and ''[[Impulse (1954 film)|Impulse]]'' (1954). Smith was a presenter at the [[Academy Awards]] ceremony in 1952.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Sharon |title=The Little Book of Limerick. |date=1 November 2013 |publisher=The History Press |isbn=9780752493657 |pages=108-110}}</ref>
She was most active in the 1950s, appearing in [[Cinema of the United States|Hollywood]] features such as ''[[Man in the Attic]]'' and ''[[Treasure of the Golden Condor]]'' (1953) and ''[[Impulse (1954 film)|Impulse]]'' (1954). Smith was a presenter at the [[Academy Awards]] ceremony in 1952.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Slater |first1=Sharon |title=The Little Book of Limerick. |date=1 November 2013 |publisher=The History Press |isbn=9780752493657 |pages=108–110}}</ref>


Whether too emotionally frail to surmount the pressures of stardom, or simply not talented enough to be thought of as star material, Constance never made it beyond leading lady status. By the time her contract expired in 1953, Smith had undergone an abortion forced upon her by the studio, and the first of her three marriages was on the ropes. As the years went on and Smith failed to get the parts she felt were commensurate with her abilities, she began an embittered descent into a life of drugs and alcohol. Constance last acted in a run of minor films made in Italy between 1955 and 1959, including a role as [[Lucretia Borgia]] in ''[[La congiura dei Borgia]]'' (1959). None of these did anything to resuscitate her failing career. During her time in Rome, she first attempted suicide by overdosing on barbiturates.
By the time her contract expired in 1953, Smith had undergone an abortion and the first of her three marriages was on the ropes. As the years went on and Smith failed to get the parts she felt were commensurate with her abilities, she began an embittered descent into a life of drugs and alcohol. Constance last acted in a run of minor films made in Italy between 1955 and 1959, including a role as [[Lucretia Borgia]] in ''[[La congiura dei Borgia]]'' (1959). None of these did anything to resuscitate her failing career. During her time in Rome, she first attempted suicide by overdosing on barbiturates.


She made her last film appearance in 1959.
She made her last film appearance in 1959.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Smith married English film director [[Bryan Forbes]] in 1951; they divorced in 1955. In 1962 she was sentenced to three months in prison for stabbing her boyfriend, the documentary maker and film historian [[Paul Rotha]]. On 4 February 1968, she stabbed Rotha for the second time and was charged with attempted murder. She and Rotha married in 1974. She also tried several times again to kill herself.<ref name="Smith">{{cite web|url=http://limerickslife.com/constance-smith/|title=Constance Smith the beautiful but troubled Irish Actress|work=Limerick's Life}}</ref> Her last decades were spent, dissipated, in and out of hospitals. When able to get herself together for brief periods, she worked as a cleaner.
Smith married English film director [[Bryan Forbes]] in 1951; they divorced in 1955. In 1962 she was sentenced to three months in prison for stabbing her boyfriend, the documentary maker and film historian [[Paul Rotha]]. On 4 February 1968, she stabbed Rotha for the second time and was charged with attempted murder. She and Rotha married in 1974, and broke up in 1978. Smith tried several times again to kill herself.<ref name="Smith">{{cite web|url=http://limerickslife.com/constance-smith/|title=Constance Smith the beautiful but troubled Irish Actress|work=Limerick's Life|date=8 January 2013 }}</ref> Her last decades were spent, dissipated, in and out of hospitals. During intermittent periods of recovery, she worked as a cleaner.<ref name="Smith"/>


==Death==
==Death==
Smith died in June 2003 in [[Islington]], London. She was 75.<ref name="Smith" />
Smith died of natural causes on 30 June 2003 in [[Islington]], London. She was 74.<ref name="Smith" />


==Partial filmography==
==Partial filmography==
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! Year !! Program !! Episode/source
! Year !! Program !! Episode/source
|-
|-
| 1953|| ''Radio Theater'' || ''Taxi''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Walter|title=Better Radio Programs for the Week|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2759529/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=18 October 1953|page=48|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = 6 July 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
| 1953|| ''Radio Theater'' || ''Taxi''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Walter|title=Better Radio Programs for the Week|newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2759529/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=18 October 1953|page=48|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = 6 July 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
|}
|}


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[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:2003 deaths]]
[[Category:20th Century Fox contract players]]
[[Category:20th Century Studios contract players]]
[[Category:Expatriate actresses in the United States]]
[[Category:Irish expatriate actresses in the United States]]
[[Category:Irish expatriates in the United States]]
[[Category:Irish film actresses]]
[[Category:Irish film actresses]]
[[Category:People from County Limerick]]
[[Category:Actresses from Limerick (city)]]

Latest revision as of 20:54, 10 November 2024

For the English reinvigorator of Mothering Sunday, see Constance Adelaide Smith.
For the missing child, see Disappearance of Connie Smith.

Constance Smith
Born(1929-02-07)7 February 1929
Limerick, Ireland
Died30 June 2003(2003-06-30) (aged 74)
Islington, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1947–1959
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1951; div. 1955)​
Araldo de Crollalanza
​
​
(m. 1956, annulled)​
​
​
(m. 1974; div. 1978)​

Constance Smith (7 February 1929 – 30 June 2003) was an Irish film actress, and contract player of 20th Century Fox in the 1950s.

Early life

[edit]

Smith was born into a family as the first of 11 children.[1] Her father was an infantryman, working for the Irish Army, and he died when Constance was a child.[1] Her mother was not able to support all her children and Constance was sent to a convent.[1] When Smith won a Dublin beauty contest at age 16 to find the girl who looked most like Hedy Lamarr, Smith's mother sent the photo to a film studio.[1] As a result, Smith won a screen test, and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the actress.[1]

Career

[edit]

Smith moved to London, where she briefly joined the Rank Organisation. Studio executives were unamused by Smith's attitude, and she was eventually sacked before she made her breakthrough.[1] She moved back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British B films. She had an uncredited role as a singer in the 1948 film noir Brighton Rock. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in The Mudlark. Impressed with her performance, 20th Century Fox offered her a contract.[1] Upon her arrival in Hollywood, producer Darryl F. Zanuck cast her opposite Tyrone Power in I'll Never Forget You (1951). However, he soon decided Smith was not experienced enough and replaced her with Ann Blyth.[2]

She was most active in the 1950s, appearing in Hollywood features such as Man in the Attic and Treasure of the Golden Condor (1953) and Impulse (1954). Smith was a presenter at the Academy Awards ceremony in 1952.[3]

By the time her contract expired in 1953, Smith had undergone an abortion and the first of her three marriages was on the ropes. As the years went on and Smith failed to get the parts she felt were commensurate with her abilities, she began an embittered descent into a life of drugs and alcohol. Constance last acted in a run of minor films made in Italy between 1955 and 1959, including a role as Lucretia Borgia in La congiura dei Borgia (1959). None of these did anything to resuscitate her failing career. During her time in Rome, she first attempted suicide by overdosing on barbiturates.

She made her last film appearance in 1959.

Personal life

[edit]

Smith married English film director Bryan Forbes in 1951; they divorced in 1955. In 1962 she was sentenced to three months in prison for stabbing her boyfriend, the documentary maker and film historian Paul Rotha. On 4 February 1968, she stabbed Rotha for the second time and was charged with attempted murder. She and Rotha married in 1974, and broke up in 1978. Smith tried several times again to kill herself.[4] Her last decades were spent, dissipated, in and out of hospitals. During intermittent periods of recovery, she worked as a cleaner.[4]

Death

[edit]

Smith died of natural causes on 30 June 2003 in Islington, London. She was 74.[4]

Partial filmography

[edit]

Radio appearances

[edit]
Year Program Episode/source
1953 Radio Theater Taxi[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g The Oakland Tribune, 18 March 1962, Oakland, California. p.25: Do You Remember Constance Smith?
  2. ^ "Notes for I'll Never Forget You (1951)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
  3. ^ Slater, Sharon (1 November 2013). The Little Book of Limerick. The History Press. pp. 108–110. ISBN 9780752493657.
  4. ^ a b c "Constance Smith the beautiful but troubled Irish Actress". Limerick's Life. 8 January 2013.
  5. ^ Kirby, Walter (18 October 1953). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved 6 July 2015 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
[edit]
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