Miss Jean Simmons, R.I.P.

British Actress Jean Simmons passed away on Friday evening at her home in Santa Monica, CA from lung cancer. She was 80 (Jan. 31, 1929- Jan. 22, 2010).  While her  definitive acting  roles  are in  HAMLET (Ophelia), ELMER GANTRY (Sister Sharon Falconer), and GUYS AND DOLLS (Sister Sarah Brown),  my personal favorites were her parts in  Hollywood’s Swords and Sandals epics of old.

As Varinia in SPARTACUS:

and Diana in THE ROBE:

Forever the working actress, Miss Simmons  provided the voices in such  animated films as FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN (Council Member), Hayao Miyazakis’ HOWL’S MOVING CASTLE (Grandma Sophie), and  2005’s THRU THE MOEBIUS STRIP (Shepway). She  saw two  Academy Award  nominations  in Lead and Supporting,  awarded 2  Golden Globes, and won an Emmy for her portrayal  of stoic matriarch Fiona ‘Fee’ Cleary, in  THE THORN BIRDS.  In 2003, Miss Simmons received the OBE (Order of the British Empire) for her services to drama.  She is survived by her two daughters, Tracy Granger and Kate Brooks.

SHADOWS IN THE SUN would be Miss Simmons last work….it was released in Great Britain in June 2009.