Ethel Griffies (born Ethel Woods; 26 April 1878 – 9 September 1975) was an English actress of stage, screen, and television. She is remembered for portraying the

ornithologist Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the "methodological study and consequent knowledge of birds with all that relates to them." Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and th ...

Mrs. Bundy in

Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...

's classic '' The Birds'' (1963). She appeared in stage roles in her native England and in the United States, and had featured roles in around 100 motion pictures. Griffies was one of the oldest working actors in the English-speaking theatre at the time of her death at 97 years old. She acted alongside such stars as

May Whitty May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and is the third of seven months to have a length of 31 days. May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere, and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, May ...

Ellen Terry Dame Alice Ellen Terry, (27 February 184721 July 1928), was a leading English actress of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born into a family of actors, Terry began performing as a child, acting in Shakespeare plays in London, and tour ...

, and

Anna Neagle Dame Florence Marjorie Wilcox (''née'' Robertson; 20 October 1904 – 3 June 1986), known professionally as Anna Neagle, was an English stage and film actress, singer, and dancer. She was a successful box-office draw in the British cinema ...

Biography

Griffies was born in

Sheffield Sheffield is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in South Yorkshire, England, whose name derives from the River Sheaf which runs through it. The city serves as the administrative centre of the City of Sheffield. It is Historic counties o ...

West Riding of Yorkshire The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county County of York, West Riding (the area under the control of West Riding County Council), abbreviated County ...

, the daughter of actor and manager Samuel Rupert Woods and actress Lillie Roberts. Taken onstage at the age of three, she continued to act for the next 86 years. Griffies married actor Walter Beaumont in 1900, and he died in 1910. In 1917, she married actor Edward Cooper, who predeceased his wife by almost two decades. On 9 September 1975, in London, Griffies died of a stroke.

Career

Griffies appeared in numerous plays, making her theatre debut in London in 1899. Having made brief cameos in films since 1917, she started a full career in the industry by 1930 in the film version of the play ''

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

'', and appeared in her more than 90 film and television roles in a career that lasted until her retirement in 1967. She played Grace Poole in two versions of ''Jane Eyre'', the 1934 Monogram version and the better-known 1943 version. One of her last well-known roles was the elderly

Mrs. Bundy in

's '' The Birds'' (1963). She also performed in '' Billy Liar'', the same year as ''The Birds''.

Partial filmography

* '' The Cost of a Kiss'' (1917) * ''Hard Cash'' (1920) – Mrs. Hardie * ''

Sweet Kitty Bellairs ''Sweet Kitty Bellairs'' is a 1930 American historical musical comedy film directed by Alfred E. Green. The film is based on the 1900 novel, ''The Bath Comedy'' by Agnes Castle and Egerton Castle. Shot entirely in Technicolor, the film stars ...

'' (1930) – Gossip (uncredited) * ''

'' (1930) – Adela Heythorp * '' The Millionaire'' (1931) – Mrs. Andrews (uncredited) * '' Chances'' (1931) – Drunken Flower Vendor in Pub (uncredited) * ''

Waterloo Bridge Waterloo Bridge () is a road and foot traffic bridge crossing the River Thames in London, between Blackfriars Bridge and Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges. Its name commemorates the victory of the British, Dutch and Prussians at the ...

'' (1931) – Mrs. Hobley, Landlady * ''

The Road to Singapore ''The Road to Singapore'' is a 1931 American pre-Code romantic drama film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring William Powell and Doris Kenyon, who play two thirds of a romantic triangle, along with Louis Calhern. It was produced and dis ...

'' (1931) – Mrs. Everard (uncredited) * ''

Once a Lady ''Once a Lady'' is a 1931 American Pre-Code drama film directed by Guthrie McClintic and starring Ruth Chatterton, Ivor Novello and Jill Esmond. The film, produced and distributed by Paramount Pictures, is a remake of the Pola Negri silent fi ...

'' (1931) – Miss Bleeker * ''

Manhattan Parade ''Manhattan Parade '' is a 1931 American pre-Code musical comedy film photographed entirely in Technicolor. It was originally intended to be released, in the United States, early in 1931, but was shelved due to public apathy towards musicals. De ...

'' (1931) – Mrs. Beacon (uncredited) * '' Union Depot'' (1932) – Cross Woman at Magazine Stand (uncredited) * ''

The Impatient Maiden ''The Impatient Maiden'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by James Whale, starring Lew Ayres and Mae Clarke, and released by Universal Pictures. The screenplay was written by Richard Schayer and Winifred Dunn, based on the novel ...

'' (1932) – Nurse Lovett * '' Are You Listening?'' (1932) – Mrs. Peters * ''

Devil's Lottery ''Devil's Lottery'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Sam Taylor and written by Guy Bolton. The film stars Elissa Landi, Victor McLaglen, Alexander Kirkland, Ralph Morgan, Paul Cavanagh and Barbara Weeks. The film was releas ...

'' (1932) – Nurse (uncredited) * ''

Westward Passage ''Westward Passage'' is a 1932 American pre-Code drama film directed by Robert Milton and starring Ann Harding, Laurence Olivier, ZaSu Pitts and Irving Pichel. The screenplay concerns a woman who falls in love and marries, but soon discovers ho ...

'' (1932) – Lady Caverly * ''

Love Me Tonight ''Love Me Tonight'' is a 1932 American pre-Code musical comedy film produced and directed by Rouben Mamoulian, with music by Rodgers and Hart. It stars Maurice Chevalier as a tailor who poses as a nobleman and Jeanette MacDonald as a princess ...

'' (1932) – Second Aunt * ''

Payment Deferred ''Payment Deferred'' is a crime novel by C.S. Forester, first published in 1926. William Marble is a bank clerk living in south London with a wife, Annie, and two teenage children, Winifred ('Winnie') and John, desperately worried about money an ...

'' (1932) – Customer in Madame Collins' Dress Shop (uncredited) * ''

Evenings for Sale The evening is the period of the day between afternoon and night. Evening may also refer to: * ''Evening'' (magazine), a Japanese magazine * ''Evening'' (novel), a 1998 novel by Susan Minot ** ''Evening'' (film), a 2007 film * ''Evenings'' (f ...

'' (1932) – Boat Passenger (uncredited) * '' Tonight Is Ours'' (1933) – Zana * '' A Lady's Profession'' (1933) – Lady McDougal * ''

Looking forward ''Looking Forward'' is the third and final studio album by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and their fifth, overall. It is the fourteenth and final album when conflated with releases by the trio of Crosby, Stills & Nash. It was released on Reprise ...

'' (1933) – Miss Judd (uncredited) * '' Horse Play'' (1933) – Emily * ''

Midnight Club ''Midnight Club'' is a series of Racing video game#Arcade-style racers, arcade-style racing video games developed by Rockstar San Diego (formerly known as Angel Studios) and published by Rockstar Games. ''Midnight Club'' is similar to the ''Mid ...

'' (1933) – The Duchess * ''

Torch Singer A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, either where one party is oblivious to the existence of the other, where one party has moved on, or where a romantic affair has affecte ...

'' (1933) – Agatha Alden * '' Doctor Bull'' (1933) – Miss Ace (uncredited) * '' Bombshell'' (1933) – Mrs. Ward – Orphanage Representative (uncredited) * ''

White Woman ''White Woman'' is a 1933 American pre-Code drama film directed by Stuart Walker and starring Carole Lombard, Charles Laughton, and Charles Bickford.''The American Film Institute Catalog Feature Films: 1931-40'' published by The American Film I ...

'' (1933) – Mrs. Chisholm * ''

Alice in Wonderland ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (commonly ''Alice in Wonderland'') is an 1865 English novel by Lewis Carroll. It details the story of a young girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world of anthropomorphic creatur ...

'' (1933) – Miss Simpson the Governess (uncredited) * ''

Four Frightened People ''Four Frightened People'' is a 1934 American Pre-Code adventure film directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Claudette Colbert, Herbert Marshall, Mary Boland, and William Gargan. It is based on the 1931 novel by E. Arnot Robertson. Plot The ...

'' (1934) – Mrs. Ainger's mother * ''

The House of Rothschild ''The House of Rothschild'' is a 1934 American pre-Code historical drama film directed by Alfred L. Werker and starring George Arliss, Loretta Young and Boris Karloff. It was adapted by Nunnally Johnson from the play by George Hembert Westley, ...

'' (1934) – Guest at Reception Hall * ''Stolen Sweets'' (1934) – Ship Passenger (uncredited) * ''

Sadie McKee ''Sadie McKee'' is a 1934 American pre-Code, romantic-drama film directed by Clarence Brown, starring Joan Crawford, and featuring Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold, and Esther Ralston. The film is based on the 1933 short story "Pretty ...

'' (1934) – Woman in Subway (uncredited) * ''

Call It Luck ''Call It Luck'' is a 1934 American comedy film directed by James Tinling and written by Dudley Nichols and Lamar Trotti. The film stars Pat Paterson, Herbert Mundin, Charles Starrett, Gordon Westcott, Georgia Caine and Theodore von Eltz. The ...

'' (1934) – Lady Poindexter (uncredited) * ''

Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...

'' (1934) – Grace Poole * '' Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back'' (1934) – Mrs. Field * ''

We Live Again ''We Live Again'' is a 1934 film directed by Rouben Mamoulian and starring Anna Sten and Fredric March. The film is an adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's 1899 novel ''Resurrection'' (''Voskraeseniye''). The screenplay was written by Maxwell Anderson with ...

'' (1934) – Aunt Marie * '' The Painted Veil'' (1934) – Lady Coldchester (uncredited) * '' Enchanted April'' (1935) – Mrs. Hawkins (uncredited) * ''

The Mystery of Edwin Drood ''The Mystery of Edwin Drood'' is the final novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in 1870. Though the novel is named after the character Edwin Drood, it focuses more on Drood's uncle, John Jasper, a precentor, choirmaster and opium ...

'' (1935) – Miss Twinkleton * '' Vanessa: Her Love Story'' (1935) – Winifred Trent * ''

Hold 'Em Yale ''Hold 'Em Yale'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Sidney Lanfield and written by Damon Runyon, Paul Gerard Smith, and Eddie Welch. The film stars Patricia Ellis, Cesar Romero, Buster Crabbe, William Frawley, Andy Devine, and Georg ...

'' (1935) – Mrs. Peavey (uncredited) * ''

Werewolf of London ''Werewolf of London'' is a 1935 horror film directed by Stuart Walker and starring Henry Hull as the titular werewolf. The supporting cast includes Warner Oland, Valerie Hobson, Lester Matthews, and Spring Byington. Jack Pierce, who is b ...

'' (1935) – Mrs. Whack * ''

Anna Karenina ''Anna Karenina'' ( rus, «Анна Каренина», p=ˈanːə kɐˈrʲenʲɪnə) is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in book form in 1878. Widely considered to be one of the greatest works of literature ever writte ...

'' (1935) – Mme. Kartasov * '' The Return of Peter Grimm'' (1935) – Mrs. Martha Bartholomew * '' Twice Branded'' (1936) – Mrs. Etta Hamilton * '' Not So Dusty'' (1936) – Miss Miller * ''

Guilty Melody ''Guilty Melody'' is a 1936 British drama film directed by Richard Pottier and starring Don Alcaide, Gitta Alpar and John Loder. It was based on a short story by Hans José Rehfisch. In the film, a British spy falls in love with a singer who ...

'' (1936) – Lady Rochester * '' Kathleen Mavourneen'' (1938) – Hannah O'Dwyer * '' Crackerjack'' (1938) – Annie * ''

The Mysterious Mr. Davis ''The Mysterious Mr. Davis'' is a 1939 British comedy drama film directed by Claude Autant-Lara and starring Henry Kendall, Kathleen Kelly and Alastair Sim. It was made as a quota quickie and distributed by the American company RKO Pictures. I ...

'' (1939) – Mabel Wilcox (uncredited) * '' Over the Moon'' (1939) – Miss Bates – the governess (uncredited) * ''

I'm from Missouri ''I'm from Missouri'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Theodore Reed and written by Duke Atteberry and Jack Moffitt. The film stars Bob Burns, Gladys George, Gene Lockhart, Judith Barrett, William "Bill" Henry and Patricia Morison. Th ...

'' (1939) – Miss Wildhack * '' The Star Maker'' (1939) – Voice Teacher * '' We Are Not Alone'' (1939) – Mrs. Raymond * ''

Vigil in the Night ''Vigil in the Night'' is a 1940 RKO Pictures drama film based on the 1939 serialized novel '' Vigil in the Night'' by A. J. Cronin. The film was produced and directed by George Stevens and stars Carole Lombard, Brian Aherne and Anne Shirley. ...

'' (1940) – Matron East * ''

Irene Irene is a name derived from εἰρήνη (eirēnē), the Greek for "peace". Irene, and related names, may refer to: * Irene (given name) Places * Irene, Gauteng, South Africa * Irene, South Dakota, United States * Irene, Texas, United Stat ...

'' (1940) – Princess Minetti * ''

'' (1940) – Mrs. Clark – Landlady (uncredited) * ''

Anne of Windy Poplars Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

'' (1940) – Hester Pringle * '' Stranger on the Third Floor'' (1940) – Mrs. Kane, Michael's landlady * ''

Dead Men Tell ''Dead Men Tell'' is a 1941 American mystery film starring Sidney Toler, who played Charlie Chan in 22 feature films, beginning with '' Charlie Chan in Honolulu'' (1938), and ending with '' The Trap'' (1946). The first 11 Charlie Chan films were ...

'' (1941) – Miss Patience Nodbury * ''

Billy the Kid Billy the Kid (born Henry McCarty; September 17 or November 23, 1859July 14, 1881), also known by the pseudonym William H. Bonney, was an outlaw and gunfighter of the American Old West, who killed eight men before he was shot and killed at t ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Hanky * '' A Yank in the R.A.F.'' (1941) – Lady Fitzhugh * ''

Man at Large ''Man at Large'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and written by John Larkin. The film stars Marjorie Weaver, George Reeves, Richard Derr, Steven Geray, Milton Parsons and Spencer Charters. The film was released on Sep ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Zagra * '' Great Guns'' (1941) – Aunt Agatha * ''

How Green Was My Valley ''How Green Was My Valley'' is a 1939 novel by Richard Llewellyn, narrated by Huw Morgan, the main character, about his Welsh family and the mining community in which they live. The author had claimed that he based the book on his own persona ...

'' (1941) – Mrs. Nicholas, housekeeper * '' Remember the Day'' (1941) – Undetermined Role (uncredited) * ''

Right to the Heart ''Right to the Heart'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Eugene Forde and written by Walter Bullock.The film stars Brenda Joyce, Joseph Allen, Cobina Wright and Stanley Clements. It is based on a short story by Harold MacGrath, which ha ...

'' (1942) – Minerva Bromley * '' Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake'' (1942) – Matron (uncredited) * ''

Castle in the Desert ''Castle in the Desert'' is a 1942 film featuring the Chinese detective Charlie Chan. It was the eleventh film to feature Sidney Toler as the title character, and the last made by 20th Century Fox. The series continued with Toler, though under m ...

'' (1942) – Madame Saturnia * ''

The Postman Didn't Ring ''The Postman Didn't Ring'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Harold D. Schuster and written by Mortimer Braus. The film stars Richard Travis, Brenda Joyce, Spencer Charters, Stanley Andrews, William Bakewell and Emma Dunn. The film w ...

'' (1942) – Catherine Vandewater * ''

Between Us Girls ''Between Us Girls'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Henry Koster and starring Diana Barrymore, Kay Francis, Robert Cummings, John Boles, Andy Devine, and Scotty Beckett.

'' (1942) – Gallagher * '' Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch'' (1942) – Mrs. Graham (uncredited) * '' Time to Kill'' (1942) – Mrs. Murdock * '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) – Wife of Man in Air Raid Shelter * ''

First Comes Courage ''First Comes Courage'' is a 1943 American war film, the final film directed by Dorothy Arzner, one of the few female directors in Hollywood at the time. The film was based on the 1943 novel ''Commandos'' by Elliott Arnold, adapted by George Skla ...

'' (1943) – Nurse (uncredited) * '' Holy Matrimony'' (1943) – Lady Vale * ''

'' (1943) – Grace Poole (uncredited) * ''

Pardon My Rhythm ''Pardon My Rhythm'' is a 1944 movie starring Gloria Jean, Patric Knowles, and Evelyn Ankers, featuring Mel Tormé and Bob Crosby, and directed by Felix E. Feist. Cast *Gloria Jean as Jinx Page *Patric Knowles as Tony Page *Evelyn Ankers as Jul ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Dean * '' The White Cliffs of Dover'' (1944) – Woman on Train Opening Window (uncredited) * ''

It Happened Tomorrow ''It Happened Tomorrow'' is a 1944 American fantasy film directed by René Clair, starring Dick Powell, Linda Darnell and Jack Oakie, and featuring Edgar Kennedy and John Philliber. It is based on the one-act play "The Jest of Haha Laba" by L ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. O'Connor, Boardinghouse Tenant (uncredited) * ''

The Keys of the Kingdom ''The Keys of the Kingdom'' is a 1941 novel by A. J. Cronin. Spanning six decades, it tells the story of Father Francis Chisholm, an unconventional Scottish Catholic priest who struggles to establish a mission in China. Beset by tragedy in h ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. Glennie (scenes deleted) * ''

Music for Millions ''Music for Millions'' is a 1944 musical film, musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Margaret O'Brien, José Iturbi, Jimmy Durante, June Allyson, Marsha Hunt (actress, born 1917), Marsha Hunt, Hugh Herbert, Harry Davenport (ac ...

'' (1944) – Mrs. McGuff * ''

The Horn Blows at Midnight ''The Horn Blows at Midnight'' is a 1945 comedy fantasy film directed by Raoul Walsh, and starring Jack Benny. Following its poor box-office, Benny often exploited the film's failure for laughs over the next 20 years in his radio and television c ...

'' (1945) – Lady Stover * ''

Thrill of a Romance ''Thrill of a Romance'' (also known as ''Thrill of a New Romance'') is an American Technicolor romance film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1945, starring Van Johnson, Esther Williams and Carleton G. Young, with musical performances by Tommy D ...

'' (1945) – Mrs. Fenway * ''

Molly and Me ''Molly and Me'' is a 1945 American comedy film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring Monty Woolley, Gracie Fields, Reginald Gardiner and Roddy McDowall and released by 20th Century Fox. The screenplay was based on the novel written by Frances ...

'' (1945) – Mrs. Lamb (uncredited) * ''

The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry ''The Strange Affair of Uncle Harry'' is a 1945 American film noir drama film directed by Robert Siodmak and starring George Sanders as an aging bachelor who looks after his two sisters, one of whom tries to sabotage his romance with his co-worker ...

'' (1945) – Mrs. Nelson (uncredited) * ''

Saratoga Trunk ''Saratoga Trunk'' is a 1945 American Western film (or historical romance film, per the American Film Institute) directed by Sam Wood and starring Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman, and Flora Robson. Written by Casey Robinson, based on the novel '' ...

'' (1945) – Clarissa Van Steed * ''

Devotion Devotion or Devotions may refer to: Religion * Faith, confidence or trust in a person, thing, or concept * Anglican devotions, private prayers and practices used by Anglican Christians * Buddhist devotion, commitment to religious observance * Cat ...

'' (1946) – Aunt Elizabeth Branwell * ''

Sing While You Dance ''Sing While You Dance'' is a 1946 American musical comedy film directed by D. Ross Lederman and starring Ellen Drew, Kirby Grant, and Andrew Tombes. Plot Cast *Ellen Drew as Susan Kent * Kirby Grant as Johnny Crane *Andrew Tombes as Gorman ...

'' (1946) – Mrs. Abigail Smith * ''

The Brasher Doubloon ''The Brasher Doubloon'' (known in the UK as ''The High Window'') is a 1947 American crime film noir directed by John Brahm and starring George Montgomery and Nancy Guild. It is based on the 1942 novel ''The High Window'' by Raymond Chandler. F ...

'' (1947) – Undetermined Secondary Role (uncredited) * ''

Millie's Daughter ''Millie's Daughter'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by Sidney Salkow, from a screenplay by Edward Huebsch, based on the novel of the same name by Donald Henderson Clarke. The film stars Gladys George, Gay Nelson, and Paul Campbell, a ...

'' (1947) – Aunt Katherine * ''

The Homestretch ''The Homestretch'' is a 1947 American drama film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and written by Wanda Tuchock. The film stars Cornel Wilde, Maureen O'Hara, Glenn Langan, Helen Walker, James Gleason, Henry Stephenson and Margaret Bannerman. The ...

'' (1947) – Aunt Martha * '' The Birds'' (1963) – Mrs. Bundy, ornithologist * '' Billy Liar'' (1963) – Grandma Florence * ''

Bus Riley's Back in Town ''Bus Riley's Back in Town'' is a 1965 American drama film written by William Inge, directed by Harvey Hart, and starring Ann-Margret and Michael Parks Michael Parks (born Harry Samuel Parks; April 24, 1940 – May 9, 2017) was an American ...

'' (1965) – Mrs. Spencer

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Griffies, Ethel 1878 births 1975 deaths English film actresses English stage actresses English television actresses Actresses from Sheffield Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses