Helen Haye (born Helen Hay, 28 August 1874 – 1 September 1957) was a British stage and film actress.
New York Times. 3 September 1957

Stage

Hay began acting on the stage in 1898 and debuted in London in 1911 as Gertrude in ''

Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

''. In 1927, she starred in

John Van Druten John William Van Druten (1 June 190119 December 1957) was an English playwright and theatre director. He began his career in London, and later moved to America, becoming a U.S. citizen. He was known for his plays of witty and urbane observation ...

's ''

Chance Acquaintance ''Chance Acquaintance'' is a 1927 play by the British writer John Van Druten, one of his earliest. It was staged at the Criterion Theatre in the West End for a run of 19 performances between 2 and 19 November 1927. The cast included Helen Haye, ...

'' at the

Criterion Theatre The Criterion Theatre is a West End theatre at Piccadilly Circus in the City of Westminster, and is a Grade II* listed building. It has a seating capacity of 588. Building the theatre In 1870, the caterers Spiers and Pond began development ...

. In 1950, she was in

Benn Levy Benn Wolfe Levy (7 March 1900 – 7 December 1973) was a Labour Party Member of Parliament in the House of Commons (1945–1950), and a successful playwright. He was educated at Repton School and University College, Oxford and served in uniform ...

's ''

Return to Tyassi ''Return to Tyassi'' is a 1950 play by the British writer Benn Levy. The plot concerns a woman with a shady past who attempts to redeem herself. Levy directed the play, which featured his wife Constance Cummings in the lead role. It premiered at ...

'' at the

Duke of York's Theatre The Duke of York's Theatre is a West End theatre in St Martin's Lane, in the City of Westminster, London. It was built for Frank Wyatt and his wife, Violet Melnotte, who retained ownership of the theatre until her death in 1935. Designed by th ...

Films

Her film career began in 1916 with ''

Honour in Pawn ''Honour in Pawn'' is a 1916 British silent film which starred Helen Haye in her first film role.''Honou ...

''. She often worked with director

Alexander Korda Sir Alexander Korda (; born Sándor László Kellner; hu, Korda Sándor; 16 September 1893 – 23 January 1956)Laurence Olivier Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier (; 22 May 1907 – 11 July 1989) was an English actor and director who, along with his contemporaries Ralph Richardson and John Gielgud, was one of a trio of male actors who dominated the Theatre of the U ...

's ''

Richard III Richard III (2 October 145222 August 1485) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 26 June 1483 until his death in 1485. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty. His defeat and death at the Battl ...

'' (1955), as the Duchess of York. Haye died four days after her 83rd birthday in London.

Selected filmography

* ''

Honour in Pawn ''Honour in Pawn'' is a 1916 British silent film which starred Helen Haye in her first film role.''Honou ...

'' (1916) - Mrs. Fortescue * ''

Masks and Faces ''Masks and Faces'' is a 1917 British silent biographical film directed by Fred Paul and starring Johnston Forbes-Robertson, Irene Vanbrugh and Henry S. Irving. The film depicts episodes from the life of the eighteenth-century Irish actress P ...

'' (1917) - Dame Best * '' Not Negotiable'' (1918) * ''His Last Defence'' (1919) - Hesper Oddington * ''

Bleak House ''Bleak House'' is a novel by Charles Dickens, first published as a 20-episode serial between March 1852 and September 1853. The novel has many characters and several sub-plots, and is told partly by the novel's heroine, Esther Summerson, and ...

'' (1920) - Miss Barbay * ''

The Skin Game The Skin Game may refer to: * ''The Skin Game'' (play), a play by John Galsworthy * ''The Skin Game'' (1921 film), a 1921 Dutch film, based on the play * ''The Skin Game'' (1931 film), a 1931 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, also based on the ...

'' (1921) - Mrs. Hillcrist * '' Tilly of Bloomsbury'' (1921) - Lady Adela Mainwaring * ''

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe an ...

'' (1929) - Clara Tate-Hughes * ''

Knowing Men ''Knowing Men'' is a 1930 British romantic comedy film directed by Elinor Glyn and starring Carl Brisson, Elissa Landi and Helen Haye. It was made at Elstree StudiosWood p.67 and based on one of Glyn's own novels. Originally shot using an experim ...

'' (1930) - Marquise de Jarmais * ''

The Nipper ''The Nipper'' is a 1930 British musical film directed by Louis Mercanton and starring Betty Balfour, John Stuart, and Anne Grey. It is also known by the alternative title ''The Brat''. Cast * Betty Balfour - The Nipper * John Stuart - Max N ...

'' (1930) - Lady Sevenoaks * ''

Beyond the Cities ''Beyond the Cities'' is a 1930 British drama film directed by Carlyle Blackwell and starring Blackwell, Edna Best and Alexander Field. The film was made as a quota quickie for release by Paramount Pictures, and is believed to have been made ...

'' (1930) - Amy Hayes * ''

'' (1931) - Mrs. Hillcrist * ''

Brown Sugar Brown sugar is unrefined or partially refined soft sugar. Brown Sugar may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Brown Sugar'' (1922 film), a 1922 British silent film directed by Fred Paul * ''Brown Sugar'' (1931 film), a 1931 ...

'' (1931) - Lady Knightsbridge * ''

The Officers' Mess ''The Officers' Mess'' is a 1931 British comedy film directed by Manning Haynes and starring Richard Cooper, Harold French and Elsa Lanchester. It was made at Walton Studios.Wood p.72 It was released as a quota quickie by Paramount Pictures. ...

'' (1931) - Mrs. Harbottle * '' Monte Carlo Madness'' (1932) - Isabel * ''

Congress Dances ''Congress Dances'' is a 1932 German comedy film directed by Erik Charell and starring Lilian Harvey, Conrad Veidt and Henri Garat. It was an English-language version of the German film ''Der Kongreß tanzt''. A separate French-language versi ...

'' (1932) - Princess * '' Her First Affaire'' (1932) - Lady Bragden * '' It's a Boy'' (1933) - Mrs. Bogle * ''

This Week of Grace ''This Week of Grace'' is a 1933 British comedy film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Gracie Fields, Henry Kendall and John Stuart. The screenplay concerns a poor, unemployed woman who is made housekeeper at the estate of a wealthy du ...

'' (1933) - Lady Warmington * '' Money Mad'' (1934) - Lady Leyland * ''

Crazy People ''Crazy People'' is a 1990 American black comedy film starring Dudley Moore and Daryl Hannah, directed by Tony Bill, and music by Cliff Eidelman. Plot Emory Leeson is an advertising executive who experiences a nervous breakdown. He designs a s ...

'' (1934) - Aunt Caroline * '' The Dictator'' (1935) - Queen Mother Juliana * ''

Drake of England ''Drake of England'' is a 1935 British drama film directed by Arthur B. Woods and starring Matheson Lang, Athene Seyler and Jane Baxter. It depicts the life of Francis Drake and the events leading up to the defeat of the Armada in 1588. Pr ...

'' (1935) - Lady Lennox * '' The 39 Steps'' (1935) - Mrs. Jordan * '' The Tunnel'' (1935) - Oil Magnate (uncredited) * '' Wolf's Clothing'' (1936) - Mildred Girling * '' The Interrupted Honeymoon'' (1936) - Aunt Harriet * '' Everybody Dance'' (1936) - Lady Morton * '' Wings of the Morning'' (1937) - Aunt Jenepher * ''

Cotton Queen ''Cotton Queen'', also known as ''Crying Out Loud'', is a 1937 British comedy film directed by Bernard Vorhaus, and starring Stanley Holloway, Will Fyffe, and Mary Lawson. Production The film was directed by Vorhaus at Elstree Studios for th ...

'' (1937) - Margaret Owen * ''

The Girl in the Taxi ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'' (1937) - Delphine des Aubrais * ''

Sidewalks of London ''Sidewalks of London'', also known as ''St Martin's Lane'', ''London After Dark'', and ''Partners of the Night'', is a 1938 British black-and-white comedy drama starring Charles Laughton as a busker or street entertainer who teams up with a ta ...

'' (1938) - Selina * '' A Girl Must Live'' (1939) - Aunt Primrose * '' Riding High'' (1939) - Miss Ada Broadbent * ''

The Spy in Black ''The Spy in Black'' (US: ''U-Boat 29'') is a 1939 British film, and the first collaboration between the British filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. They were brought together by Alexander Korda to make the World War I spy thrill ...

'' (1939) - Mrs. Sedley * '' The Case of the Frightened Lady'' (1940) - Lady Lebanon * ''

Kipps ''Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul'' is a novel by H. G. Wells, first published in 1905. It was reportedly Wells's own favourite among his works, and it has been adapted for stage, cinema and television productions, including the musical ''H ...

'' (1941) - Mrs. Walshingham * ''

The Man in Grey ''The Man in Grey'' is a 1943 British film melodrama made by Gainsborough Pictures; it is considered to be the first of a series of period costume dramas now known as the "Gainsborough melodramas". It was directed by Leslie Arliss and produce ...

'' (1943) - Lady Rohan * ''

Dear Octopus ''Dear Octopus'' is a comedy by the playwright and novelist Dodie Smith. It opened at the Queen's Theatre, London on 14 September 1938. On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939 the run was halted after 373 performances; after ...

'' (1943) - Dora Randolph * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) - Mrs. Somerford * ''

Madonna of the Seven Moons ''Madonna of the Seven Moons'' is a 1945 British drama film directed by Arthur Crabtree for Gainsborough Pictures and starring Phyllis Calvert, Stewart Granger and Patricia Roc. The film was produced by Rubeigh James Minney, with cinematography ...

'' (1945) - Mother Superior * ''

A Place of One's Own ''A Place of One's Own'' is a 1945 British film directed by Bernard Knowles. An atmospheric ghost story based on the 1940 novel of the same title by Osbert Sitwell, it stars James Mason, Barbara Mullen, Margaret Lockwood, Dennis Price and Dul ...

'' (1945) - Mrs. Manning Tutthorn * ''

Mine Own Executioner ''Mine Own Executioner'' is a 1947 British psychological thriller drama film starring Burgess Meredith and directed by Anthony Kimmins, and based on the novel of the same name by Nigel Balchin. It was entered into the 1947 Cannes Film Festival. ...

'' (1947) - Lady Maresfield * ''

Mrs. Fitzherbert Maria Anne Fitzherbert (''née'' Smythe, previously Weld; 26 July 1756 – 27 March 1837) was a longtime companion of George, Prince of Wales (later King George IV of the United Kingdom). In 1785, they secretly contracted a marriage that was i ...

'' (1947) - Lady Sefton * ''

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 writt ...

'' (1948) - Countess Vronsky * '' Third Time Lucky'' (1949) - Old Lady * '' Conspirator'' (1949) - Lady Witheringham * ''

Front Page Story ''Front Page Story'' is a 1954 British drama film directed by Gordon Parry and starring Jack Hawkins, Elizabeth Allan and Eva Bartok. It was shot in black-and-white at Shepperton Studios with some location shooting in London. The film's sets we ...

'' (1954) - Susan's Mother * '' Hobson's Choice'' (1954) - Mrs. Hepworth * '' Lilacs in the Spring'' (1954) - Lady Drayton * ''

'' (1955) - Duchess of York * ''

My Teenage Daughter ''My Teenage Daughter'', later ''Teenage Bad Girl'', is a 1956 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Anna Neagle, Sylvia Syms and Norman Wooland. The screenplay concerns a mother who tries to deal with her teenage daughter' ...

'' (1956) - Aunt Louisa * '' Action of the Tiger'' (1957) - Countess Valona * ''

The Gypsy and the Gentleman ''The Gypsy and the Gentleman'' is a 1958 British costume drama film directed by Joseph Losey. It stars Melina Mercouri and Keith Michell Keith Joseph Michell (1 December 1926 – 20 November 2015) was an Australian actor who worked primaril ...

'' (1958) - Lady Caroline Ayrton (final film role) Helen Haye 1922

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Haye, Helen 1874 births 1957 deaths People educated at Bedford High School, Bedfordshire British film actresses British stage actresses English stage actresses English film actresses English silent film actresses Actresses from London British people in colonial India 20th-century English actresses