Anita Louise
A luminous Hollywood star of the 1930s, her ethereal beauty and gentle performances made her the ideal embodiment of fairy-tale heroines and historical figures.
1915–1970 (age 55)·American actress·Birthday: January 9·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anita Louise began her career as a child actress in silent films, but it was in the glamorous era of 1930s Hollywood that she found her niche. With her delicate features and blonde elegance, she became a favorite for costume dramas and literary adaptations, often playing characters of noble grace. She was Titania, Queen of the Fairies, in Max Reinhardt's lavish 1935 version of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' a role that cemented her image. She moved seamlessly between historical figures like Marie Antoinette's sister-in-law and the kind-hearted Miss Rose in Shirley Temple's 'The Little Princess.' While her star dimmed somewhat in the 1940s, she transitioned successfully to television, hosting the anthology series 'Fireside Theatre' and appearing in numerous shows. Her career spanned five decades, leaving a legacy of cinematic gentility from Hollywood's golden age.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anita was born in 1915, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anita Was Born
The biggest hits of 1915
#1 Movie
The Birth of a Nation
Anita's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1915Born
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Started school
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1928Became a teenager
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1931Could drive
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1933Could vote
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1936Turned 21
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1945Turned 30
WWII ends; atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $4,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Sentimental Journey" — Les Brown & Doris DayBest Picture: The Lost Weekend
1955Turned 40
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1965Turned 50
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Died at 55
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
Key Achievements
- Selected as a WAMPAS Baby Star in 1931, a promotional campaign highlighting promising young actresses.
- Played a key role as Titania in the landmark 1935 film adaptation of Shakespeare's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.
- Starred opposite Shirley Temple in the popular 1939 family film 'The Little Princess'.
- Hosted the early television anthology series 'Fireside Theatre' (later 'Jane Wyman Presents') for several seasons.
Did You Know?
She was married to producer Buddy Adler, head of production at 20th Century-Fox, from 1940 until his death in 1960.
She was a talented painter and had several successful art exhibitions later in life.
Her first film role was at age six in the 1921 silent film 'The Sixth Commandment'.
“The camera adored her, but Hollywood never knew what to do with a real mind.”
