Diana Wynyard
A stage actress of luminous grace who brought a refined intensity to both Shakespearean heroines and early Hollywood sound films.
1906–1964 (age 58)·English stage and film actress·Birthday: January 16·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Diana Wynyard represented the pinnacle of English theatrical elegance, transitioning her commanding stage presence to the new medium of talking pictures. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and quickly became a leading lady in London's West End, celebrated for her performances in Shakespeare and modern plays. Hollywood called in the early 1930s, where she received an Academy Award nomination for her very first film, 'Cavalcade,' a rare feat. Though she returned to England, preferring the stage, she left a handful of finely etched screen performances, often portraying women of noble bearing and deep, restrained emotion. Her voice, described as melodious and precise, was perfectly suited for the microphone, and she remained a towering figure in British theatre until her untimely death.
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.
Diana was born in 1906, 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 Diana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1906
Diana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1906Born
San Francisco earthquake devastates the city
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1911Started school
Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire kills 146 in New York
President: William Howard Taft
1919Became a teenager
Treaty of Versailles signed; Prohibition ratified
President: Woodrow Wilson
1922Could drive
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1924Could vote
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1927Turned 21
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1936Turned 30
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
1946Turned 40
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1956Turned 50
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1964Died at 58
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
Key Achievements
- Received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her first Hollywood film, 'Cavalcade' (1933).
- Was a leading actress at London's Old Vic theatre company, playing major roles like Cordelia in 'King Lear' and Katherine in 'The Taming of the Shrew.'
- Starred in one of the earliest film adaptations of 'Gaslight' (1940), a role later made famous by Ingrid Bergman.
- Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1953 for her services to the theatre.
Did You Know?
Her real name was Dorothy Isobel Cox; 'Diana Wynyard' was a stage name.
She was the first actress to play 'Jane' in a film adaptation of 'Jane Eyre' (1934).
She turned down the opportunity to play Mrs. Danvers in Hitchcock's 'Rebecca' (1940), a role that went to Judith Anderson.
She was married to film director Sir Carol Reed from 1943 to 1947.
“The text is not a cage; it is the architecture for the soul.”
