Edna Best
A luminous stage star of the interwar years, she captivated London and Broadway with her intelligent charm before becoming a familiar face in Hollywood thrillers.
1900–1974 (age 74)·British actress·Birthday: March 3·The Lost Generation
Biography
Edna Best possessed a sparkling, natural presence that made her one of Britain's most admired actresses in the 1920s and 30s. She found early success on the London stage, often in modern, witty plays, and her performance in 'The Constant Nymph' was a career-defining triumph. Her appeal translated seamlessly to Broadway, where she became a popular figure. With the rise of talkies, Best moved into film, bringing her refined theatricality to both British and American productions. While she never sought the typical starlet roles, she excelled at playing poised, often maternal figures with a core of steel. Alfred Hitchcock cast her to great effect in 'The Man Who Knew Too Much,' where her portrayal of a mother in peril showcased her ability to blend genteel warmth with palpable fear. Though her later career consisted largely of character parts, she remained a figure of elegance and professional grace, remembered for defining a certain style of Englishwoman on the international stage.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Edna was born in 1900, placing them squarely in The Lost 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 Edna Was Born
The biggest hits of 1900
Edna's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1900Born
Boxer Rebellion in China
President: William McKinley
1905Started school
Einstein publishes the theory of special relativity
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Became a teenager
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1916Could drive
The Battle of the Somme claims over a million casualties
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Could vote
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Turned 21
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1930Turned 30
Pluto discovered
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,510President: Herbert Hoover"Body and Soul" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: All Quiet on the Western Front
1940Turned 40
The Blitz: Germany bombs London
Gas: $0.18/galHome: $2,938Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I'll Never Smile Again" — Tommy DorseyBest Picture: Rebecca
1950Turned 50
Korean War begins
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,354Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Goodnight Irene" — Gordon Jenkins & The WeaversBest Picture: All About Eve
1960Turned 60
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1970Turned 70
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
1974Died at 74
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
Key Achievements
- Won critical acclaim for her starring role in the London and Broadway productions of 'The Constant Nymph.'
- Starred as the female lead in Alfred Hitchcock's early thriller 'The Man Who Knew Too Much' (1934).
- Enjoyed a successful transition from a major stage star in London to a featured player in Hollywood films.
- Maintained a steady acting career for five decades, appearing in television roles into the 1960s.
Did You Know?
She was married to actor Herbert Marshall from 1928 to 1940.
She was an accomplished tennis player in her youth and once played at Wimbledon.
Her daughter with Herbert Marshall, Sarah Marshall, also became an actress.
“The stage is a place of truth, not just a place to be seen.”
