Constance Cummings

Trivia

• Discovered by Samuel Goldwyn while she was appearing on Broadway.
• Awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1974.
• Won Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actress (Play) for "Wings" in a tie with Carole Shelley for "The Elephant Man." Ms. Cummings recreated her Tony-winning performance in a television version with the same title, Wings (1983) (TV).
• Graced a number of her husband's plays, including "Accent on Youth" (1934), "Young Madame Conti" (1936), "Madame Bovary" (adapted) (1937), "If I Were You" (1938), "The Jealous God" (1939), "Clutterbuck" (1946), "Return to Tyassi" (1950), "The Rape of the Belt" (191957) and "Public and Confidential" (1966).
• In 1974, the American-born Cummings, who resided in the UK for many decades, was made a Commander of the British Empire for her contributions to the British entertainment industry.
• Was a committee member of the Royal Court Theatre and the Arts Council.
• From an early age she wanted to be a classical dancer, but in her mid-teens, after a walk-on bit as a prostitute in a summer stock production of "Seventh Heaven", she switched gears and began acting and dancing in stage musicals.
• Won the Tony Award (shared with Carole Shelley in "The Elephant Man"), an Obie Award, and a Drama Desk Award for her twilight role in "Wings" (1979).
• Was an American-born British actress, known for her work on both screen and stage.