Binnie Barnes | |
|---|---|
 Barnes in 1935 | |
| Born | Gertrude Maud Barnes (1903-03-25)25 March 1903 |
| Died | 27 July 1998(1998-07-27) (aged 95) |
| Resting place | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1923–1973 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3[1] |
| Relatives | Rayford Barnes (nephew)[2] |
Gertrude Maud Barnes (25 March 1903 – 27 July 1998[3]), known professionally asBinnie Barnes, was an English actress whose career in films spanned from 1923 to 1973. She was known for as aleading lady in films such asThe Private Life of Henry VIII,The Last of the Mohicans, andIn Old California.
Barnes was born inIslington, London, the daughter of Rosa Enoyce and George Barnes, a policeman;[4] 16 children were in her family. Before moving to Hollywood to become an actress, Barnes worked a series of jobs, such aschorus girl, nurse, and dance hostess.
Barnes began her acting career in films in 1923, appearing in a short film made byLee De Forest in hisPhonofilm sound-on-film process. Her film career continued in Great Britain, most notably inThe Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) asKatherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife. Barnes' main qualm in accepting roles as an actress was that she not play submissive roles. Barnes once remarked, "One picture is just like another to me, as long as I don't have to be a sweet woman".[5] After she marriedMike Frankovich, she moved to Europe with Frankovich and appeared in several films he produced there, includingDecameron Nights withLouis Jourdan andMalaga withMaureen O'Hara andMacdonald Carey. Later, her career continued in Hollywood, until 1973, when she appeared in the comedy40 Carats, her last acting role.
Barnes's first husband was London art dealer Samuel Joseph. Her second marriage was to film producerMike Frankovich, and later she was a naturalised United States citizen. The couple adopted three children.[6]
Barnes was an avid swimmer. In 1936, she saved a drowning guest atWilliam Wyler’s pool.
Binnie Barnes died on 27 July 1998 of natural causes, aged 95, inBeverly Hills.[7] She was interred inForest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale.[8]
For her contributions to the film industry, Barnes received amotion pictures star on theHollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Her star is located at 1501Vine Street.[9]
