Constance Smith (7 February 1929 â€" 30 June 2003) was an Irish film
actress, and contract player of 20th Century Fox in the 1950s.Smith
was born into a family as the first of 11 children. Her father was an
infantryman, working for the Irish Army, and he died when Constance
was 11. Her mother was not able to support all her children and
Constance was sent to a convent. When Smith won a Dublin beauty
contest at age 16 to find the girl who looked most like Hedy Lamarr,
Smith's mother sent the photo to a film studio. As a result, Smith won
a screen test, and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she
was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the
actress.Smith moved to London, where she briefly joined the Rank
Organisation. Studio executives were unamused by Smith's attitude, and
she was eventually sacked before she made her breakthrough. She moved
back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British
B films. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in
The Mudlark. Impressed with her performance, 20th Century Fox offered
her a contract. Upon her arrival in Hollywood, producer Darryl F.
Zanuck cast her opposite Tyrone Power in I'll Never Forget You (1951).
However, he soon decided Smith was not experienced enough and replaced
her with Ann Blyth.
actress, and contract player of 20th Century Fox in the 1950s.Smith
was born into a family as the first of 11 children. Her father was an
infantryman, working for the Irish Army, and he died when Constance
was 11. Her mother was not able to support all her children and
Constance was sent to a convent. When Smith won a Dublin beauty
contest at age 16 to find the girl who looked most like Hedy Lamarr,
Smith's mother sent the photo to a film studio. As a result, Smith won
a screen test, and although reluctant to seize the opportunity, she
was pushed into the film industry by her mother, according to the
actress.Smith moved to London, where she briefly joined the Rank
Organisation. Studio executives were unamused by Smith's attitude, and
she was eventually sacked before she made her breakthrough. She moved
back to London, studied acting and played bit parts in several British
B films. In 1950, she was first noticed after playing an Irish maid in
The Mudlark. Impressed with her performance, 20th Century Fox offered
her a contract. Upon her arrival in Hollywood, producer Darryl F.
Zanuck cast her opposite Tyrone Power in I'll Never Forget You (1951).
However, he soon decided Smith was not experienced enough and replaced
her with Ann Blyth.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.