Herlie, Eileen (1919–)

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Herlie, Eileen (1919–)

Scottish actress. Born Eileen O'Herlihy in Glasgow, Scotland, Mar 8, 1919; dau. of Patrick and Isobel (Cowden) O'Herlihy; attended Shawland's Academy, Glasgow; m. Philip Barrett (producer), Aug 12, 1942 (div. 1947); m. Witold Kuncewicz, 1950 (div. 1960).

Made stage debut in Sweet Aloes in Glasgow (1938) and London debut as Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca (1942); came to prominence in Jean Cocteau's The Eagle Has Two Heads (1946); appeared in title role in Medea (1948); made Broadway debut as Mrs. Molloy in The Matchmaker (1955), which ran for 488 performances; appeared at Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario, as Paulina in The Winter's Tale and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (1958); on NY stage, was also seen as Ruth Gray in Epitaph for George Dillon, Lily in Take Me Along (1959), Gertrude in Gielgud's Hamlet (1964), and Queen Mary in Crown Matrimonial (1973); made a number of films, among them Isn't Life Wonderful? (1953), Freud (1962) and The Sea Gull (1968).

See also Women in World History.

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