![Betty Balfour](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w185/zdn6pmkq91hgg9x8cDVQaWlB4yG.jpg)
Betty Balfour
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Betty Balfour (27 March 1903 – 4 November 1977) was an English screen actress, popular during the silent era, and known as the "British Mary Pickford" and "Britain's Queen of Happiness". She was best known to audiences for her Squibs series of films. Balfour was the most popular actress in Britain in the 1920s, and in 1927 she was named by the Daily Mirror as the country's favourite world star. Her talent was most evident in the Squibs comedy series produced by George Pearson, while in his Love, Life and Laughter (1923) and Reveille (1924), rediscovered in 2014, she demonstrated a serious side to her character. Her role as a wealthy heiress in Somebody's Darling (1925) was an attempt to break out of her previous role as Squibs, to avoid typecasting.
She made her stage debut in 1913, and was appearing in Medora at the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square when T. A. Welsh and Pearson saw and signed her for Nothing Else Matters in 1920. After replacing Gertrude Lawrence on stage in The Midnight Follies, Balfour was back with Pearson with her first starring role in Mary Find the Gold.
In 1916 she starred in Fred Karno's all female revue, 'All Women,' notable at the time for its all female cast, including stage manager, musical director and advanced agent.
Balfour made no attempt to break into Hollywood but like Ivor Novello she was able to export her talents to mainland Europe. She starred in the German films, Die sieben Töchter der Frau Gyurkovics and Die Regimentstochter; she also worked for Marcel L'Herbier in Le Diable au cœur, for Louis Mercanton in Croquette and La Petite Bonne du palace, and for Géza von Bolváry in Bright Eyes.
Back in Britain, she also starred in Alfred Hitchcock's Champagne (1928). Balfour's sound debut, The Nipper (1930), based on the Squibs character, was only moderately successful. Her popularity diminished in the 1930s, though she played a supporting role to Jessie Matthews in Evergreen (1934), appeared with John Mills in Forever England (1935) and played the matriarch in 29 Acacia Avenue (1945).
Balfour had less fortune in her private life. Her marriage with composer Jimmy Campbell went on the rocks in 1941 after ten years, a try of a comeback at the theatre failed in 1952. She died at age 74 in Weybridge, Surrey.
Known For | Acting |
---|---|
Most Rating | 5.158 |
Birthday | 1903-03-27 |
Place of Birth | London, England, UK |
Also Known As | Florence Lilian Woods, |
![Champagne](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9xLjNbCOXuRWs7AkZ7bW4m8I0H4.jpg)
1928
![Champagne](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/9xLjNbCOXuRWs7AkZ7bW4m8I0H4.jpg)
Champagne
5.217/69
Betty, the rebellious daughter of a millionaire, decides to marry the penniless Jean—against her father's will—and runs away to France and lives a lif...
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Champagne
![The Vagabond Queen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4AYbzXFlacD1qBRO8Y4mscwqgLW.jpg)
1929
![The Vagabond Queen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4AYbzXFlacD1qBRO8Y4mscwqgLW.jpg)
The Vagabond Queen
0/0
The Vagabond Queen is a 1929 British comedy film directed by Géza von Bolváry and starring Betty Balfour, Glen Byam Shaw and Ernest Thesiger. It was t...
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The Vagabond Queen
![Love, Life and Laughter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gv1wpnSrTPhXdCtbC1nfdmizEAt.jpg)
1923
![Love, Life and Laughter](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/gv1wpnSrTPhXdCtbC1nfdmizEAt.jpg)
Love, Life and Laughter
0/0
Love, Life and Laughter tells the story of a pair of working class youngsters with big dreams – a cheery chorus girl and a serious writer. The film to...
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Love, Life and Laughter
![Brown on Resolution](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/593DDAb7LJC9zekkOOB4HrDvOVB.jpg)
1935
![Brown on Resolution](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/593DDAb7LJC9zekkOOB4HrDvOVB.jpg)
Brown on Resolution
5.8/6
Forever England gives John Mills his first leading role as Brown. Born after a brief affair between his mother and a naval officer, he joins the Royal...
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Brown on Resolution
![Squibs](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/iRcOWsWxluhkGmhcEx9YUsx19v.jpg)
1935
![Squibs](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/iRcOWsWxluhkGmhcEx9YUsx19v.jpg)
Squibs
3.7/3
Squibs, a cockney flowerseller with a father overwhelmed by gambling debts wins through with the help of assorted friends and a romantically inclined...
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Squibs
![Evergreen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fl9DfUXbQ8cGfZe8caAEH4TAyoZ.jpg)
1934
![Evergreen](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fl9DfUXbQ8cGfZe8caAEH4TAyoZ.jpg)
Evergreen
6.2/9
Harriet Green, a beloved and radiant music hall star of the Edwardian era, mysteriously disappears on the eve of her wedding. Years later, she reappea...
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Evergreen
![Little Devil May Care](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zAbh6rdRpwnHROg9ioyeiyURby.jpg)
1928
![Little Devil May Care](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/zAbh6rdRpwnHROg9ioyeiyURby.jpg)
Little Devil May Care
6.3/6
Ludivine, a lttle tomboy, takes on the too polite Delphin. Being caught, and punished, she wants him and his father to be dead. When the latter dies,...
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Little Devil May Care
![29 Acacia Avenue](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/y5BZ4oJu7OcuLVqwIjbujqHmQnK.jpg)
1945
![29 Acacia Avenue](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/y5BZ4oJu7OcuLVqwIjbujqHmQnK.jpg)
29 Acacia Avenue
5.7/3
The Robinsons are two respectable middle class parents living with their children in a suburban house in Acacia Avenue. Preferring to holiday every ye...
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29 Acacia Avenue
![Bright Eyes](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/k9G5NlRzdzIXdDT8fGBAfLnKqxx.jpg)
1929
![Bright Eyes](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/k9G5NlRzdzIXdDT8fGBAfLnKqxx.jpg)
Bright Eyes
0/0
A 1929 British-Austrian romance film directed by Géza von Bolváry.
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Bright Eyes
![The Nipper](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ttAIKkEmX3hoFK5iMp7O4BQuKp5.jpg)
1930
![The Nipper](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ttAIKkEmX3hoFK5iMp7O4BQuKp5.jpg)
The Nipper
0/0
A producer makes a star of the cockney waif who tried to rob him.
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The Nipper
![Raise the Roof](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3sBez0Qc3BEtMlQ3xPL7iHud3ZT.jpg)
1930
![Raise the Roof](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/3sBez0Qc3BEtMlQ3xPL7iHud3ZT.jpg)
Raise the Roof
0/0
The wealthy Rodney Langford, who dreams of going on the stage, hopes to fulfil his ambitions by buying a failing revue called 'Raise the Roof', starri...
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Raise the Roof
![A Sister of Six](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/eRvkOELuMlvvJa0p2Y9GJo5NU0C.jpg)
1926
![A Sister of Six](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/eRvkOELuMlvvJa0p2Y9GJo5NU0C.jpg)
A Sister of Six
0/0
A silent romantic comedy
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A Sister of Six
![Paradise](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fMWFeCB9lhbsPkvByxJP180a0LF.jpg)
1928
![Paradise](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/fMWFeCB9lhbsPkvByxJP180a0LF.jpg)
Paradise
0/0
The daughter of a poor clergyman wins £500 and goes to find happiness on the Riviera.
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Paradise
![Eliza Comes to Stay](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1936
![Eliza Comes to Stay](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Eliza Comes to Stay
0/0
A British comedy film directed by Henry Edwards
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Eliza Comes to Stay
![A Little Bit of Fluff](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4BgLV6tXNoQoJe8QfAMn2yrQH9W.jpg)
1928
![A Little Bit of Fluff](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4BgLV6tXNoQoJe8QfAMn2yrQH9W.jpg)
A Little Bit of Fluff
0/0
Syd Chaplin And Betty Balfour star in this British International Picture.
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A Little Bit of Fluff
![The Cabaret Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ctWvdctPjHzjUxz89BskzyYqHZd.jpg)
1926
![The Cabaret Kid](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/ctWvdctPjHzjUxz89BskzyYqHZd.jpg)
The Cabaret Kid
0/0
A pilot saves a dancer from a Paris nightclub owner and they stow away to Cornwall.
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The Cabaret Kid
![My Old Dutch](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4FoW8XFyc834uhTPiNTHQDL50cQ.jpg)
1934
![My Old Dutch](http://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w154/4FoW8XFyc834uhTPiNTHQDL50cQ.jpg)
My Old Dutch
0/0
Moving family drama of the life of a working-class Hackney couple over 40 years, inspired by the famous music hall song This moving family drama - wi...
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My Old Dutch
![Daughter of the Regiment](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1929
![Daughter of the Regiment](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Daughter of the Regiment
0/0
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Daughter of the Regiment
![Réveille](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1924
![Réveille](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Réveille
0/0
A seamstress stops a poor ex-soldier from becoming a left-wing agitator.
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Réveille
![Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
1922
![Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep](https://nicosiaefe.gov.cy/video/assets/no-poster.png)
Squibs Wins the Calcutta Sweep
0/0
A flower girl wins £60,000 and takes her family to Paris to save her sister from her murderous husband.
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