Actress Janet Leigh: biography, films, personal life

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Janet Leigh (1927-2004) - American actress, singer, Golden Globe Award winner. Janet was also nominated for an Oscar. Her most famous roles are in the films "Psycho" by Alfred Hitchcock and "The Seal of Evil" by Orson Welles. Lee acted in films from 1947 to 1998.

Early years

The real full name of the actress is Janet Helen Morrison. She was born on 1927-06-07 in the city of Merced, California. The girl became the only child of Helena Lee (Westergaard) and Frederick Robert Morrison. The grandparents of the actress were Danes. Scottish, German, Irish blood also flowed in the veins of the actress.

After graduating from high school, Janet entered Pacific University, where she studied music and psychology.

Career start

Actress Janet Leigh got into the movies thanks to Oscar-winning actress Norma Shearer. Norma saw a photo of the girl and advised agent Lew Wasserman to pursue her career. Janet was sent to study with drama teacher Lillian Burns. At the end of her studies, MGM signed a contract with the girl.

At the screen test of the film "Romance with Roji Ridge", released on screensin 1947, Li got her first role.

In 1958, the actress starred in Orson Welles' film The Seal of Evil. The Seal of Evil is a film noir. The main male role in the film was played by Charlton Heston.

According to the plot, a small town near the Mexican border is sealed with evil, and all the inhabitants in it become evil. The main characters of the picture are a drug agent, his wife Susan (played by Lee), a police officer, a district attorney, drug traffickers.

Alfred Hitchcock's "Psycho"

Janet's other popular work is the role of Marion Crane in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. This film also starred Anthony Perkins and John Gavin.

The script for "Psycho" was written by Joseph Stefano based on the work of writer Robert Bloch. The picture tells about the killer Norman Bates, who suffers from a split personality. Norman works at a motel and suffers greatly from his relationship with his domineering mother. Marion Crane stops at a motel for the night and is killed here.

To keep the ending of the film a secret for the audience, Hitchcock bought the rights to his work from Robert Bloch and bought the entire print run of the book on which the film was based.

The most frightening scene in the film (in the shower) caused the actress severe psychological trauma. For several years after filming, Janet was afraid to take a shower.

The role of Marion earned Lee a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. At home, after the release of the film, Janet was nicknamed Missscream.”

Recent works

Since 1965, the actress has been less likely to act in films. Janet Leigh's most interesting films of these years: The Fog (1980), Halloween: 20 Years Later (1998). In the film Halloween: 20 Years Later, the actress starred with her daughter Jamie Lee Curtis.

Literary creativity

Janet is not only an actress and singer, but also a writer. She is the author of four books. The autobiographical book This Is Real Hollywood, published in 1984, was a huge success and was recognized by the New York Times as a bestseller.

In 1995, another book by the actress, Psycho: Behind the Scenes of a Classic Thriller, saw the light of day. This time the book was written in the popular science genre.

In 1996, Janet wrote The House of Destiny, a fictional novel about two friends who have made careers in Hollywood. The book was very popular with readers.

In 2002 another book by the actress was published. It was a Dream Factory artwork.

Private life

Janet started looking for a husband at a very early age. Already at the age of fifteen, the girl pretended to be eighteen and married a young guy named John Kenneth Carlisle in the city of Reno, Nevada. Four months later, in December 1942, Janet's secret was revealed and the marriage was annulled.

After reaching eighteen Li remarried. This time, Stanley Reems became her chosen one. Relations did not work out this time either. The couple divorced in September 1949.

In June 1951 JanetFinally married the man of her dreams. It turned out to be actor Tony Curtis.

Together Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis starred in five films. It's Houdini in 1953, Black Shield in 1954, Vikings and The Perfect Vacation in 1958, "Who are these ladies?" in 1960. The couple also appeared together in a cameo picture "Lele".

Janet and Tony have two daughters. The girls were named Kelly and Jamie. Subsequently, they also became actresses. Over time, the marriage of the actress with Tony Curtis broke up.

The next choice of the actress was the stockbroker Robert Brandt. The couple got married in Las Vegas. Janet lived with Robert until her death, 42 years old.

Achievements and death

Janet Leigh received a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho.

Lee is a PhD in Fine Arts from the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California.

The actress has played more than 50 roles in films, more than 30 roles in television series, performed on the radio during her career.

Janet died on 2004-03-10 in Beverly Hills from an inflammation of the blood vessels (from vasculitis). The body of the actress was cremated.

Janet has her own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This star was discovered back in 1960.