American actress Anne Bancroft: biography, films, personal life

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

Anne Bancroft is an American actress who won an Oscar in 1963 for her role in The Miracle Worker. Bancroft acted in films for over 50 years, from 1951 to 2004. Over the years, the actress has also won several Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards.

Childhood and youth

The full name of the actress is Anna Maria Luisa Italiano. Ann was born on September 17, 1931 in the Bronx, New York City, USA. The girl's mother, Mildred, worked as a telephone operator, and her father, Michael John Napolitano, worked as a dress designer. Ann's parents emigrated to the US from Italy. From childhood, the girl was brought up by an ardent Catholic.

After graduating from high school, Bancroft entered the Academy of Dramatic Arts, and after - the Lee Strasberg Actors Studio and the Directing Workshop at the Film Institute in Los Angeles. With such an education and a natural talent for acting, the girl easily launched a career in Hollywood.

Career start

In 1951, Anna tookpseudonym Anne Marno, with him starred in several television series. In 1952, the actress starred for the first time in a feature film. You Can Enter Without Knocking, directed by Roy Ward Baker, is an adaptation of the novel by Charlotte Armstrong. The main roles in the film, along with Bancroft, were played by Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark.

According to Anne Bancroft's biography, after living in Hollywood for a while, the actress returned to New York. Already in 1958, the girl played a major role in the Broadway production of Two on a Swing. In it, Ann played the role of the Resident. The actress's partner in the play was Henry Fonda. For her work in this production, Bancroft received a Tony Award.

The play and film "The Miracle Worker"

In 1959, Anne played in the production of "The Miracle Worker". Based on the play of the same name by William Gibson, this production is based on the biography of Helen Keller.

Helen is both blind and deaf American. She lost her sight and hearing in early childhood. Parents spoiled Keller in every possible way, as a result she grew up capricious. To teach Helen how to live in society, her parents hire a teacher, Miss Sullivan, for her. Sullivan's methods are tough, but they give good results.

Bancroft played the role of teacher Sullivan in the production. Other roles were played by actors Patty Duke, Torin Thatcher, Patricia Neal, Michael Constantine and Bea Richards.

In 1960, the production was nominated for a Tony Award and won five prizes in six categories, including winning andactress Anne Bancroft.

Film adaptations of "The Miracle Worker" were released in 1962, 1979 and 2000. The 1962 version starred the same actors as the Broadway production. The film was directed by Arthur Penn. Film critics were delighted with this version of the film adaptation. The film was included in the top 100 most inspiring films of the last hundred years.

The picture "The Miracle Worker" was nominated for many prestigious film awards. The film was nominated for an Oscar in five categories, of which it won two. For her role in this film, Ann received an Oscar, a BAFTA, an award from the San Sebastiano Film Festival, the National Council of Film Critics of the USA, and was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Awards, nominations and best works

The actress has a huge number of prestigious film awards. Bancroft nominated:

• on the "Oscar" - five times;
• on the "Golden Globe" - eight times;
• on the "Emmy" - seven times;
• on "Tony" - three times.

In 1964, the film "Pumpkin Eater" directed by Jack Clayton was released. "Pumpkin Eater" was nominated for an Oscar, won Cannes Film Festival, a Golden Globe and 4 BAFTA awards.

In 1967, Bancroft played in the film directed by Mike Nichols "The Graduate". In this film, Ann was paired with Dustin Hoffman. The film won an Oscar, five BAFTA awards,five Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Award.

In 1972, Richard Attenborough's "Young Winston", based on Winston Churchill's autobiography, was released. In "Young Winston" Bancroft played the role of Lady Jenny Churchill, Winston's mother. The film was nominated for an Oscar in three categories, received a Golden Globe and a British Academy Film Award.

In 1977, Anne starred in the feature film Turning Point about ballet dancers. The film was directed by Herbert Ross. In addition to Bancroft, Shirley MacLaine, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Martha Scott, Leslie Brown and Tom Skerritt played in the film.

"Turning Point" was nominated for an Oscar in 11 categories, but in the end it did not win a single Oscar. The film won two Golden Globe Awards.

In 1985, Bancroft played Mother Superior Miriam Ruth in Norman Jewison's Agnes of God. Together with Ann, actresses Jane Fonda, Meg Tilly and Ann Pitonyak starred in this film. "Agnes of God" was nominated for "Oscar" in three nominations, won the "Golden Globe".

Private life

Anne Bancroft has been married twice. The first time in 1953, Ann married Martin May. The couple divorced four years later without having a child.

In 1961, Bancroft met producer and director Mel Brooks. They worked together on severalprojects and in 1964 decided to get married.

The only child, son Maximilian, was born to Ann and Mel only in 1972. Years later, Maximilian became a screenwriter and novelist. In 2005, he and his wife Michelle had a son, Henry Michael Brooks. Henry Michael became the grandson of Ann Bancroft.

Death of an actress

Anne died on 2005-06-06 in a hospital in New York City at the age of 73. The cause of death of the actress was uterine cancer. Bancroft hid her illness from friends, so her death came as a surprise to many. The actress was buried at Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, New York. Bancroft's parents were also buried there.

In memory of Ann's talent, a star was unveiled on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also, the animated film "Delgo" directed by Jason Maurer and Mark Odler is dedicated to her memory.