JEAN SIMMONSBritish-born Hollywood actress Jean Simmons died on 22 January, 2010, aged 80, at her home in Santa Monica.Ms Simmons was born in London in 1929 and began her career at the age of 14, when she was pluckedfrom a dance class to make her movie debut in the 1944 British production Give Us the Moon.She then appeared in several minor British films before her breakthrough role playing Estella in Great Expectations (1946), followed by Black Narcissus and then Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet in 1948 – playing Ophelia – where she was nominated for an Oscar.She moved to Hollywood in 1950 and went on to become one of Hollywood's leading ladies, starring alongside Gregory Peck, Paul Newman and Kirk Douglas to name a few.She was nominated for a second Oscar in 1969 for The Happy Ending, before moving largely in to television roles in the 70s, 80s and 90s.Ms Simmons won an Emmy Award for her role in The Thorn Birds in the 1980s; she played Fiona 'Fee' Cleary.Ms Simmons was married twice, first to British film star Stewart Granger, from 1950-1960 producing one daughter Tracy. They starred in several films together.She then married director Richard Brooks, from 1960-1977, producing another daughter Kate.She had been suffering from lung cancer for some time.
Keep me informed of updates
