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George Bernard Shaw wrote Saint Joan for Sybil Thorndike, and she originated the role in 1924. She performed for six decades, was made a Dame in 1931, and died in 1976 at 93.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Sybil Thorndike — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Sybil Thorndike by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Sybil Thorndike — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Nerve injuries at age 17 forced Sybil Thorndike to abandon her concert piano training. Born Agnes Sybil Thorndike on October 24, 1882 in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, the eldest of four children, her father was a minor canon of Rochester Cathedral. At her brother Russell’s suggestion, she turned to acting, studying at Rochester Grammar School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
At 21, she began touring with actor-manager Ben Greet. In 1907, she played Portia in The Merchant of Venice in New York. The next year, she met George Bernard Shaw while understudying Candida. She married fellow actor Lewis Casson. From 1914 to 1919 she spent five years at the Old Vic, and in 1924 starred as Shaw’s Joan of Arc. Her film credits include Major Barbara 1941, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 1947, Stage Fright 1950, and The Prince and the Showgirl 1957.
In 1908, she married actor Sir Lewis Casson. They had four children: Ann, Christopher, Mary, and John. A socialist and pacifist, she was active in the Labour Party. During the Spanish Civil War, she supported the Popular Front government. In 1928, she and Lewis fought segregation during a South Africa tour. Her son John was reported missing in WWII but returned home in 1945. She died of a heart attack on June 9, 1976 at 93. Her ashes are buried in Westminster Abbey.
George Bernard Shaw wrote Saint Joan specifically for Sybil Thorndike. She originated the role in 1924. In 1931 she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1970 a Companion of Honour. The Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead, named after her, opened in 1969. She was the first British actress on a postage stamp. Her ashes rest in Westminster Abbey.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Sybil Thorndike — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Sybil Thorndike — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
It’s Only People Who Are Hysterical Who Can Play Hysterical Parts.
Little-known facts about Sybil Thorndike — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
During World War II in 1940, Sybil’s son John was reported missing and presumed dead. Weeks passed before she and Lewis learned he had been captured. He returned home within weeks after the war ended in 1945.
Many critics name her among the 20th century’s greatest actresses.
She became the first British actress to appear on a postage stamp.
Both Sybil and Lewis supported the Popular Front government in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. She helped establish the Committee to Aid Homeless Spanish Women and Children with Emma Goldman and Rebecca West. They were active in the Labour Party.
Dame Sybil’s ashes are buried in Westminster Abbey in the Nave South Choir Aisle.
Sybil and her husband were involved in the early days of British Equity, The Arts Council, The Old Vic, the National Theatre, and the Chichester Festival Theatre. The Thorndike Theatre in Leatherhead opened in September 1969, a few months after Lewis’s death.
George Bernard Shaw wrote his play Saint Joan specifically for Sybil, and she performed it in its original production.
She was awarded the DBE in the 1931 King’s Birthday Honours and became a Companion of Honour in the 1970 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
She was nominated for a 1957 Tony Award for Best Actress for The Potting Shed.
She severely damaged her voice on a 1905 US tour presenting Shakespeare plays, and vocal problems plagued her thereafter.
She was superstitious about washing her stage costumes and would not allow anyone else to touch them.
Sian Thomas portrayed Sybil in the original production of the play Fram by Tony Harrison at the National Theatre in London in April 2008.
Both Sybil and her brother Russell appeared in films starring and directed by Laurence Olivier: Sybil in The Prince and the Showgirl 1957, Russell in Henry V 1944, Hamlet 1948, and Richard III 1955.
She played the wife of her real-life brother Russell Thorndike in Macbeth 1922.
She and Sir Lewis Casson had four children: Ann Casson, Christopher Casson, John Casson, and Mary Casson.
A memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey on July 2, 1976.
She was superstitious about the colour green and would not go on stage wearing green.
She was a socialist, pacifist, supporter of the welfare state and the Arts Council, and opposed nuclear weapons and the death penalty.
She was married for 60 years and an actress for 65 years.
She started as a concert pianist but gave it up at age 17 due to weak wrists and turned to acting.
She was a cousin of actress Brenda Dunrich, whose mother Hilda was a Thorndike.
She was the sister of actor Russell Thorndike and actress Eileen Thorndike. A fourth sibling, Francis Herbert Thorndike, died as a pilot in WWI in 1917.
In 1966 she was created an honorary DLitt of the University of Oxford.
She was the grandmother of Glynis Casson and theater scholar Diana Devlin, whose parents are Mary Casson and William Devlin.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Sybil Thorndike.
Celebrities similar to Sybil Thorndike — same craft, ranked by reach.
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