Greer Garson
British-American actress, MGM star, and seven-time Oscar nominee.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
Eileen Evelyn Greer Garson (29 September 1904 – 6 April 1996) worked on both sides of the Atlantic as an actress and singer. She became a major star during Hollywood’s Golden Age, often cast as poised, virtuous women in period pieces and war films. As a leading lady at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, she was one of the highest-paid performers in the US and Britain, and from 1942 to 1946 the Motion Picture Herald listed her among America’s top box-office draws.
Garson began her career on stage and television in England. In 1937 she signed a contract with MGM chief Louis B. Mayer. Her first film, *Goodbye, Mr. Chips* (1939), earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She followed that with the romantic comedy *Remember?* (1939) and the period drama *Pride and Prejudice* (1940). Then came a run of five consecutive Oscar nominations: for *Blossoms in the Dust* (1941), *Mrs. Miniver* (1942), *Madame Curie* (1943), *Mrs. Parkington* (1944), and *The Valley of Decision* (1945). She won once, for *Mrs. Miniver*, which was the highest-grossing film of 1942.
Her career slowed in the late 1940s, though she remained active. Notable later films include *Adventure* (1946), *Julia Misbehaves* (1948), and the 1953 adaptation of *Julius Caesar*. She made a brief comeback in 1960 playing Eleanor Roosevelt in *Sunrise at Campobello*, which brought her a final Best Actress nomination. After that she appeared only sporadically in movies until her death in 1996.
Garson received seven Best Actress Oscar nominations, placing her among the four most-nominated women in that category. She also won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Drama. In 1960 she received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in 1993 Queen Elizabeth II named her a Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
She was born on 29 September 1904 in Manor Park, East Ham (then Essex, now part of Greater London), the only child of Nancy Sophia “Nina” Greer and George Garson, a commercial clerk. Her father was born in London to Scottish parents; her mother was born in Drumalore, near Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland. The name Greer is a contraction of MacGregor. Her maternal grandfather, David Greer, was an RIC sergeant who later became a land steward for the Annesley family in Castlewellan, County Down. Some sources mistakenly list County Down as her birthplace and give her birth year as 1908.
After her fa
- born
- 29 September 1904, Manor Park, East Ham (then Essex, now Greater London)
- died
- 6 April 1996
- field
- Actress and singer
- nationality
- British and American
- known_for
- Playing graceful, noble, and dignified women in period and war dramas; record five consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Actress
Lore & Background
Garson was born on 29 September 1904 in Manor Park, East Ham, the only child of Nancy Sophia Greer and George Garson. Her father died when she was young, and she was raised by her mother, growing up mainly in Castlewellan. She read French and 18th-century literature at King's College London and did postgraduate studies at the University of Grenoble. Before acting, she worked as head of the research library of LINTAS at Lever Brothers, where co-worker George Sanders later credited her with suggesting he start an acting career.
Her early professional appearances were on stage, starting at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in January 1932. She appeared on television in its earliest years, notably starring in a 30-minute production of an excerpt of Twelfth Night in May 1937. Louis B. Mayer discovered her in London, and she signed a contract with MGM in late 1937. Her debut film, Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), earned her first Academy Award nomination. She went on to earn five consecutive Best Actress nominations for Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), and The Valley of Decision (1945), winning for Mrs. Miniver. Her acceptance speech for that award, at five minutes and 30 seconds, was the longest in Academy history until surpassed in 2025.
By the late 1940s her career declined, though she remained active. She made a brief comeback in 1960 portraying Eleanor Roosevelt in Sunrise at Campobello, earning her seventh and final Oscar nomination. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960, and in 1993 Queen Elizabeth II invested her as Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Reader's Guide
Greer Garson was a defining figure of Hollywood's Golden Age, known for portraying dignified, noble women in period and war dramas. Her record of five consecutive Academy Award nominations for Best Actress from 1941 to 1945 tied Bette Davis's earlier record and remains unmatched. Her performance in Mrs. Miniver (1942), the highest-grossing film of that year, cemented her status as a symbol of British resilience during World War II. Garson's longevity in the industry is marked by seven total Oscar nominations, placing her among the most nominated actresses in history. Though her popularity waned after the 1940s, her later work—including her portrayal of Eleanor Roosevelt—demonstrated her continued range. Her legacy includes a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a CBE from Queen Elizabeth II, reflecting her impact on both British and American cinema.
Did You Know?
- Garson's Oscar acceptance speech for Mrs. Miniver lasted five minutes and 30 seconds, the longest in Academy history until Adrien Brody's speech at the 97th Academy Awards, 82 years later.
- She was born in Manor Park, East Ham, but some sources erroneously reported her birthplace as County Down and her birth year as 1908.
- She co-starred with Walter Pidgeon in eight films: Blossoms in the Dust, Mrs. Miniver, Madame Curie, Mrs. Parkington, Julia Misbehaves, That Forsyte Woman, The Miniver Story, and Scandal at Scourie.
- Garson suggested to her co-worker George Sanders that he start a career in acting.
More in Stage And Screen Actresses 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record