Patricia Collinge

Irish-born stage actress, in London from 1904, on Broadway from 1908. After appearing as a flower girl in 'The Queen of the Moulin Rouge', she became a celebrated theatrical star of many classic plays by 'George Bernard Shaw' (qv), 'Henrik Ibsen' (qv), 'J.M. Barrie' (qv) and others. From 1947 to 1948, she starred as Lavinia Penniman in 'The Heiress' at the Biltmore Theatre, directed by 'Jed Harris' (qv). The play ran for 410 performances. On screen, she was noted for her work with 'Alfred Hitchcock' (qv). She appeared as Emma Newton in _Shadow of a Doubt (1943)_ (qv). Though uncredited, Patricia wrote some of the dialogue for this film, as well as for _Lifeboat (1944)_ (qv), in which she did not appear as an actress. In the 1960's, she acted in several episodes of 'Alfred Hitchcock' (qv) Presents (1955) and The 'Alfred Hitchcock' (qv) Hour (1962). However, her finest moment was as the endearing, disillusioned Aunt Birdie in _The Little Foxes (1941)_ (qv), which she had created on the stage in 1939, and which won her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting actress.::I.S.Mowis