Youthfull Actress is Climbing to Sucess

Manawatu Times, Volume 60, Issue 196, 21 August 1935, Page 11

Youthfull Actress is Climbing to Sucess

“FRANKENSTEIN'S” BRIDE NOW “WEREWOLF’S” MATE (Kosy: Screening Saturday.) The Bride of “Frankenstein,’’ halt-crazed scientist who created monsters out of dead bodies and Hearts of living people, is now mate of “Werewolf of London.” What a fate! But Valerie Hobson, lovely 17-year-old English girl, revels in it and is rising rapidly to screen stardom through these gruesome film marriages.

The life story of this girl reads almost likely a fairy book tale. Borne in Larne, in Ireland, she was sent to school at tho convent of Bt. Augustin’s Priory, London. She iinished there when she was but If, Then followed one year at tho Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

And thou began tho fairy tale. Although just a child in years, she wrote to Basil Poster, one of Euglauds greatest impressarios, tolling him she wanted to go on tho stage. And tho letter was so convincingly written that this busy man sent for her and took time out to give her an audition. Tho result was he engaged her lo understudy Adelo Dixon, oue of England’s greatest musical comedy stars. lu only a few weeks sho had advanced from an nu<)erstudy to a prominent part in “Ball of Savoy” with Maurice Evans. Then just a few weeks later Evans almost fainted with amazement when he discovered this same girl had been given the female lead opposite him in tho lilm “Path of Glory.” When this film was released Valerio was a sensation.

There was a rush of talent scouts representing American film companies, but Universal beat them all to her and sho signed. .She w r as in a sort of mental fog. Things had been happening as they do in story books. She and her mother sailed and when they arrived ia Hollywood Valerio looked about and exclaimed, “Mother, is it truel” Immediately Universal gave her an insignificant part in ‘‘Life Returns,” but this unassuming girl who had been touched apparently by tho wand of a fairy, made it stand out, so brightly that she was handed the lead in “Rendezvous at Midnight.” Beforo sho had finished that part the studio was waiting for her to play a featured role in “Tho Mystery of Edwin Drood.” The day she finished that sho was fitted for costumes for the femalo lead opposite lvarlolt in “The Brido of Frankenstein. ’ ’ Three days after she started that film it was decided to give her th c femalo lead opposite Henry Hull in “Werewolf of London.”