Jessie Matthews
b. 11 March 1907, London, England, d. 19 August 1981, Pinner, Middlesex, England. A member of a large and poor family, Matthews became a professional dancer at the age of 10. After a few years in the chorus of several shows in London's West End, she achieved recognition with a series of ingenue roles and some bit parts in films. After appearing in stage production such as ANDRÉ CHARLOT'S REVUE OF 1926, Earl Carroll'S VANITIES OF 1926, JORDAN, THIS YEAR OF GRACE, WAKE UP AND DREAM(London and New York), HOLD MY HAND, and SALLY WHO?, by the early '30s she had become one of London's most popular stars. At the height of her career, in such shows as the 1930 London production of Ever Green, with a score by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, Matthews was the epitome of the English musical comedy star: her delicate build and translucent beauty fully matched songs such as that show's ethereal Dancing On The Ceiling. Her film work also grew and she made several movies in the UK and in Hollywood, in which she shone effortlessly. Despite an appearance in the 1934 film version of her stage hit, slightly retitled as Evergreen—in which she introduced Over My Shoulder, one of ‘identity songs—few of Matthews’ film musicals were worthy of her talent. They included OUT OF THE BLUE, WALTZES FROM VIENNA, First A Girl, IT'S LOVE AGAIN, HEAD OVER HEELS, GANGWAY, and SAILING ALONG (1938). An outstanding dancer, the variable quality of her films militated against her continuing for long and by the '40s, her career was all but over. Her last appearance on a London stage in this part of her career was in the 1942 production of WILD ROSE. After many years away from the public eye, spent mostly in Australia, she returned to the screen in 1958 as the mother in TOM THUMB, and in 1963 took over the title role in the daily BBC radio serial MRS DALE'S DIARY. In the '70s she was seen on the London stage in THE WATER BABIES and LADY WINDEMERE'S FAN, and also appeared on television in the series EDWARD AND MRS. SIMPSON. Her one-woman show MISS JESSIE MATTHEWS IN CONCERTwon the US Drama Critics Award. 
Further reading: OVER MY SHOULDER (AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY), Jessie Matthews. JESSIE MATTHEWS—A BIOGRAPHY, Michael Thornton.