Lynn Fontanne

Lynn Fontanne was a famous actress.

She learned to act from a teacher named Ellen Terry.

Lynn met an actor named Alfred Lunt. They fell in love and married.

They acted in plays together for a long time.

They were known as "The Lunts." They often performed in funny plays. They also did serious plays.

The couple liked to travel. They took their shows to many cities. They wanted many people to see them.

They even traveled to see troops during a war. This was to help her friends. They were very good at their jobs.

Lynn Fontanne was a famous English actress.

She learned to act from a teacher named Ellen Terry. Early in her career, she worked in London and New York. During this time, she met an actor named Alfred Lunt. They fell in love and married in 1922.

The couple became known as "The Lunts." They were famous for acting together on stage.

They often performed in light comedies. They also acted in serious and experimental plays. The Lunts used a new way to speak. They spoke while other actors were still talking. This made their scenes feel very real.

They loved to tour with their shows. They took plays to many small towns. They wanted everyone to see great work. During the Second World War, they went to England. Fontanne wanted to be with her friends during the hard times. They even performed for troops in army camps.

Later, they lived in a large house in Wisconsin. They retired from the stage in 1960.

Lynn Fontanne was a famous English actress who loved the stage.

She was born in 1887 in a place called Woodford. A famous actress named Ellen Terry gave her early lessons. Fontanne started her career with small roles in London. She even appeared in the play Cinderella at the Theatre Royal. Eventually, she moved to work in the United States. She made her New York debut in 1910 at the 39th Street Theatre. Her talent grew as she moved from small parts to leading roles.

In 1922, Fontanne married an American actor named Alfred Lunt. They became a famous team known as "The Lunts."

They worked together for forty years on Broadway and in London. The couple used a new way to deliver their lines. They would speak while other actors were still talking. This made their acting feel very real and vivid. They joined a group called the Theatre Guild to perform serious plays. They also became very well known for playing in stylish comedies.

Their partnership changed the way people saw theater.

In 1928, they starred in a play called Caprice. This show was a major milestone for their careers. It was the first time they were the main stars of a show. After this, they always appeared on stage together. They also worked with the writer Noël Coward. They starred in his hit play Design for Living in 1932. This play was so popular it broke box-office records.

Fontanne and Lunt believed that everyone should enjoy great plays. They did not just stay in big cities like New York. They took their shows on long tours to many places. They wanted people in small towns to see Broadway hits.

During the Second World War, they moved to England. Fontanne wanted to be with her friends during the hard times. They even performed for soldiers in army camps in France and Germany. They showed great courage by sharing these difficult years with others.

After the war, the couple returned to the United States. They lived at their large country home in Wisconsin.

This home was called Ten Chimneys. It was a place where they hosted many theater friends.

They finally retired from the stage in 1960. Fontanne lived to be 95 years old. She passed away in 1983, six years after her husband. Her long career left a lasting mark on the world of acting.

Lynn Fontanne was a celebrated English actress of the 20th century.

She was a central figure in both London and New York theater. Her career spanned many decades and various styles of drama. She is most famous for her lifelong professional partnership with her husband. Together, they became one of the most iconic acting duos in history. They were widely recognized by the name "The Lunts."

Fontanne's journey began with formal training under the famous actress Ellen Terry. She started in small roles, such as the chorus in the pantomime Cinderella. She also worked as a non-speaking extra, known as a "walk-on." By 1912, she played Gertrude Rhead in the play Milestones. This role required her to portray one character across three stages of life. This performance impressed the American star Laurette Taylor. Taylor later became a vital mentor who helped foster Fontanne's growing career.

In 1922, Fontanne married the American actor Alfred Lunt.

Their marriage transformed the landscape of Broadway and the West End. They joined the Theatre Guild, a company known for innovative productions. The Lunts developed a specific, naturalistic style of acting. They practiced a technique where actors spoke while others were still talking. This method made their scenes feel more vivid and real to audiences. This approach broke the traditional conventions of the time.

Their theatrical work can be divided into several distinct styles. They were highly skilled in light, stylish comedies. They often worked with writers like Noël Coward and S. N. Behrman. However, they also tackled demanding experimental dramas. For example, Fontanne performed in Eugene O'Neill's Strange Interlude in 1928. They also performed classical works, such as The Taming of the Shrew in 1935. This versatility allowed them to appeal to many different types of theatergoers.

A major turning point occurred in 1928 with the play Caprice.

This production was a milestone for their professional partnership. It was the first time the actors themselves were the main attraction. Following this success, the couple decided to always appear on stage together. They also shared a strong commitment to touring their productions. They traveled to remote locations to ensure people outside New York could see Broadway hits. They believed playwrights deserved to have their work seen by as many people as possible.

The couple achieved massive commercial success with Noël Coward's Design for Living in 1932.

This comedy featured Fontanne in a role that switched between two men. The play broke box-office records and earned the stars very high salaries. This success was a rare moment of perfect alignment between popularity and risqué subject matter. While they had one major failure with the serious drama Point Valaine, their reputation remained strong. They were among the most respected performers on both sides of the Atlantic.

During the Second World War, Fontanne and Lunt made a significant move. At Fontanne's request, they moved to England to be with family and friends.

They performed in the West End during these difficult years. They also toured army camps in France and Germany in 1945 to perform for the troops. This period showed their dedication to their community and their craft. Even during a global conflict, they continued to bring theater to those who needed it.

In their later years, the Lunts lived at their country estate in Wisconsin.

The home was called Ten Chimneys and served as a social hub for theater colleagues. They eventually retired from the stage in 1960. Fontanne lived until the age of 95, passing away in 1983. She outlived Alfred Lunt by six years. Her legacy remains tied to the evolution of modern, naturalistic acting.