Ethel Barrymore
Shy Empress of the Footlights
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Born in Philadelphia in 1879, Ethel Barrymore would eventually prove herself a vital actor who was suited to radio, stage, and screen. After breaking out with Captain Jinks of the Horse Marines (1901), she performed in many plays, including Alice-Sit-by-the-Fire (1905), Déclassée (1919), and The Corn Is Green (1943), before investing her energies in films such as The Spiral Staircase (1946) and Portrait of Jennie (1949). Barrymore ultimately won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in None but the Lonely Heart (1944) opposite Cary Grant. She knew Hollywood's fickle nature all too well, and she remained committed to the Drew and Barrymore stage acting legacy up until the time of her passing in 1959.
Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights emphasizes how Barrymore's career was born from "duty, not desire." Kathleen Spaltro traces Barrymore's story back to her Drew grandparents' emergence as a tour de force in nineteenth-century US theater. Along the way, Spaltro examines the multifaceted relationship the "First Lady of the American Theater" had with stardom, detailing such disappointments as having to relinquish her childhood dream of being a concert pianist in order to pursue acting. Spaltro also pulls directly from interviews to illustrate how Barrymore, often misinterpreted as demure, was exhausted by the stage she so masterfully commanded.
With far more depth than a typical "rise and fall" narrative, Ethel Barrymore paints an empathetic picture of the struggles Barrymore faced, from her ascension to stardom to her "abdication of the throne." Spaltro's comprehensive and nuanced approach recontextualizes Barrymore's career, showcasing just how much her dogged allegiance to the Drew-Barrymore legacy cost her.
About the Author:
Kathleen Spaltro istheauthor of Lionel Barrymore: Character and Endurance in Hollywood's Golden Age, TheGreat Lie: The Creation of Mary Astor, and many biographical articles.
Press Reviews:
"Spaltro has filled a significant gap in the realm of film, theater, and star studies with the first modern, in-depth work on Ethel Barrymore. Spaltro's research and use of sources are exemplary. This is the definitive biography of Ethel Barrymore."―Richard Day Gore, member of the Healing Project and coeditor of Women Reinvented: True Stories of Empowerment and Change
"Spaltro once again proves herself to be the authoritative chronicler of the Barrymore legacy in this compelling, deeply researched book about American entertainment royalty."―Robert K. Elder, author of The Film That Changed My Life: 30 Directors on Their Epiphanies in the Dark
"Much of this fascinating book reads like a novel, skillfully fusing the private Ethel Barrymore and the actress, while documenting her evolution from a capricious ingenue in life and on stage into a mature woman of immense character whose work in the theater had few rivals. Spaltro manages to bring Barrymore's performances alive again. Age and dwindling finances forced this actress who much preferred a live audience to spend her remaining years in Hollywood playing character roles. Yet as the book very ably recounts, 'Without Ethel's movies and television appearances, she would be but a famous shadow'."―Joseph Egan, author of The Purple Diaries and The Forgotten Masterpiece: George Stevens and "The Greatest Story Ever Told"
"Kathleen Spaltro's diligent research vividly recreates Ethel Barrymore's career and hidden private life. This poignant portrait reveals the sadness of a legendary actress who felt unfulfilled beneath her formidable image as an "empress" of the theater and Hollywood."―Joseph McBride, author of books on John Ford and Orson Welles
"In an era often defined by fleeting fame and actresses who come and go with the seasons, the accomplishments of Ethel Barrymore stand as a testament to enduring talent and unmatched dedication. With Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights, Kathleen Spaltro paints a vivid portrait of a woman who not only dominated the stage but also left a lasting imprint on the screen for over six decades. Ethel's legacy is a rare blend of grace, elegance, and unwavering commitment to her craft, qualities that allowed her to remain an iconic figure in American theatre and cinema."―Ray Kelly, film and culture writer and owner/administrator of Wellesnet
"Being "first lady of the American theater" was no easy task, as Kathleen Spaltro proves in this long-overdue biography of the Barrymore family's first superstar. An international celebrity while barely out of her teens, Ethel was the steadying hand that guided the early careers of both her brothers, somehow finding the time to help launch Actors' Equity while managing her own fabulous stage and screen career. John and Lionel were better copy, but it was Ethel who had her own Broadway theater, four Oscar nominations, and even an early television series. Highly recommended."―Richard Koszarski, professor emeritus of English and cinema studies at Rutgers University
"Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights unveils the captivating duality of one of America's most revered theatrical legends. Known for her poise, talent, and commanding presence on stage, Ethel Barrymore was paradoxically a woman of deep reserve and quiet introspection. This richly detailed biography offers an intimate portrait of the First Lady of the American Theatre, tracing her journey from the gilded footlights of Broadway to the screens of early Hollywood. This book explores how Barrymore's quiet strength shaped a dynasty―and how her shy soul reigned behind the curtain of fame. A must-read for lovers of theater, classic film, and untold stories of iconic women."―Doug Hess, producer and host of the Forgotten Hollywood podcast
"Kathleen Spaltro's Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights beautifully shines the spotlight on Ethel Barrymore as a multitalented gem of the American theatre. Through meticulous research, Spaltro aptly captures Barrymore's complicated nature as a woman torn between duty and dreams who ultimately became a revered player in a renowned theatrical dynasty."―Annette Bochenek, Hometowns to Hollywood
"Ethel Barrymore, a distinguished figure in both stage and screen, has largely faded from the memories of contemporary cinema enthusiasts. This oversight represents a significant loss, as Barrymore possessed an exceptional ability to convey complex emotions through her expressions and gestures, often with just a subtle raise of an eyebrow. Kathleen Spaltro revitalizes Barrymore's legacy through her meticulously researched and engaging biography. The narrative explores Barrymore's tumultuous childhood, including the profound grief of losing her mother, her challenging interactions with her unstable father, and her relationships with her two prominent actor brothers, Lionel and John. The book also addresses her marriage and its subsequent dissolution, which left enduring emotional scars, alongside her love and commitment to her children and her often precarious financial circumstances. Barrymore emerges in this account as a resilient individual; instead of succumbing to despair, she actively pursued her craft and continued to act. Readers of this comprehensive biography will find themselves grateful to Spaltro for reinvigorating Ethel Barrymore's legacy and restoring her rightful place in the public consciousness."―Betty Sherman Corp, administrator, "Hollywood Book Chat" Facebook group
"From Rittenhouse Square to vaudeville, the flickers and talkies, and from school auditoriums to the greatest theaters of the globe, there was no stage or audience Ethel Barrymore could not command and conquer. She deserves no biographer better than Kathleen Spaltro, whose impeccable research, passion for the theater, and talent for telling a great story put Barrymore at center stage, once again in the footlights."―William Furry, executive director of the Illinois State Historical Society
"Being a woman in early 1900s Broadway was hard; being a Barrymore was nearly impossible. Kathleen Spaltro brings to life how Ethel Barrymore went into the family business anyway, despite herself, and became a grand lady of Broadway and, eventually, the movies."―Michael Gebert, NitrateVille
"Having earlier penned the biography Lionel Barrymore: Character and Endurance in Hollywood's Golden Age, author Kathleen Spaltro revisits the House of Barrymore with her latest effort, Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights, a comprehensive portrait of the Oscar-winning actress (1879-1959) who earned the distinguished title of "First Lady of the American Theatre." . . . . There was magic in the Barrymore name and the Barrymore mystique, and that magic and mystique can be found in Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights."―YES! Weekly
"Ethel Barrymore never wanted to go to Hollywood. As Kathleen Spaltro reveals in her new biography, the leading lady of 1920s Broadway didn't really want to be a stage actress, either. Barrymore's aspiration to become a concert pianist was thwarted by a combination of family pressure and financial necessity. She came from an acclaimed clan of thespians and like her better-remembered brothers, John and Lionel, followed in the family business. . . .Spaltro's Ethel Barrymore: Shy Empress of the Footlights traces her formative influences amidst a family usually on tour and absent from her childhood. . . . Bedeviled through the end of her life by money problems, she never became a concert pianist and is chiefly remembered for her work in the movies, a medium she disliked. As depicted in Spaltro's biography, her life wasn't tragic as much as frustrating."―Shepherd Express
"It isn't just through her grand-niece Drew Barrymore that we remember Ethel. Theatre buffs know the names of the Lunts and Fontannes, the Katharine Cornells or Mary Martins, other "Kings" and "Queens" of Broadway." But the Barrymores' legacy still has a heartbeat thanks to the level of fame and acclaim. And the Barrymore way of acting and speaking lives on in classic films."―Movie Nation
See the publisher website: University Press of Kentucky
See the complete filmography of Ethel Barrymore on the website: IMDB ...
> From the same author:
Lionel Barrymore (2024)
Character and Endurance in Hollywood's Golden Age
Subject: Actor > Lionel Barrymore
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