orig. Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer
born Sept. 30, 1921, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scot.
Scottish actress.
After performing in British films such as Major Barbara (1940) and Black Narcissus (1947), she moved to Hollywood, where she was often cast in prim roles, though her part in From Here to Eternity (1953) was a departure from her ladylike image. Known for the poise and serenity she exhibited in portraying complex characters, she appeared in later films including The King and I (1956), Tea and Sympathy (1956), Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison (1957), Separate Tables (1958), The Sundowners (1960), and The Night of the Iguana (1964). She retired from the screen in 1969. She received a special Academy Award in 1994.