orig. Gertrud Alexandra Dagmar Lawrence Klasen
born July 4, 1898, London, Eng.
died Sept. 6, 1952, New York, N.Y., U.S.
British actress.
She began appearing on stage as a child, and she starred in musical revues such as Noë l Coward 's London Calling (1923) and George Gershwin 's Oh, Kay! (1926). A longtime friend of Coward's, she performed in many of his comedies, notably Private Lives (1930); both the play and the stars set the tone that would characterize comedies of manners for a decade or more: sophistication, brittle wit, and chic. She was also acclaimed for her roles in the musicals Lady in the Dark (1941) and The King and I (1951).