Biography continued...

Hollywood Beckons...

 

In November of 1946, Deborah and Anthony left for Hollywood. She was warmly welcomed by Louis B. Mayer and the MGM staff. Her first assignment had already been chosen - that of a society widow opposite Clark Gable in The Hucksters, a big bestseller at the time. MGM would promote their new discovery as "Deborah Kerr - Her Name Rhymes With Star!"

Anthony and Deborah were comfortable in Hollywood and immediately purchased a house in Pacific Palisades which overlooked the ocean. A house was very important to Deborah and she wanted one that would hold her large collection of books and one that had a garden.

Deborah posing in front of her home in Pacific Palisades.

The Hucksters was a great success and Deborah's second film in Hollywood was If Winter Comes with Walter Pigeon and an almost entirely British cast. Deborah became pregnant during filming and following completion of the film, she gave birth to a daughter, Melanie Jane, on December 27, 1947.

Deborah's third film for MGM was Edward My Son in which she had the meaty role of
the alcoholic wife of Spencer Tracy. The part would garner Deborah's first Academy Award nomination.

Her Hollywood career continued at a steady pace and Anthony entered into a successful career in television. Kerr's roles at this time mainly consisted of historical epics, such as Quo Vadis, King Solomon's Mines, Julius Caesar and Young Bess. In fact, Kerr's screen image had already been firmly entrenched in Hollywood as a staid, elegant English woman of refined taste.

With Robert Taylor in Quo Vadis

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