Anna Lee
Anna Lee (born Joan Boniface Winnifrith; January 2, 1913 – May 14, 2004) was a British-born American actress renowned for her elegant screen presence and versatile supporting roles in classic Hollywood films, particularly in John Ford Westerns, as well as her iconic portrayal of matriarch Lila Quartermaine on the long-running soap opera General Hospital.[1] Born in the village of Ightham, Kent, England, to Bertram Thomas Winnifrith, an Anglican rector and headmaster, and Edith Maude (née Blaker), Lee was encouraged by her father to pursue acting from a young age; her godfather was author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.[2][3] She trained at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, Royal Albert Hall, London, and made her film debut in 1932 with a bit part in the British comedy His Lordship.[4] Over the next decade, she appeared in over 30 British films, including Chelsea Life (1933) and King Solomon's Mines (1937), often playing refined or romantic leads that earned her the studio nickname "The British Bombshell."[4][2] In 1940, Lee relocated to Hollywood, signing a contract with 20th Century Fox and quickly establishing herself in American cinema during its golden age.[1] She became a key member of director John Ford's stock company, contributing her soft English accent and delicate features to eight of his films, such as the Oscar-winning How Green Was My Valley (1941), where she played the supportive sister-in-law Bronwyn, Fort Apache (1948) as Mrs. Collingwood, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) in a small but memorable role.[5] Other notable film credits include The Ghost and Mrs. Muir (1947) opposite Rex Harrison, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962) with Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, and a supporting part as Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music (1965).[6] Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, she frequently guest-starred on anthology television series like Robert Montgomery Presents and Kraft Television Theatre, showcasing her range in dramatic and lighthearted roles.[4] Lee's television career peaked with her role as the gentle, wealthy Lila Quartermaine on ABC's General Hospital, which she originated in 1978 and played continuously until her death, appearing in 486 episodes and becoming a beloved fixture of daytime drama for 26 years.[1][2] Her performance earned her a Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Actress in 1998 and cemented her status as a soap opera legend.[2] In her personal life, Lee first married director Robert Stevenson in 1934, with whom she had two daughters, including actress Venetia Stevenson; the couple divorced in 1944.[2] That same year, she wed George Stafford, with whom she had three sons, including actor Jeffrey Byron; this marriage ended in divorce in 1964.[2] In 1970, she married author Robert Nathan, with whom she remained until his death in 1985. A British citizen throughout her life, she was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1982 for her contributions to drama.[4] Lee received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for her motion picture work.[4] She passed away from pneumonia at her Beverly Hills home on May 14, 2004, at the age of 91.[1]Early years
Childhood and family background
Anna Lee was born Joan Boniface Winnifrith on January 2, 1913, in the rural village of Ightham, Kent, England.[7] She was the daughter of Reverend Bertram Thomas Winnifrith, an Anglican clergyman who served as rector of St. Peter's Church in Ightham and operated a private primary school attached to the vicarage.[8] As the only female pupil in her father's school, she wore a boy's uniform and had her hair cropped short, reflecting the disciplined yet unconventional environment of her childhood.[8] Lee grew up in the vicarage amid a close-knit family that included her brother, Sir John Winnifrith, a prominent British civil servant who later became permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.[9] Her godparents were the renowned author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the celebrated actress Dame Sybil Thorndike, connections that linked her early years to influential figures in literature and the arts.[8] The rural setting of Ightham and her father's supportive influence fostered Lee's budding interest in performance; he encouraged her aspirations toward acting from a young age.[10] This was evident when, as a teenager, she briefly ran away to join a circus, an escapade that highlighted her precocious draw to the theatrical world before she returned to complete her schooling.[8]Education and initial training
Born Joan Boniface Winnifrith on 2 January 1913 in Ightham, Kent, England, to Bertram Thomas Winnifrith, an Anglican rector and headmaster, Lee was encouraged by her father to pursue an acting career despite the era's societal constraints on women in the profession.[10][11] Her family's supportive environment, rooted in her father's own interest in amateur performance, fostered her early passion for the stage, leading her to prioritize drama over other academic paths.[12] At the age of 17 in 1930, Lee enrolled at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art (now the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama), located at the Royal Albert Hall in London, where she trained under the renowned instructor Elsie Fogerty.[7][2] This formal education emphasized speech, diction, and dramatic technique, equipping her with the skills to transition from academic inclinations to professional performance.[1] Upon completing her studies, she adopted the stage name "Anna Lee," a composite drawn from the literary heroine of Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina and the Confederate general Robert E. Lee, reflecting her aspiration for a memorable and versatile persona in the theater world.[13] Following her training, Lee made her professional stage debut in London in 1932, appearing in repertory productions and touring with the London Repertory Theatre, where she honed her craft in classical and contemporary roles.[10][5] She often portrayed glamorous characters that earned her the nickname "the British bombshell" among peers, marking her shift from student to emerging performer before entering film work.[5]Career
British stage and film work
Anna Lee began her professional acting career on the British stage, touring with the London Repertory Theatre in productions such as Jane Eyre, where her performances earned her the nickname "The British Bombshell" for her striking blonde looks and charismatic presence.[1] She also gained early experience through repertory work, building her skills in regional theaters before transitioning to film.[14] Her screen debut came in 1932 with a minor, uncredited role in the comedy His Lordship, directed by Michael Powell and produced by British International Pictures (BIP), marking the start of her involvement in the burgeoning British film industry.[1] Early quota quickies followed, showcasing her as an ingénue in low-budget productions designed to meet cinematic import requirements. In 1934, impressed by her quota film work, she signed a long-term contract with Gainsborough Pictures, the era's largest British studio, which elevated her to leading lady status in a series of romantic and adventure films.[1] Under her Gainsborough contract, Lee starred in notable 1930s films, including the adventure King Solomon's Mines (1937), in which she portrayed Kathy O'Brien, and the thriller The Four Just Men (1939), directed by Walter Forde, in which she portrayed a determined young reporter uncovering an international conspiracy.[15] Her collaborations with director Robert Stevenson were particularly fruitful; they worked together on five films, including the Egypt-shot adventure The Camels Are Coming (1934) and the horror-tinged sci-fi The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936), co-starring Boris Karloff, where Lee played the scientist's loyal assistant.[16] These roles solidified her reputation as a versatile performer adept at both light comedy and dramatic tension. The outbreak of World War II profoundly disrupted Lee's British career and the industry at large, as production halted due to blackouts, rationing, and evacuation of studios like those at Elstree and Pinewood.[17] With the war declared in 1939, Lee decided to remain in Hollywood after traveling there for a project, effectively ending her UK-based work and prompting her transition to American cinema; Lee later reflected that her Hollywood opportunities were "due to Adolph Hitler."[17] During the war, she contributed to the Allied effort by performing in USO tours across North Africa and Europe, entertaining troops alongside figures like Jack Benny.[1]Transition to Hollywood
In 1939, Anna Lee relocated to Hollywood amid rising tensions before World War II.[7] This transition marked the end of her primary British film work and the beginning of her American career, where she initially faced challenges in securing leading roles, often typecast as elegant British supporting characters due to her refined accent and demeanor.[4] Her industry connections facilitated early opportunities, though she navigated the competitive Hollywood landscape as a foreign actress during a period of increasing demand for international talent.[17] Lee's American film debut came in 1940 with Seven Sinners, a Universal Pictures production directed by Tay Garnett, in which she portrayed Dorothy, the governor's daughter, opposite Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne; the role required her to dye her naturally blonde hair darker at Dietrich's insistence, highlighting the era's star-driven dynamics.[3] The following year, she appeared in Life with Caroline (RKO), co-starring with Ronald Colman, which led to a contract with RKO Radio Pictures.[3] On loan from RKO to 20th Century Fox, Lee earned a prominent supporting role as Bronwyn in John Ford's acclaimed How Green Was My Valley (1941), playing the sister-in-law of Roddy McDowall's character Huw as the wife of his brother Ivor in the Welsh mining family drama, which garnered five Academy Awards including Best Picture.[1] These early films established her in Hollywood, though she remained in secondary parts that emphasized her poised, aristocratic screen presence. Amid World War II, Lee contributed to the British war effort through appearances in American productions like Selznick's Forever and a Day (1943), a collaborative anthology film featuring British expatriate actors.[7] She officially immigrated to the United States and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1945.[18] Continuing her association with Selznick, she took on a supporting role as a Red Cross worker in his epic Since You Went Away (1944), directed by John Cromwell, which depicted American homefront life during the war and starred Claudette Colbert and Jennifer Jones.[3] By the mid-1940s, Lee's foothold in Hollywood had solidified, paving the way for further collaborations with Ford and other major directors, despite persistent typecasting that limited her to refined, often understated British ingenue archetypes.[4]American film and television roles
Upon arriving in Hollywood, Anna Lee established a strong association with director John Ford, becoming a frequent member of his stock company and portraying resilient women in his Westerns and dramas. In Fort Apache (1948), she played Mrs. Collingwood, the devoted wife of a cavalry officer, contributing to the film's exploration of duty and community on the frontier.[19] Her collaborations with Ford continued in later works, such as the supportive missionary Mrs. Russell in 7 Women (1966), where she depicted quiet strength amid crisis in 1930s China.[7] Beyond Ford's projects, Lee took on memorable supporting roles in major productions that highlighted her elegant presence. In The Sound of Music (1965), she portrayed Sister Margaretta, one of the nuns aiding the von Trapp family in their escape from Nazi-occupied Austria, adding warmth to the film's ensemble of convent sisters.[7] These film appearances showcased her versatility in both historical dramas and musicals, often emphasizing maternal or communal figures. Lee transitioned to television in the 1950s, embracing the medium's growing prominence with guest spots on popular anthology and legal series. She appeared as Crystal Durham in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle" (1962), embodying a poised suspect entangled in family intrigue. This shift allowed her to sustain a steady career through episodic work, adapting her refined British accent to American narratives. Her most enduring television legacy came with the role of Lila Quartermaine on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, which she originated in 1978 and portrayed until her death in 2004, spanning 26 years and over 3,000 episodes.[1] As the elegant matriarch of the wealthy Quartermaine family, Lila navigated corporate rivalries, family scandals, and personal losses with grace, becoming a stabilizing force in the show's long-running storyline.[20] Lee's portrayal earned her a devoted fanbase and cemented her status as a soap opera icon, with her character's quiet authority influencing the genre's depiction of upper-class dynamics.[2] In her later years, Lee continued contributing to film through selective cameos, maintaining her reputation for dignified supporting performances until health challenges limited her roles.Personal life
Marriages and children
Anna Lee's first marriage was to British film director Robert Stevenson on December 6, 1934. The couple had two daughters: Venetia Stevenson, born March 10, 1938, who followed in her mother's footsteps as an actress and was married to musician Don Everly from 1966 to 1970, with whom she had three children including musician Edan Everly, and died September 26, 2022; and Caroline. In 1939, amid the outbreak of World War II, Lee, Stevenson, and their young family relocated from London to Hollywood, where they settled and Lee began establishing her American career while prioritizing her role as a mother. The marriage ended in divorce on March 9, 1944.[21][1] Three months later, on June 8, 1944, Lee married U.S. Air Transport Command pilot George Stafford, whom she met during a USO tour. Their union produced three sons: John Stafford, Stephen Stafford, and Timothy Stafford (born November 28, 1955, and known professionally as actor Jeffrey Byron). The family resided in the Los Angeles area, with Lee continuing to balance demanding film and television roles with child-rearing responsibilities amid the challenges of post-war life and frequent professional travel. John Stafford died in 1986 at age 38. Lee and Stafford divorced in 1964 after 20 years together.[5][1][7] Lee's third marriage was to American novelist Robert Nathan on April 5, 1970. The couple had no children together, and the marriage lasted until Nathan's death on May 25, 1985.Later years and death
In her later years, Anna Lee continued her long-running role as Lila Quartermaine on the ABC soap opera General Hospital, a portrayal that spanned 25 years from 1978 to 2003, though her appearances became less frequent due to declining health.[1] In 2003, she was moved from contract to recurring status, with her final on-screen appearance airing on May 30 of that year.[22] Despite these challenges, Lee had persevered in her career following a severe car accident in 1979 that left her paralyzed from the waist down, allowing her to perform from a wheelchair for over two decades.[14] Lee passed away on May 14, 2004, at her home in Beverly Hills, California, from pneumonia at the age of 91, after several months of ill health.[5] She was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, alongside her third husband, the writer Robert Nathan.[18] Throughout her later life, Lee demonstrated remarkable resilience and independence, maintaining an active presence in her home and continuing to engage with her work and family despite her physical limitations.[7] Her ability to live autonomously into her nineties underscored her enduring spirit, even as age and health issues eventually took their toll.[20]Recognition and legacy
Awards and nominations
Anna Lee received several recognitions for her long career in film and television, particularly for her portrayal of Lila Quartermaine on the soap opera General Hospital, which spanned over two decades. These accolades highlighted her enduring contributions to daytime drama and motion pictures.[20] In 1993, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6777 Hollywood Boulevard in the category of motion pictures, honoring her extensive work in cinema from the 1930s onward.[9][4] Lee's television achievements were notably celebrated through soap opera awards. She won the Soapy Award for Favorite Woman in a Mature Role in 1983 for General Hospital.[2] She also secured the Soap Opera Digest Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama in 1988 for the same role.[9]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Soapy Awards | Favorite Woman in a Mature Role | General Hospital | Won[2] |
| 1988 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Daytime Drama | General Hospital | Won[9] |
| 1993 | Hollywood Walk of Fame | Motion Pictures | Career | Star awarded[9] |
| 1998 | Soap Opera Digest Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role | General Hospital | Won[23] |
| 2004 | Daytime Emmy Awards | Lifetime Achievement Award | Career | Won (posthumous)[20] |
Honours and tributes
Anna Lee was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1983 New Year Honours for services to drama.[24] Following her death on May 14, 2004, the cast and crew of General Hospital paid heartfelt tributes to Lee, highlighting her grace and enduring presence as Lila Quartermaine.[1] Fans expressed widespread sorrow online and through fan communities, remembering her as a beloved matriarch of daytime television. To honor her legacy, the show aired a special episode on July 16, 2004, depicting an on-set memorial service for Lila, where the Quartermaine family gathered to grieve, mirroring the real-life impact of Lee's passing.[25] Lee's contributions to classic Hollywood and soap operas have been chronicled in her 2007 memoir, Anna Lee: Memoir of a Career on General Hospital and in Film, which details her journey from British stage to American television stardom and underscores her cultural significance in the genre.[26] Posthumously, her influence continued to be recognized; on the 18th anniversary of her death in 2022, General Hospital aired a segment reflecting on Lila's peaceful passing in her sleep, affirming the character's—and Lee's—lasting legacy in Port Charles.[27] In 2025, on the show's 62nd anniversary episode aired April 1, Lila appeared in a memorial wall photo.[28]Filmography
Feature films
Anna Lee's feature film appearances encompass over 60 roles across seven decades, beginning with her British debut and extending into American cinema. The following chronological list details her credits in theatrical feature films, including role names and notable directors. Early British films from the 1930s often featured her in supporting roles and include several obscure or lost productions, such as Chelsea Life (1933), which is considered lost, and The Man from Toronto (1933), a rare quota quickie with limited surviving prints.[29]1930s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | His Lordship | Fenella | Henry Edwards |
| 1933 | The Bermondsey Kid | Mabel | Norman Lee |
| 1933 | Mayfair Girl | Jill Harman | Michael Powell |
| 1933 | King's Cup | Helen | Henry Edwards |
| 1933 | Chelsea Life | Joy | Sidney Morgan |
| 1933 | The Man from Toronto | Mrs. Lodge | Sinclair Hill |
| 1934 | Faces | Ann | George Pearson |
| 1934 | The Gay Adventure | Anne | Sinclair Hill |
| 1934 | Lucky Loser | Molly | Daniel Birt |
| 1934 | Heat Wave | Jane | Maurice Elvey |
| 1935 | Man of the Moment | Peggy | Monty Banks |
| 1935 | The Camels Are Coming | Feathers | Tim Whelan |
| 1935 | The Crimson Circle | Millicent | Reginald Denham |
| 1935 | First a Girl | Diana | Victor Saville |
| 1936 | O-Kay for Sound | Evelyn Turner | Marcel Varnel |
| 1936 | The Man Who Could Work Miracles | Janet | Lothar Mendes |
| 1936 | Mademoiselle Docteur | Hélène | Anatole Litvak |
| 1937 | King Solomon's Mines | Kathleen "Kathy" O'Brien | Robert Stevenson |
| 1938 | The Four Just Men | Diana | Walter Forde |
| 1939 | Return to Yesterday | Paula | René Clair |
1940s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Young Man's Fancy | Louisa | Norman Lee |
| 1940 | Seven Sinners | Dorothy Henderson | Tay Garnett |
| 1941 | How Green Was My Valley | Bronwyn | John Ford |
| 1941 | My Life with Caroline | Caroline Mason | Lewis Milestone |
| 1942 | Flying Tigers | Brooke Elliott | David Miller |
| 1942 | Commandos Strike at Dawn | Judith Bowen | John Farrow |
| 1943 | Forever and a Day | Mrs. Croton Minor | Edmund Goulding, Cedric Brown, et al. |
| 1943 | Hangmen Also Die! | Marta Novotny | Fritz Lang |
| 1943 | Flesh and Fantasy | Mrs. Beaumont | Julien Duvivier |
| 1944 | Summer Storm | Nadine | Douglas Sirk |
| 1944 | The Purple Heart | Ross's Fiancee | Lewis Milestone |
| 1945 | Bedlam | Nell Bowen | Mark Robson |
| 1946 | G.I. War Brides | Rosalie | Philip Ford |
| 1947 | High Conquest | Monica Larrick | Irwin Allen |
| 1947 | The Ghost and Mrs. Muir | Mrs. Miles | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
| 1948 | Fort Apache | Mrs. Collingwood | John Ford |
| 1948 | Best Man Wins | Molly | Byron Haskin |
| 1949 | The Last Days of Dolwyn | Lucy | Emlyn Williams |
1950s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Gideon of Scotland Yard | Mrs. Kate Gideon | John Ford |
| 1958 | The Last Hurrah | Gert Minihan | John Ford |
| 1959 | The Crimson Kimono | Mac | Samuel Fuller |
| 1959 | The Horse Soldiers | Mrs. Henry Porter | John Ford |
| 1959 | This Earth Is Mine | Charlotte Rambeau | Henry King |
1960s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Two Rode Together | Mrs. Malaprop | John Ford |
| 1962 | Jack the Giant Killer | Lady Constance | Nathan Juran |
| 1962 | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Townswoman | John Ford |
| 1962 | What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? | Mrs. Bates | Robert Aldrich |
| 1964 | For Those Who Think Young | Laura Pruitt | Leslie H. Martinson |
| 1965 | The Sound of Music | Sister Margaretta | Robert Wise |
| 1966 | Picture Mommy Dead | Elsie Kornwald | Bert I. Gordon |
| 1966 | Seven Women | Mrs. Russell | John Ford |
| 1967 | In Like Flint | Elisabeth | Gordon Douglas |
1970s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | The Prize Fighter | Mrs. Cutter | Michael Preece |
| 1978 | The Manitou | Mrs. Karman | William Girdler |
1980s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Beyond the Next Mountain | Governor's Wife | Larry Peerce |
| 1989 | Listen to Me | Garson's Grandmother | Doug Chapin |
| 1989 | Beverly Hills Brats | Gertie | Rod Amateau |
1990s–2000s
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | What Can I Do? | Elderly Woman | Joe Donnohue |
| 1995 | Where Evil Lies | Grandma | Kevin A. Holly |
Television appearances
Anna Lee's television career spanned over five decades, beginning with guest roles in live anthology dramas during the golden age of 1950s television. She frequently appeared on prestigious series that showcased dramatic storytelling, including Robert Montgomery Presents, The Ford Theatre Hour, Kraft Television Theatre, Studio One, and Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, where she portrayed a variety of supporting characters in one-off plays.[4][1] In the 1960s, Lee transitioned to episodic television on established Westerns and family dramas, often playing maternal or elegant figures. Notable guest appearances included Mrs. Allyris Craven in the Wagon Train episode "The Colter Craven Story" (1960), Crystal Durham in the Perry Mason episode "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle" (1962), and Louise Allen in the My Three Sons episode "London Memories" (1966).[30][31][1][32] Her later television work emphasized recurring and long-term roles in miniseries and soaps. In 1980, she portrayed Aunt Wilhelmina across three episodes of the miniseries Scruples. Lee then joined the daytime soap General Hospital in 1978 as the beloved matriarch Lila Quartermaine, a role she played until 2003, appearing in 486 episodes and becoming a fan favorite for her portrayal of quiet strength and family devotion.[29] She briefly reprised the character in one episode of the spin-off Port Charles in 1997. Additional credits included Eileen Todd in the short-lived primetime soap Glitter (1984–1985). Lee's television output remained focused on American broadcast networks, with no documented international TV work or voice roles in animation.[6]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | Robert Montgomery Presents | Various | Multiple episodes, anthology series[4] |
| 1950s | The Ford Theatre Hour | Various | Multiple episodes, anthology series[4] |
| 1950s | Kraft Television Theatre | Various | Multiple episodes, live drama anthology[4][1] |
| 1950s | Studio One | Various | Guest appearances in live dramas[1] |
| 1950s | Schlitz Playhouse of Stars | Various | Multiple episodes, anthology series[4] |
| 1960 | Wagon Train | Mrs. Allyris Craven | 1 episode: "The Colter Craven Story"[30] |
| 1962 | Perry Mason | Crystal Durham | 1 episode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle"[31] |
| 1966 | My Three Sons | Louise Allen | 1 episode: "London Memories"[32] |
| 1978–2003 | General Hospital | Lila Quartermaine | Recurring; 486 episodes[29] |
| 1980 | Scruples | Aunt Wilhelmina | Miniseries; 3 episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Glitter | Eileen Todd | Recurring role[33] |
| 1997 | Port Charles | Lila Quartermaine | 1 episode (guest reprise)[29] |