Elsa Lanchester: podcast appearances and interviews

Elsa Sullivan Lanchester (28 October 1902 – 26 December 1986) was a British actress known for her work across theatre, film, and television. She studied dance as a child and began performing in theatre and cabaret after the First World War, establishing her career over the following decade. In 1927, she met actor Charles Laughton; they married two years later. Lanchester initially played small roles in British films, including portraying Anne of Cleves in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933), in which Laughton also appeared. The couple moved to Hollywood following her success in American films, where she continued to receive small film roles. Her portrayal of the title character in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) brought her considerable recognition. She later played the lead in Passport to Destiny (1944) and held supporting roles throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Lanchester was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in Come to the Stable (1949) and Witness for the Prosecution (1957). The latter marked her twelfth film appearance with her husband Charles Laughton, who died in 1962. After his death, she resumed her acting career with appearances in Disney films such as Mary Poppins (1964), Pajama Party (1964), That Darn Cat! (1965), and Blackbeard's Ghost (1968). Her career continued with notable roles, including the successful horror film Willard (1971) and her final film appearance in Murder by Death (1976).