HomeBack to homepage
PeopleActors & creators
Rosalind Russell

Rosalind Russell

Department: Acting

Biography

Catherine Rosalind Russell (June 4, 1907 – November 28, 1976) was an American actress of stage and screen, perhaps best known for her role as a fast-talking newspaper reporter in the Howard Hawks screwball comedy His Girl Friday, as well as the role of Mame Dennis in the film Auntie Mame. She won all 5 Golden Globes for which she was nominated, and was tied with Meryl Streep for wins until 2007 when Streep was awarded a sixth. Russell won a Tony Award in 1953 for Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Ruth in the Broadway show Wonderful Town (a musical based the film My Sister Eileen, in which she also starred). Russell was known for playing character roles, exceptionally wealthy, dignified ladylike women. She had a wide career span from the 1930s to the 1970s and attributed her long career to the fact that, although usually playing classy and glamorous roles, she never became a sex symbol, not being famous for her looks.

Known For

His Girl Friday

His Girl Friday

1940

On Assignment: 'His Girl Friday'

On Assignment: 'His Girl Friday'

2006

Lighting Up with Hildy Johnson

Lighting Up with Hildy Johnson

2017

The Women

The Women

1939

The Crooked Hearts

The Crooked Hearts

1972

My Sister Eileen

My Sister Eileen

1942

The Velvet Touch

The Velvet Touch

1948

Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad

Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad

1967

The Guilt of Janet Ames

The Guilt of Janet Ames

1947

Auntie Mame

Auntie Mame

1958

The Trouble with Angels

The Trouble with Angels

1966

Four's a Crowd

Four's a Crowd

1938

Gypsy

Gypsy

1962

Picnic

Picnic

1955

Reckless

Reckless

1935

Sister Kenny

Sister Kenny

1946

Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows

Where Angels Go, Trouble Follows

1968

China Seas

China Seas

1935

Mourning Becomes Electra

Mourning Becomes Electra

1947

Rendezvous

Rendezvous

1935

Evelyn Prentice

Evelyn Prentice

1934

The Citadel

The Citadel

1938

Under Two Flags

Under Two Flags

1936

Night Must Fall

Night Must Fall

1937

The Feminine Touch

The Feminine Touch

1941

Design for Scandal

Design for Scandal

1941

They Met in Bombay

They Met in Bombay

1941

The Casino Murder Case

The Casino Murder Case

1935

Hired Wife

Hired Wife

1940

Take a Letter, Darling

Take a Letter, Darling

1942

She Wouldn't Say Yes

She Wouldn't Say Yes

1945

Never Wave at a WAC

Never Wave at a WAC

1953

Craig's Wife

Craig's Wife

1936

West Point of the Air

West Point of the Air

1935

Forsaking All Others

Forsaking All Others

1934

A Woman of Distinction

A Woman of Distinction

1950

No Time for Comedy

No Time for Comedy

1940

Roughly Speaking

Roughly Speaking

1945

Flight for Freedom

Flight for Freedom

1943

A Majority of One

A Majority of One

1961

The Girl Rush

The Girl Rush

1955

Live, Love and Learn

Live, Love and Learn

1937

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

Mrs. Pollifax — Spy

1971

Trouble for Two

Trouble for Two

1936

The Flood of ‘55

The Flood of ‘55

1995

Fast and Loose

Fast and Loose

1939

The Night Is Young

The Night Is Young

1935

Man-Proof

Man-Proof

1938

Rosie!

Rosie!

1967

What a Woman

What a Woman

1943

This Thing Called Love

This Thing Called Love

1940

Tell It to the Judge

Tell It to the Judge

1949

Five Finger Exercise

Five Finger Exercise

1962

Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary

Screen Snapshots (Series 25, No. 1): 25th Anniversary

1945

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

Screen Snapshots (Series 22, No. 10)

1942

It Had to Happen

It Had to Happen

1936

Wonderful Town

Wonderful Town

1958

The President Vanishes

The President Vanishes

1934

Breakdowns of 1941

Breakdowns of 1941

1941

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor

The Men Who Made the Movies: King Vidor

1973

Blow-Ups of 1947

Blow-Ups of 1947

1947

That's Entertainment! III

That's Entertainment! III

1994

The Romance of Celluloid

The Romance of Celluloid

1937

Breakdowns of 1938

Breakdowns of 1938

1938

Breakdowns of 1944

Breakdowns of 1944

1944

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940

From the Ends of the Earth

From the Ends of the Earth

1939

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

Screen Snapshots (Series 16, No. 1)

1936

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987

The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics

The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's Lost Classics

1994

Life is a Banquet

Life is a Banquet

2009

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

1953

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

The American Film Institute Salute to ...

1973

The Oscars

The Oscars

1953

Letter to Loretta

Letter to Loretta

1953

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

1961

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show

1948

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

What's My Line?

What's My Line?

1950