Norma Shearer Overview:

Legendary actress, Norma Shearer, was born Edith Norma Shearer on Aug 10, 1902 in Montréal, Canada. Shearer appeared in over 60 film roles. Her best known films include The Divorcee, A Free Soul, Marie Antoinette and The Women. Shearer died at the age of 80 on Jun 12, 1983 in Woodland Hills, CA and was laid to rest in Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) Cemetery in Glendale, CA.

MINI BIO:

Shearer married MGM's top producer, Irving Thalberg, and became the studio's first lady until Thalberg's death in 1936. Her well-bred looks and ultra-smart wardrobe made her a byword for chic sophistication.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Norma Shearer was nominated for five Academy Awards, winning one for Best Actress for The Divorcee (as Jerry) in 1929/30.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1929/30Best ActressThe Divorcee (1930)JerryWon
1930/31Best ActressA Free Soul (1931)Jan AsheNominated
1934Best ActressThe Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934)Elizabeth BarrettNominated
1936Best ActressRomeo and Juliet (1936)JulietNominated
1938Best ActressMarie Antoinette (1938)Marie AntoinetteNominated
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She was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures. Norma Shearer's handprints and footprints were 'set in stone' at Grauman's Chinese Theater during imprint ceremony #3 on Aug 1, 1927. In addition, Shearer was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame .

Norma Shearer BlogHub Articles:

TCM Summer Under the Stars: Day Eleven — Norma Shearer

By shadowsandsatin on Aug 9, 2020 From Shadows and Satin

So awesome. Day 10 of Summer Under the Stars is my favorite day, celebrating none other than the great Norma Shearer. I was introduced to Shearer through her 1939 film, The Women, which I have literally seen more often than any other movie in existence. It wasn?t until years later after my first vie... Read full article


The Divorcee (1930) with Norma Shearer

By Orson De Welles on Dec 10, 2015 From Classic Film Freak

Share This! A Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer All Talking Picture! Surprisingly, with that tagline, The Divorcee is a film I only fell asleep through twice- and that’s a bit of a sham. In a never-ending quest to bring new stars into our fold, I had a mission of sorts to bring insightful commentary (or at ... Read full article


Star of the Month Guide: Norma Shearer

By Amanda Garrett on Nov 3, 2015 From Old Hollywood Films

TCM's November star of the month is MGM queen Norma Shearer. TCM is celebrating the career of Norma Shearer with 23 movies airing each Tuesday in November. Here's what you need to know about one of old Hollywood's most glamorous stars . FYI: TCM sometimes changes the air times and /or movies, ... Read full article


5 Things You May Not Know About Norma Shearer

By minooallen on Nov 3, 2015 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

5 Things You May Not Know About Norma Shearer Norma Shearer ….. 1.) She was hatched from the icy north That’s totally a polar bear she is laying on Despite one of classic Hollywood?s greatest stars, Shearer was born nowhere near the Hollywood. In fact, she wasn?t even born in America.... Read full article


Norma Shearer and Manic Pixie Dream Boys

By Emma on Nov 11, 2014 From Lets Misbehave: A Tribute to Precode Hollywood

Who’s that girl? It’s not Jess, it’s not even Norma, it’s the men Miss Shearer seemed to gather around her in almost every film role. In her Pre-code performances Shearer is not relegated to a supportive role nor is she doomed to a one-dimensional outlook or perpetually unalt... Read full article


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Norma Shearer Quotes:

Hubert Tyler: You're not to blame. Women should be sheltered, Vicki.
Victoria Anastasia 'Vicki' Wilomirska: After all, what can you expect of us? We were brought up to be merely socially attractive. We have no ambition and no talent except for playing games and not enough of that.
Hubert Tyler: If you'd kept your word to me, Vicki, you wouldn't have to invent your assets.
Victoria Anastasia 'Vicki' Wilomirska: I have nothing to regret you with. I chose my life, and I like it.


Mrs. Moorehead: Well, cheer up, Mary; living alone has its compensations. Heaven knows it's marvelous being able to spread out in bed like a swastika.


Lord Arthur Dilling: Go into that bathroom and hide. I'll get rid of them!
Fay Cheyney: Thanks, but like many other women, my life has been devoted to not being discovered in bathrooms!


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Norma Shearer Facts
Was offered the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950), but she turned it down. Gloria Swanson, who went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance, was cast instead.

Her daughter died in 2006 of cancer. A vegan, she headed the Society for Animal Rights in Aspen, Colorado, from 1989.

F. Scott Fitzgerald based one of his most famous stories, "Crazy Sunday," on a party hosted by Shearer, who also inspired the story's main character, Stella Calman.

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