Lily Bouwmeester

Born: 1901-09-28

Lily Geertruida Maria Henriëtte Bouwmeester (1901–1993) was a Dutch stage and film actress, who received an honorary Golden Calf for being "the best actress in Pre-War Dutch cinema". The daughter of two musicians, Bouwmeester spent her youth touring Europe with her parents. When constant travelling proved to be too exhausting, she moved in with her aunt, actress Theo Mann-Bouwmeester. She dreamed to become a dancer, but her aunt demanded for her to become an actress and sent her to several auditions. At the age of 14, she debuted in a stage production by Herman Heijermans. Bouwmeester made her screen debut in silent film Majoor Frans (1916). In 1917, she landed a contract with a prestigious theatre in Amsterdam and performed at the Stadsschouwburg, receiving much acclaim from theatre critics. While working on a play in 1920, she met actor Theo Frenkel Jr., whom she married in 1921. Soon after that she left the Stadsschouwburg to produce her own plays with her husband. After her divorce in the early 30s, Bouwmeester decided she needed a break and left the theatre. She did not, however, give up acting. In 1935, when the sound film had just been introduced in the Netherlands, she auditioned for the lead role in The Cross-Patch (1935), but had no luck. She was noticed by director Ludwig Berger, who cast her in Pygmalion (1937). The production was a success; Bouwmeester became an instant star and was offered a five-year contract with Paramount Pictures. She declined, however, because her new husband, actor Cor van der Lugt Melsert, was unwilling to travel to the United States with her. During World War II, Bouwmeester secretly took in two Jewish children in her home. After the liberation in 1945, she was offered movie roles again, but declined all offers. She decided to return to theatre instead and played in the famous stage production of Pygmalion. In 1969, she resigned from acting completely.


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Forty Years

as Annetje Maasdonk
Released: 1938-01-10

This government commissioned film -- made on the occasion of the forty year anniversary of queen...

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Pygmalion

as Elisa Doeluttel
Released: 1937-02-26

Prof. Henry Higgens takes a wager on turning a low class flower seller named Liesje Doeluttel...

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Major Frans

as Jonge Francis / Young Francis
Released: 1916-08-25

When his granddaughter is born, debt-ridden Colonel von Zwenken misses out on Aunt Roselaar's...

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Tomorrow It Will Be Better

as Willy Verhulst
Released: 1939-02-23

Still coming to terms with the death of her mother, Willy Verhulst loses her father as well --...

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The Secret of Delft

as Lilly Vogel
Released: 1917-03-09

The secret from the title is the lost recipe for shiny Delft pottery, that Jan Vogel is...

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Daddy Long Legs

as Judy Aalders
Released: 1938-10-06

Judy Aalders grows up in an orphanage. Albert Woudenberg happens to be present when Judy...

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Pro Domo

as uncredited
Released: 1918-09-21

Count De Grancé have two degenerate children. For the adolescent daughter there is still some...

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Somewhere in the Netherlands

as Nellie van Loon
Released: 1940-04-19

Mobilization on the brink of the Second World War divides a husband and wife. When lawyer Frans...

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De Man Zonder Hart

as Hélène
Released: 1937-04-23

When his colleague presents him with (forged) evidence of his wife Sylvette's unfaithfulness,...

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The Devil in Amsterdam

as Zusje van Thérèse
Released: 1919-03-21

The devil has arrived in Amsterdam, hell-bent on bombarding a poor girl, a wealthy banker and a...

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Koffie Hag Spaart Hart en Zenuwen

as uncredited
Released: 1931-02-07

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