Selena Royle

Born: 1904-11-06

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Selena Royle (November 6, 1904 – April 23, 1983) was an American actress (of stage, radio, television and film), and later, an author. Royle was born in New York City to playwright Edwin Milton Royle and actress Selena Fetter (April 12, 1860 - May 10, 1955). She had an older sister, Josephine Fetter Royle (1901–1992). Her mother recounted in a newspaper article that she used to take Selena along with her to her rehearsals and performances. One night, then seven-year-old Selena went missing. While the mother frantically searched for her, holding up act two, the audience became restless. The youngster finally turned up - she had gone on stage dressed in her mother's second-act costume; she made a bow, much to the audience's amusement. She later remarked, "And that is the first time I was ever on stage, and I liked it so well I stayed." Her father wrote the 1921 Broadway play Lancelot and Elaine to provide both her and sister Josephine with their first professional roles, as Guinevere and Elaine respectively. Eventually, she landed a part on her own in the 1923 Theatre Guild production of Peer Gynt, with Joseph Schildkraut, and became a respected Broadway actress. She made one film in the 1930s, Misleading Lady, but otherwise worked on the stage and on radio. Royle began her radio career in 1926 or 1927 and performed "almost continuously since", according to a 1939 newspaper item. Her body of work includes playing the title role in Hilda Hope, M.D. She also played Martha Jackson in Woman of Courage, Mrs. Allen in Against the Storm, Joan in The O'Neills, and Mrs. Gardner in Betty and Bob, and appeared in Kate Hopkins. In the 1940s, she returned to film and had a successful run, mainly playing maternal characters such as the bereaved mother of The Fighting Sullivans (1944), mother to Jane Powell in the big screen adaptation of A Date with Judy (1948) and the title character's mother opposite Ingrid Bergman as Joan of Arc (1948). She made several appearances on early television. However, in 1951, when she refused to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. She sued the American Legion, which had published Red Channels, in which her name was listed, and won but her acting career ended. She made only three more roles, the last being Murder Is My Beat (1955). She also wrote several books, including Guadalajara: as I Know It, Live It, Love It (which went through several editions) and a couple of cookbooks, and some magazine articles. She was the "radio editor" of the short-lived New York periodical Swank.


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Joan of Arc

as Isabelle d'Arc, Joan's Mother
Released: 1948-12-22

In the 15th Century, France is a defeated and ruined nation after the One Hundred Years War...

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Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

as Mrs. Reynolds
Released: 1944-11-15

In the wake of Pearl Harbor, a young lieutenant leaves his expectant wife to volunteer for a...

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That's Entertainment!

as (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 1974-06-21

Various MGM stars from yesterday present their favorite musical moments from the studio's 50...

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Stage Door Canteen

as Selena Royle
Released: 1943-06-24

A young soldier on a pass in New York City visits the famed Stage Door Canteen, where famous...

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Courage of Lassie

as Mrs. Merrick
Released: 1946-11-08

Bill's separated from his litter, making friends with the wild creatures until he's found and...

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The Harvey Girls

as Miss Bliss
Released: 1946-01-18

On a train trip out west to become a mail-order bride, Susan Bradley meets a cheery crew of...

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The Heiress

as Elizabeth Almond
Released: 1949-10-06

Dull and plain Catherine lives with her emotionally distant father, Dr. Sloper, in 1840s New...

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Branded

as Mrs. Lavery
Released: 1950-11-03

A gunfighter takes part in a scheme to bilk a wealthy cattle family out of half a million...

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Moonrise

as Aunt Jessie
Released: 1948-10-01

Stigmatized from infancy by the fate of his criminal father, a man is bruised and bullied until...

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Night and Day

as Kate Porter
Released: 1946-07-02

Swellegant and elegant. Delux and delovely. Cole Porter was the most sophisticated name in...

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Robot Monster

as Mother
Released: 1953-06-25

Ro-Man, an alien robot who greatly resembles a gorilla in a diving helmet, is sent to earth to...

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A Date with Judy

as Mrs. Foster
Released: 1948-07-29

Best friends Judy and Carol compete for the affection of an older man during their high school...

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Mrs. Parkington

as Mattie Trounson
Released: 1944-10-12

In this family saga, Mrs. Parkington recounts the story of her life, beginning as a hotel maid...

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The Damned Don't Cry

as Patricia Longworth
Released: 1950-05-13

Fed up with her small-town marriage, a woman goes after the big time and gets mixed up with the mob.

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Cass Timberlane

as Louise Wargate
Released: 1947-11-06

Judge Cass Timberlane marries a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, Virginia Marshland. A...

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Summer Holiday

as Mrs. Essie Miller
Released: 1948-04-15

Danville, Connecticut at the turn of the century. Young Richard Miller lives in a middle-class...

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The Green Years

as Mama Leckie
Released: 1946-07-04

An orphaned young boy is guided by his great-grandfather and strives to go to university to...

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No Leave, No Love

as Mrs. Hanlon
Released: 1946-03-10

A soldier returns with his pal from fighting in the Pacific during World War II only to discover...

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My Dream Is Yours

as Freda Hofer
Released: 1949-04-15

Conceited singer Garry Mitchell refuses to renew his radio contract, so agent Doug Blake decides...

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Till the End of Time

as Mrs. Kincheloe
Released: 1946-07-23

Three former marines have a hard time readjusting to civilian life. Perry can't deal with the...

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He Ran All the Way

as Mrs. Dobbs
Released: 1951-06-20

A crook on the run hides out in an innocent girl's apartment.

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You're My Everything

as Mrs. Adams
Released: 1949-07-22

In 1924, stage-struck Boston blueblood Hannah Adams picks up musical star Tim O'Connor and takes...

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The Romance of Rosy Ridge

as Sairy MacBean
Released: 1947-08-04

A mysterious Civil War veteran courts a Missouri farmer's daughter amid postwar unrest.

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Main Street After Dark

as 'Ma' Abby Dibson
Released: 1945-01-12

A police detective (Edward Arnold) uses fluorescent powder to catch a pickpocket (Selena Royle)...

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Smart Woman

as Mrs. Wayne
Released: 1948-04-30

A crusading DA falls for a defense attorney with a criminal past.

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Murder Is My Beat

as Beatrice Abbott
Released: 1955-02-27

Mr. Dean's body is found face down in the fireplace, burned beyond recognition. Nightclub-singer...

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Gallant Journey

as Mrs. Zachary Montgomery
Released: 1946-09-24

Director William A. Wellman adds another to his long line of salutes-to-aviation films in this...

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Bad Boy

as Judge Florence Prentiss
Released: 1949-02-22

A lawman tries to find the source of a juvenile delinquent's bad behavior.

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The Fighting Sullivans

as Mrs. Alleta Sullivan
Released: 1944-02-03

The lives of a close-knit group of brothers growing up in Iowa during the days of the Great...

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The Big Hangover

as Kate Mahoney
Released: 1950-05-26

A young law school graduate is hired by a prestigious firm, but he neglects to inform them he is...

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This Man's Navy

as Maude Weaver
Released: 1945-01-04

During World War II, Chief Aviation Pilot Ned Trumpet is in charge of an airship at Lakehurst,...

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Come Fill the Cup

as Mrs. Dolly Copeland
Released: 1951-10-24

Alcoholic newspaperman Lew Marsh hits bottom, loses his job and is rehabilitated by Charley...

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You Were Meant for Me

as Cora Mayhew
Released: 1948-01-28

A bandleader falls in love and marries a small town girl.

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The Misleading Lady

as Alice Connell
Released: 1932-04-15

A scheming socialite meets her match in the out-of-touch wildlife explorer she ventures to ensnare.

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