Anecdotes

Has had a successful 50 year career on Broadway before bringing her roles in "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "Harvey" from the stage to the screen.

Although she played James Stewart's sister in Harvey (1950), she was 31 years his senior in real life.

In her speech after she got her "Oscar", she look up and thanked Harvey.

Graduate of Radcliffe College (1899).

Is interred with her husband in the Newton Cemetery, Newtonville, MA.

Is one of 25 actresses to have won an Academy Award for their performance in a comedy; hers being for Harvey (1950). The others, in chronological order, are: Claudette Colbert (New York - Miami (1934)), Loretta Young (Ma femme est un grand homme (1947)), Judy Holliday (Comment l'esprit vient aux femmes (1950)), Audrey Hepburn (Vacances romaines (1953)), Goldie Hawn (Fleur de cactus (1969)), Glenda Jackson (Une maîtresse dans les bras, une femme sur le dos (1973)), Lee Grant (Shampoo (1975)), Diane Keaton (Annie Hall (1977)), Maggie Smith (California Hôtel (1978)), Mary Steenburgen (Melvin et Howard (1980)), Jessica Lange (Tootsie (1982)), Olympia Dukakis (Éclair de lune (1987)), Cher (Éclair de lune (1987)), Jessica Tandy (Miss Daisy et son chauffeur (1989)), Mercedes Ruehl (Fisher King - Le roi pêcheur (1991)), Marisa Tomei (Mon cousin Vinny (1992)), Dianne Wiest (Coups de feu sur Broadway (1994)) Mira Sorvino (Maudite Aphrodite (1995)), Frances McDormand (Fargo (1996)), Helen Hunt (Pour le pire et pour le meilleur (1997)), Gwyneth Paltrow (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Judi Dench (Shakespeare in Love (1998)), Penélope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)), and Jennifer Lawrence (Happiness Therapy (2012)).

Was the 34th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Harvey (1950) at The 23rd Academy Awards on March 29, 1951.

Sister-in-law of actor Henry Hull.

Aunt of producer Shelley Hull.