Anecdotes

Lived in what is generally regarded as a lavender marriage (she was his beard) with Janette Ranken (16 December 1877 - 21 May 1970), the sister of his close friend and fellow Slade graduate William Bruce Ellis Ranken (11 April 1881 - 31 March 1941), who painted Thesiger's portrait in 1918. Janette was said to be herself in love with the poet Margaret Jourdain.

He used to lay lilies at the feet of the handsome doorman at the Savoy Hotel in London.

He was a great friend (and crochet partner) of Queen Mary and is even said to have based his later appearance on her.

Alec Guinness recounted in his journal "A Positively Final Appearance" a story about Thesiger, saying he was once stopped by a woman while walking through Piccadilly, who asked him, "Didn't you used to be Ernest Thesiger?" To which he replied bluntly, "Still am!" and hurried on.

His famous role of mad scientist Dr. Pretorius in La Fiancée de Frankenstein (1935) was initially turned down by Bela Lugosi. Universal then wanted Claude Rains to do the part but director James Whale insisted on Thesiger.

He was an accomplished watercolor artist and embroiderer (and even published a book entitled 'Adventures in Embroidery').

He was mentioned in dispatches for his service in World War I.

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1960 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to drama.

He is interred at Brompton Cemetery in London alongside his father, mother and sister.

Wrote an unpublished memoir, "I Was"; but in 1927, published another: "Practically True".

Believed in the power of amulets, and wore jewelry for luck: a pearl necklace, various rings and a jade pendant.

His widow Janette passed away in 1970, aged 92.

Thesiger originally played the role of Theotocopolous, the anti-technology rabble-rouser, in La Vie future (1936), but he was replaced by Sir Cedric Hardwicke because the latter was considered more marketable.

He practiced palmistry and regularly consulted a palmist. Also believed that he could read someone's past and sometimes their future by staring at them intently.

He was portrayed by actor Arthur Dignam in the 1998 film Ni dieux ni démons (1998), which is based on the life of his friend James Whale.

More than three decades after his death, he appeared in archive footage taken from La Fiancée de Frankenstein (1935) in the opening credits of Code Lisa (1994). The same was true of Boris Karloff.

Was a lifelong member of the Holy Trinity Church in London and created the Disabled Soldiers' Embroidery Industry.

His first cousin Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford served as the 38th Viceroy of India from April 4, 1916 to April 2, 1921. He was played by John Mills in Gandhi (1982).

First cousin once removed of the explorer and author Wilfred Thesiger.

His uncle, Frederick Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford, commanded British forces during the Anglo-Zulu War, when the British were annihilated at the Battle of Islandlwana. He was portrayed by Peter O'Toole in Zulu Dawn.