Binnie Barnes(1903-1998)
- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
British-born actress who appeared in both British and American films,
but who found her greatest success in Hollywood second leads. After a
variety of jobs, including nurse, chorus girl and milkmaid, Barnes
entered vaudeville. She appeared in more than a score of short comedies
with comedian Stanley Lupino before making her feature bow in 1931. Two years
later she achieved prominence as one of the half-dozen wives of the
King in La vie privée d'Henry VIII (1933). The following year she moved to Hollywood and began a
career as the smart-aleck pal of the lead or as the angry "other
woman." Barnes also played numerous leading roles, but spent most of
the 1930s and 40s in strong supporting parts. In 1940 she married
football star (and later producer) M.J. Frankovich and after the war, they
moved to Italy and appeared in several films there and elsewhere in
Europe. She retired from films in 1954, but returned for a few roles in
the late 60s and early 70s. She worked busily with numerous charities
until her death in 1998.
