# Jane Baxter > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jane_Baxter > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Jane_Baxter.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Baxter > Source revision: 1320778589 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|British actress (1909–1996)}} {{distinguish|Jayne Baxter}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{one source|date=August 2011}} {{Infobox person | name = Jane Baxter | image = Jane_Baxter.jpg | caption = Jane Baxter, 1938 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1909|09|09|df=y}} | birth_place = [Bremen](/source/Bremen), Germany | death_date = {{Death date and age|1996|09|13|1909|09|09|df=y}} | death_place = [London](/source/London), England | birth_name = Feodora Kathleen Alice Forde | othername = | occupation = Actress | years_active = 1930–1976 | website = | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Clive Dunfee|1930|1932}} * {{marriage|Arthur Montgomery|1939|1978}} }} }} '''Jane Baxter''' (9 September 1909 – 13 September 1996) was a British actress.{{cite web|url=http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f46a9e5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014191622/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9f46a9e5|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 October 2017|title=Jane Baxter|publisher=}} Her stage career spanned half a century, and she appeared in a number of films and in television.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lXnXDQAAQBAJ&q=john+baxter+The+Encyclopedia+of+British+Film%3A+Fourth+edition&pg=PA57|title=The Encyclopedia of British Film: Fourth edition|first=Brian|last=McFarlane|date=16 May 2016|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9781526111975|via=Google Books}} ==Early life== Baxter was born as '''Feodora Kathleen Alice Forde''' in [Bremen, Germany](/source/Bremen%2C_Germany) to an Anglo-Irish naval engineer father and a German mother of noble background, Hedwig von Dieskau.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jane-baxter-p4672|title=Jane Baxter - Biography, Movie Highlights and Photos - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}} The family castle lies on the outskirts of [Halle](/source/Halle%2C_Saxony-Anhalt) in [Saxony-Anhalt](/source/Saxony-Anhalt). Hedwig had been lady-in-waiting to [Princess Charlotte](/source/Princess_Charlotte_of_Prussia), sister of [Kaiser Wilhelm II](/source/Wilhelm_II%2C_German_Emperor).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/09/17/arts/jane-baxter-87-actress-recoiled-from-hollywood.html|title = Jane Baxter, 87; Actress Recoiled from Hollywood|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 17 September 1996}} Feodora was named after Charlotte's daughter, [Princess Feodora of Saxe-Meiningen](/source/Princess_Feodora_of_Saxe-Meiningen), who committed suicide in 1945. Feodora's father passed away when she was just six months old, leaving her to be raised by Dieskau along with an elder sister and younger brother. The sisters would both attend the Italia Conti School in Woking, England.{{Cite news |last=Shorter |first=Eric |date=September 17, 1996 |title=Too Nice to be Great; Obituary: Jane Baxter |url= |work=The Guardian (London) |pages=18}} ==Career== Feodora Forde came to London at the age of six and studied acting at the [Italia Conti Academy](/source/Italia_Conti_Academy).{{cite web|url=http://www.darlingtonandstocktontimes.co.uk/weekend/arts/14621730.Portrait_of_actress_on_show_for_first_time/|title=Portrait of actress on show for first time|website=Darlington and Stockton Times|date=15 July 2016 }} She made her debut on the London stage at the age of 15 at the [Adelphi Theatre](/source/Adelphi_Theatre) in 1925 as an urchin in a short-lived musical, ''Love's Prisoner,'' alongside her brother-in-law, Harry Welchman.{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1996-09-17-mn-44659-story.html|title=Jane Baxter; British Theater and Movie Actress|date=17 September 1996|publisher=|via=LA Times}} Her breakthrough occurred in 1928 when she substituted as [Peter Pan](/source/Peter_Pan_(character)) for [Jean Forbes-Robertson](/source/Jean_Forbes-Robertson), whom she understudied.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kb1TDAAAQBAJ&q=Jane+Baxter+peter+pan&pg=PT48|title=The Future of the Nineteenth-Century Dream-Child: Fantasy, Dystopia, Cyberculture|first=Amy|last=Billone|date=10 June 2016|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317381914|via=Google Books}} On the advice of the play's author, [J. M. Barrie](/source/J._M._Barrie), Feodora changed her name to '''Jane Baxter''' which led to him affectionately calling her his "stage god-daughter". She was spotted by the writer [Ian Hay](/source/John_Hay_Beith), who suggested her for the lead in ''[A Damsel in Distress](/source/A_Damsel_in_Distress_(novel))'', a play he had written with [P. G. Wodehouse](/source/P._G._Wodehouse).[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19960917/ai_n14068297 Baxter's obituary, written by Tom Vallance, ''The Independent (London)'' 17 September 1996]{{dead link|date=April 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She made her screen debut in 1930 in a B-movie, ''Bed and Breakfast'', and acted in a succession of films in the 1930s, most famously ''[Blossom Time](/source/Blossom_Time_(1934_film))'' with [Richard Tauber](/source/Richard_Tauber) in 1934.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/jane-baxter-p4672/filmography|title=Jane Baxter - Movies and Filmography - AllMovie|website=AllMovie}} She also performed in several West End shows and in 1935 she joined the repertory company at the [Liverpool Playhouse](/source/Liverpool_Playhouse). Here the leading actor was [Michael Redgrave](/source/Michael_Redgrave) who found her "a delightful actress"; she would become his daughter [Vanessa](/source/Vanessa_Redgrave)'s godmother. She had further success in London in 1937 with ''[George and Margaret](/source/George_and_Margaret)'' which ran for two years and in 1947 she co-starred on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) with [John Gielgud](/source/John_Gielgud) and [Margaret Rutherford](/source/Margaret_Rutherford) in ''[The Importance of Being Earnest](/source/The_Importance_of_Being_Earnest)'', in which she played Cicely Cardew.{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/3a5/george-margaret/production/7df|title=Production of George & Margaret - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/the-importance-of-being-earnest-1528|title=The Importance of Being Earnest – Broadway Play – 1947 Revival - IBDB|first=The Broadway|last=League|website=www.ibdb.com}} Another classic role in 1948 was Viola in ''[Twelfth Night](/source/Twelfth_Night)'' at the [Old Vic](/source/Old_Vic), which was the stage directing debut of [Alec Guinness](/source/Alec_Guinness).{{cite web|url=https://theatricalia.com/play/f/twelfth-night/production/88s|title=Production of Twelfth Night - Theatricalia|website=theatricalia.com}} After a year's run in ''[Dial M for Murder](/source/Dial_M_for_Murder)'' in 1952, she continued to work in the theatre for 20 years her last West End appearance being in ''[A Voyage Round My Father](/source/A_Voyage_Round_My_Father)'', which co-starred her old friend, Michael Redgrave.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qvL34Lx1T2IC&q=jane+baxter+dial+m+for+murder&pg=PA3|title=Dial "M" for Murder|first=Frederick|last=Knott|date=1 October 1954|publisher=Dramatists Play Service Inc|isbn=9780822203056|via=Google Books}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kent.ac.uk/library/specialcollections/theatre/r.php/34662/show.html|title=Theatre collections: record view - Special Collections & Archives - University of Kent|website=www.kent.ac.uk}} Baxter's television work included plays and series such as ''[Upstairs, Downstairs](/source/Upstairs%2C_Downstairs_(1971_TV_series))''.{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jane-baxter/credits/155719/|title=Jane Baxter|website=TVGuide.com}} Her last appearance was in the documentary ''Missing Believed Lost'' (1992), in which Sir [John Mills](/source/John_Mills) also appeared. ==Personal life== Baxter married [Clive Dunfee](/source/Clive_Dunfee), the racing driver, in 1930 and witnessed his death in a race at [Brooklands](/source/Brooklands) two years later. In 1939, she married Arthur Montgomery, a businessman, with whom she had two daughters and one son. ==Death== Jane Baxter died in 1996, four days after her 87th birthday, from [stomach cancer](/source/stomach_cancer).{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1996/09/17/deaths/8f0e5451-8063-4de0-aa86-0577d1d9d0ff/|title=DEATHS|date=17 September 1996|publisher=|via=www.washingtonpost.com}} ==Miscellaneous== Newspaper journalist Tom Vallance described Jane Baxter as "the epitome of middle-class breeding – sensible and practical, pretty rather than glamorous, with a delicate complexion. Perfect elocution, a beaming smile, and a hint of the coquette behind the cool exterior." Of her performance in the film ''[Ships with Wings](/source/Ships_with_Wings)'', Prime Minister [Winston Churchill](/source/Winston_Churchill) called Baxter "that charming lady whose grace personifies all that is best in British womanhood." ==Filmography== *''[Bed and Breakfast](/source/Bed_and_Breakfast_(1930_film))'' (1930) *''[Bedrock](/source/Bedrock_(1930_film))'' (1930) *''[Down River](/source/Down_River_(1931_film))'' (1931) *''[Two White Arms](/source/Two_White_Arms)'' (1932) *''[Flat No. 9](/source/Flat_No._9)'' (1932) *''[The Constant Nymph](/source/The_Constant_Nymph_(1933_film))'' (1933) *''[The Night of the Party](/source/The_Night_of_the_Party)'' (1934) *''[The Double Event](/source/The_Double_Event_(1934_film))'' (1934) *''[We Live Again](/source/We_Live_Again)'' (1934) *''[The Little Minister](/source/The_Little_Minister_(1934_film))'' (1934) *''[Blossom Time](/source/Blossom_Time_(1934_film))'' (1934) *''[Girls, Please!](/source/Girls%2C_Please!)'' (1934) *''[The Clairvoyant](/source/The_Clairvoyant_(1935_film))'' (1935) *''[Enchanted April](/source/Enchanted_April_(1935_film))'' (1935) *''[Line Engaged](/source/Line_Engaged)'' (1935) *''[Royal Cavalcade](/source/Royal_Cavalcade)'' (1935) *''[Drake of England](/source/Drake_of_England)'' (1935) *''[Dusty Ermine](/source/Dusty_Ermine)'' (1936) *''[The Man Behind the Mask](/source/The_Man_Behind_the_Mask)'' (1936) *''[The Man Who Could Work Miracles](/source/The_Man_Who_Could_Work_Miracles)'' (1936) *''[Second Best Bed](/source/Second_Best_Bed)'' (1938) *''[The Ware Case](/source/The_Ware_Case_(1938_film))'' (1938) *''[Confidential Lady](/source/Confidential_Lady)'' (1939) *''[Murder Will Out](/source/Murder_Will_Out_(1939_film))'' (1939) *''[Chinese Bungalow](/source/The_Chinese_Bungalow_(1940_film))'' (1940) *''[The Briggs Family](/source/The_Briggs_Family)'' (1940) *''[Ships with Wings](/source/Ships_with_Wings)'' (1941) *''[The Flemish Farm](/source/The_Flemish_Farm)'' (1943) *''[Death of an Angel](/source/Death_of_an_Angel)'' (1952) *''[Upstairs Downstairs](/source/Upstairs%2C_Downstairs_(1971_TV_series))'' (episode 'A Change of Scene') (1973) as The Dowager Lady Newbury ==Selected stage credits== * ''[George and Margaret](/source/George_and_Margaret)'' by [Gerald Savory](/source/Gerald_Savory) (1937) * ''[Living Room](/source/Living_Room_(1943_play))'' by [Esther McCracken](/source/Esther_McCracken) (1943) * ''[The Damask Cheek](/source/The_Damask_Cheek)'' by [John Van Druten](/source/John_Van_Druten) (1949) * ''[The Holly and the Ivy](/source/The_Holly_and_the_Ivy_(play))'' by [Wynyard Browne](/source/Wynyard_Browne) (1950) ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{IMDb name|0062746}} *{{IBDB name|31326}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Baxter, Jane}} Category:1909 births Category:1996 deaths Category:British stage actresses Category:British film actresses Category:British television actresses Category:Deaths from stomach cancer in England Category:Actresses from London Category:20th-century English actresses Category:Actresses from Bremen (city) Category:Alumni of the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Jane Baxter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Baxter) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Baxter?action=history)). 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