Actor
Elsa Lanchester
Born 28 October 1902 · Lewisham, London, England, UK — died 26 December 1986
Elsa Lanchester (1902–1986) was a British actress and former dancer who worked across theatre, cabaret, film and television. She is best remembered for the dual role of Mary Shelley and the Bride in Bride of Frankenstein (1935). Married to Charles Laughton, she later became a familiar character actress in Disney films.
Key films
The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933)
Early breakthrough, playing Anne of Cleves opposite husband Charles Laughton in a landmark British hit.
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Her iconic Bride role, with the towering hairstyle, remains the part most closely tied to her name.
Witness for the Prosecution (1957)
Earned an Oscar nomination as the nurse Miss Plimsoll in Billy Wilder's courtroom drama.
Come to the Stable (1949)
Brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Mary Poppins (1964)
Her best-known later role, in a Disney classic that introduced her to a new generation.
Key awards
- 1949: Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress (Come to the Stable)
- 1957: Academy Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress (Witness for the Prosecution)
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 79
- 1924The Scarlet Woman: An Ecclesiastical Melodrama · as Beatrice de CarolleActor
- 1927One of the Best · as KittyActor
- 1928Blue Bottles · as ElsaActor
- 1928The Tonic · as ElsaActor
- 1928The Constant Nymph · as LadyActor
- 1928Daydreams · as Elsa / Heroine in Dream SequenceActor
- 1929Mr. Smith Wakes Up · as Their DaughterActor
- 1930Comets · as HerselfActor
- 1930Ashes · as GirlActor
- 1931Potiphar's Wife · as ThérèseActor
- 1931The Stronger Sex · as ThompsonActor
- 1931The Officers' Mess · as Cora MelvilleActor
- 1931The Love Habit · as MatildeActor
- 1933The Private Life of Henry VIII · as Anne of ClevesActor
- 1935Bride of Frankenstein · as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's MateActor
- 1935David Copperfield · as ClickettActor
- 1935The Ghost Goes West · as Miss SheppertonActor
- 1935Naughty Marietta · as Madame d'AnnardActor
- 1936Rembrandt · as Hendrickje StoffelsActor
- 1938Vessel of Wrath · as Martha JonesActor
- 1940Cavalcade of the Academy Awards · as SelfActor
- 1941Ladies in Retirement · as Emily CreedActor
- 1942Tales of Manhattan · as Mrs. SmithActor
- 1942Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake · as Bristol IsabelActor
- 1943Lassie Come Home · as Mrs. Helen CarracloughActor
- 1943Forever and a Day · as MamieActor
- 1943Thumbs Up · as Emily "Emmy" FfinchActor
- 1944Passport to Destiny · as Ella MugginsActor
- 1946The Spiral Staircase · as Mrs. OatesActor
- 1946The Razor's Edge · as Miss KeithActor
- 1947The Bishop's Wife · as MatildaActor
- 1947Northwest Outpost · as Princess 'Tanya' TatianaActor
- 1948The Big Clock · as Louise PattersonActor
- 1949The Inspector General · as MariaActor
- 1949The Secret Garden · as MarthaActor
- 1949Come to the Stable · as Amelia PottsActor
- 1950Mystery Street · as Mrs. SmerrlingActor
- 1950Buccaneer's Girl · as Madame BrizarActor
- 1950Frenchie · as CountessActor
- 1950The Petty Girl · as Dr. CrutcherActor
- 1952Dreamboat · as Mathilda CoffeyActor
- 1952Les Miserables · as Madame MagloireActor
- 1952Androcles and the Lion · as MegaeraActor
- 1953The Girls of Pleasure Island · as ThelmaActor
- 19543 Ring Circus · as The Bearded LadyActor
- 1954Hell's Half Acre · as Lida O'ReillyActor
- 1955The Glass Slipper · as Widow SonderActor
- 1955Alice in Wonderland · as Red QueenActor
- 1955Heidi · as Fräulein RottenmeierActor
- 1957Witness for the Prosecution · as Miss PlimsollActor
- 1958Bell, Book and Candle · as Aunt Queenie HolroydActor
- 1962Noah and the Flood · as Noah's wifeActor
- 1964Mary Poppins · as Katie NannaActor
- 1964Pajama Party · as Aunt WendyActor
- 1964Honeymoon Hotel · as ChambermaidActor
- 1965That Darn Cat! · as Mrs. MacDougallActor
- 1967Easy Come, Easy Go · as Madame NeherinaActor
- 1967Mondo HollywoodActor
- 1968Blackbeard's Ghost · as Emily StowecroftActor
- 1969Rascal · as Mrs. SatterfieldActor
- 1969Me, Natalie · as Miss DennisonActor
- 1969My Dog, the Thief · as Mrs. FormbyActor
- 1969In Name Only · as Gertrude CarusoActor
- 1971Willard · as Henrietta StilesActor
- 1973Arnold · as HesterActor
- 1973Terror in the Wax Museum · as Julia HawthornActor
- 1976Murder by Death · as Jessica MarblesActor
- 1980Die Laughing · as SophieActor
- 1983Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage · as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1988Hollywood Scandals and Tragedies · as (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1991Frankenstein: A Cinematic Scrapbook · as Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley / The Monster's MateActor
- 1992Commercial Entertainment Product · as The Monster's BrideActor
- 1993Turnabout: The Story of the Yale Puppeteers · as SelfActor
- 1998Universal Horror · as (archive footage)Actor
- 2000The American Nightmare · as SelfActor
- 2007Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2014Monster Madness: The Golden Age of the Horror Film · as Mary Shelley / The Monster's Mate (archive footage)Actor
- 2018Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood · as Self (archive footage)Actor
- 2028Charmed Lives: A Family Romance · as Self (archive footage)Actor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.