Helen Horton

American actress (1923–2007)

Helen Horton
Born	Helen Virginia Horton (1923-11-21)November 21, 1923 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	September 28, 2007(2007-09-28) (aged 83) Topanga, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1953–1990
Relatives	Lily James (granddaughter)

Helen Virginia Horton (November 21, 1923 – September 28, 2007)^[1]^[2] was an American actress. She was born in Chicago and had a brief career in New York City. She married and lived near London. She worked extensively in British television, radio and theatre, and had three children.^[2] Horton voiced the ship's computer, "Mother", in the 1979 film Alien.^[3] Her granddaughter is the English actress Lily James.

Early life

Horton attended Northwestern University where she became lifelong friends with Patricia Neal (Helen Benson in The Day the Earth Stood Still). She was well thought of in the drama department and was cast as Viola, the lead role in Twelfth Night, with Neal cast as Olivia, in a university production of the Shakespeare play.^[4]

In September 1945, Horton and Neal took a shared apartment in New York and looked for work. They both got parts in a production of Seven Mirrors at the Blackfriars Theatre.^[4]

Career

Horton took over from Vivien Leigh as Blanche in A Streetcar Named Desire after the play's London run was completed and it began to tour the United Kingdom. When Neal mentioned the connection to Leigh, she remarked "No one takes over for me, dear. When I leave a play, it's over."^[4]^: 118

Filmography

Sie fanden eine Heimat (1953) – Miss Sullivan
Strange Stories (1953) – Marie
Sunday Night Theatre (1953–1959, BBC series, 5 episodes) – Ann Wesfield / Dorothy Stafford / Kendall Frayne / Lily Miller / Estelle Quinn
The Battle of the River Plate (1956) – (uncredited)
Let's Be Happy (1957, musical film) – Sadie Whitelaw
The Mark of the Hawk (1957, drama film also known as The Accused)^[5] – Barbara Craig
Never Take Sweets from a Stranger (1960) – Sylvia Kingsley
Play of the Week (1959–1967, ITV series, 5 episodes) – Mollie / Mona / Mrs. Barker / Mrs. Storch / Sonia Chance
The Last Shot You Hear (1969) – Dodie Rubens
The Chairman (1969) – Susan Wright
The Dick Emery Show (1971–1981, BBC series, 4 episodes)
Endless Night (1972, crime film) – Aunt Beth
Phase IV (1974)^[2] – Mildred Eldridge
Nido de viudas (1977) – Ana
Alien (1979)^[3] – Mother (voice)
Superman III (1983)^[2] – Miss Henderson
The Benny Hill Show, 1979–1986, ITV series 6 episodes
The Razor's Edge (1984) – Red Cross lady
Ellis Island (1984, CBC, 3 episodes) – Miss Pringle
Reunion at Fairborough (1985, TV film)
Miss Marple (1987, BBC, 1 episode) – Mrs. Cabot
Bullseye! (1990) – Tourist on Coach

References

^ "Helen Virginia Thomson - US Social Security Death Index". Archived from the original on 2020-03-07. Retrieved 2018-10-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Helen Virginia Horton Thomson Obituary (2007) Los Angeles Times". Legacy.com.
^ ^a ^b Hansen, Pal (23 December 2012). "Fallen angel: How Lily James is bringing scandal to Downton Abbey this Christmas". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c Stephen Michael Shearer (19 May 2006). Patricia Neal: An Unquiet Life. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 37–. ISBN 978-0-8131-3712-4.
^ Ann C. Paietta (20 June 2005). Saints, Clergy and Other Religious Figures on Film and Television, 1895–2003. McFarland. pp. 5–. ISBN 978-1-4766-1016-0.