Virginia Cherrill
Virginia Cherrill (born April 12, 1908 in Carthage , Illinois , † November 14, 1996 in Santa Barbara , California ) was an American actress . She is remembered primarily for the role of the blind flower girl in Charlie Chaplin's classic City Lights (1931).
Life
Virginia Cherill was born on a farm in rural Illinois to James and Blanche Cherrill. She didn't want to get into the film business either, but her friendship with the well-known actress Sue Carol led her to Hollywood , where she met Charlie Chaplin by chance in the stands of a boxing match. In 1931, Chaplin engaged Cherill, who was completely inexperienced in acting, as a blind flower girl who was later healed in the film in his tragic comedy Lights of the Big City . The collaboration with Chaplin on the film set was overshadowed by disputes, at times he had even fired Cherrill (because he had already shot the majority of the film with Cherrill and the costs would otherwise have exploded, he hired it again later). Despite good reviews for Lights of the Big City , her roles did not attract more attention afterwards. Among other things, she played a leading role alongside John Wayne in Girls Demand Excitement (1931). In 1936 she retired into private life after only 15 films.
After a first failed marriage with the lawyer Irving Adler from Chicago, Cherrill married the British film star Cary Grant in 1934 , for him it was his first marriage. However, only seven months later, Grant's marriage ended in divorce. Her third husband was George Child-Villiers , the ninth Earl of Jersey from 1937 to 1946 . This marriage also ended in divorce. In her fourth marriage, she was married to the pilot Florian Martini from 1948 until her death, the couple lived in Santa Barbara , California . Cherrill, who remained childless, died in 1996 at the age of 88. She was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame .
Filmography
- 1928: The Air Circus
- 1931: City Lights (City Lights)
- 1931: Girls Demand Excitement
- 1931: The Brat
- 1931: Two Hearts Overboard (Delicious)
- 1933: Fast Workers
- 1933: The Nuisance
- 1933: Charlie Chan's Greatest Case
- 1933: Ladies Must Love
- 1933: He Couldn't Take It
- 1934: White Heat
- 1934: Money Mad
- 1935: What Price Crime
- 1935: Late Extra
- 1936: Troubled Waters
literature
- Miranda Seymour: Chaplin's girl: the life and loves of Virginia Cherrill . Simon & Schuster, London [a. a.] 2009, ISBN 978-1-8473-7125-6 .
Web links
- Virginia Cherrill in the Internet Movie Database (English)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Cherrill, Virginia |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | US-american actress |
| DATE OF BIRTH | April 12, 1908 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Carthage , Illinois |
| DATE OF DEATH | November 14, 1996 |
| Place of death | Santa Barbara , California |