Elspeth Dudgeon

Dudgeon was born on 4 December 1871{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1988809:5180 |title=Elspeth Dudgeon in the California, U.S., Death Index |url-access=subscription |via=Ancestry.com |access-date=22 July 2022}} in Edinburgh, Scotland and developed an interest in theatrics as a young girl. After joining a well known amateur organisation, she became notable for character roles.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105978113 |title=Osmond Tearle gave copley actress her first chance |newspaper=The Boston Globe |page=60 |date=16 November 1924}}

Her first break came while she was still in Scotland, when actor-manager Osmond Tearle heard of her ability and booked her to appear in various Shakesperian plays. Before this, she was already well known around Glasgow, such as in her part of a housekeeper in the 1916 play Doorsteps, where her performance was described as "extremely artistic".{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113067790 |title=Doorsteps at the Grand Theatre, Hanley |newspaper=Staffordshire Sentinel |page=4 |date=9 February 1916}}

During World War I, Dudgeon was part of Lena Ashwell's company, performing for soldiers near the English front, occasionally joined by male soldiers on leave.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113071168 |title=Miss Dudgeon in Familiar Scene |newspaper=Los Angeles Evening Post |page=4 |date=20 December 1932}} She also worked for Lydia Yvorska's company. Following her emigration to America, she joined Mr Clive's company as the Copyley Theatre. She first appeared in an uncredited part in Waterloo Bridge (1931), before which she had a long and not very successful career as a theatrical actress.{{cite news |title='The Oyster At The Copley' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/380448339/?terms=Elspeth%20Dudgeon&match=1 |access-date=31 August 2022 |work=Movienews Weekly |date=18 May 1926 |location=Boston, Massachusetts |page=2|via = Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |title='A Bride But A Few Weeks Time' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/431082530/?terms=Elspeth%20Dudgeon&match=1 |access-date=31 August 2022 |work=Movienews Weekly |date=3 December 1933 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=2|via = Newspapers.com}}

File:Elspeth Dudgeon and Miriam Hopkins in Becky Sharp.jpg in Becky Sharp (1935)]]

One of her earlier best remembered appearances was in the role of Sir Roderick Femm in the 1932 film The Old Dark House. Director James Whale needed someone to portray a centenarian and Dudgeon was the oldest actress he knew of, despite her being just 60 at the time.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bhKbAwAAQBAJ&q=%22Elspeth+Dudgeon%22 |title=Of Gods and Monsters: A Critical Guide to Universal Studios' Science Fiction, Horror and Mystery Films, 1929-1939 |last=Soister |first=John T. |publisher=McFarland Incorporated Publishers |year=2010 |page=45 |isbn=9780786462551}} A beard was pasted onto her and she delivered her lines in her own, high voice. Having played the part of a man, she was credited as John Dudgeon, with actress Gloria Stuart later commenting that none of the cast at the time were aware Dudgeon was actually a female actress until the cast party. Whale was reported to have enjoyed keeping her real gender a secret, although Dudgeon would later work for him again several years later under her own name and gender.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zyyf9E7OAlkC&dq=elspeth+dudgeon&pg=PA45 |title=Thirteen Horror Films from the Genre's Golden Age |last=Mank |first=Gergory William |publisher=McFarland Incorporated Publishers |year=2010 |page=45 |isbn=9780786462551}} She was also known as playing Miss Pinkerton in Becky Sharp (1935).{{cite news |title='Classic Film: The Old Dark House' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/193781155/?terms=Elspeth%20Dudgeon&match=1|access-date=31 August 2022 |work=Movienews Weekly |date=15 October 1995 |location=Los Angeles, California |page=2|via = Newspapers.com}} She featured in some other hit films of the following years, such as Camille (1936), Pride and Prejudice (1940) and a supporting role alongside Charles Laughton in The Canterville Ghost (1944).{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3M1SDwAAQBAJ&dq=elspeth+dudgeon&pg=PT53 |title=Guilty Pleasures of the Horror Film |last=Svehla |first=Gary |page=53 |publisher=BearManor Media |year=1996}} She is also remembered by horror film buffs for her startling transformation scene in the cult comedy-thriller Sh! The Octopus (1937).

She lived in California for 23 years. She was {{convert|5|ft|7|in}}.{{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1982974:8745 |title=Elizabeth Johnston Dudgeon in the Massachusetts, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists |url-access=subscription |via=Ancestry.com |access-date=12 November 2022}}

She died on 11 December 1955, one week after her 84th birthday, in Los Angeles, California. Her remains are buried at Chapel Of The Pines Crematory.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/85555871 |title=Miss Elspeth Dudgeon funeral services |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |page=61 |date=15 December 1955}}

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Category:1871 births

Category:1955 deaths

Category:Actresses from Edinburgh

Category:Scottish actresses

Category:Scottish film actresses

Category:Scottish theatre people

Category:20th-century Scottish actresses