This British-born leading lady and character actress achieved success in British films of the 1930s, becoming known very briefly as 'Britain's Glamour Girl'. She married director Robert Stevenson in 1934 and played standard leading lady roles in several of his films, including "The Man Who Changed His Mind" (1936) and "King Solomon's Mines" (1937). The couple was called to Hollywood in 1940 and, though Lee played several leads in such films as "My Life with Caroline" (1940) and "The Commandos Strike at Dawn" (1942), she never caught on as a popular star. She did, however, become a semi-regular member of John Ford's stock company, with modest supporting roles in films such as "How Green Was My Valley" (1941) and "Fort Apache" (1948). Invariably in sympathetic parts, Lee brought her relaxed gentility to live TV in the 50s, acted in such later features as "The Sound of Music" (1965, as Sister Margaretta), and achieved her greatest fame late in life as matriarch Lila Quartermaine on the long-running ABC daytime drama, "General Hospital".
Family
BROTHER: John Winnifrith. Government official. Died January 1, 1993 in Aplledore, Kent, England at the age of 84; had served in the British government as undersecretary of state for agriculture and fisheries; also worked as director general of the National Trust.
DAUGHTER: Venetia Stevenson. Actor, model. Father Robert Stevenson; formerly married to actor Russ Tamblyn and pop singer Don Everly of the Everly Brothers; mother of Erin Everly (born c. 1966).
DAUGHTER: Caroline Stevenson.
SON: John Stafford. Died in 1986.
SON: Stephen Stafford.
SON: Jeffrey Byron. Actor, screenwriter.
Companion
HUSBAND: Robert Stevenson. Director. Married 1934; divorced 1940; met in the Libyan desert while filming "The Camels Are Coming"; directed Lee in six films, including "The Man Who Changed His Mind" (1936), "King Solomon's Mines" (1937) and "Return to Yesterday" (1940).
HUSBAND: Robert Nathan. Novelist, playwright, poet. Married from 1970 until his death at age 91 in 1985.
Milestone
Joined the London Repertory Theatre; toured in such plays as "The Constant Nymph" and "Jane Eyre"
Earliest film credits include "Chelsea Life" (1933) and "The Camels Are Coming" (1934)
1940: First American film, "Seven Sinners", in support of Marlene Dietrich and John Wayne
1941: Made first film with director John Ford, "How Green Was My Valley"
1950: Moved to New York to begin second career in live TV
1951 - 1953: Played Dora Foster on the TV sitcom, "A Date with Judy"
Was a panelist on the information/game show, "It's News to Me"
1952: Last feature film for several years, "Boots Malone"
1956: Played Doris Mayfield on the CBS sitcom, "The Charlie Farrell Show"
Returned to feature films in the late 1950s in such films as "The Last Hurrah" (1958) and "The Horse Soldiers" (1959)
1965: Portrayed Sister Margaretta in "The Sound of Music"
1978 - Present: Played Lila Quatermaine on the ABC daytime drama, "General Hospital"
1982: Injured spine in accident; paralyzed from waist down
1993: Awarded star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Education
Center School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art at Royal Albert Hall - London, England
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.