May Robson
Biography
May Robson was an Australian‑born actress whose career in the United States spanned 58 years, beginning in 1883 when she was 25. Born in Melbourne, Victoria, in April 1858, she became a major stage performer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the 1930s, well into her seventies, she appeared in dozens of motion pictures, frequently portraying cross‑stitched older women with hearts of gold. Over her lifetime she earned 71 acting credits. Robson died on 20 October 1942 at the age of 84. She is remembered as a prolific actress and playwright whose work bridged stage and screen across more than half a century.
Career overview
May Robson was a major stage actress of the late 19th and early 20th century. Her career spanned 58 years, starting in 1883 when she was 25 years old. She appeared in numerous motion pictures in the 1930s, often playing elderly women with kind hearts.
Robson's acting credits include dozens of films from the 1930s. The exact number of her credits is not specified, but it is stated that she had 71 known credits. She was known for her performances in films such as Leopardí žena, Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and The. The specific details of her filmography are not provided in the available sources.
Robson's career as an actress was marked by her long duration and her ability to adapt to different roles. She was an Australian-born actress who based her career in America. Her performances in the 1930s helped to establish her as a notable figure in the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
72 titles- Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage (1983) as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Joan of Paris (1942) as Mlle. Rosay
- Four Mothers (1941) as Aunt Etta
- Million Dollar Baby (1941) as Cornelia Wheelwright
- Playmates (1941) as Grandma Kyser
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 1 (1941) as Self (uncredited)
- Cavalcade of the Academy Awards (1940) as Self
- Granny Get Your Gun (1940) as Minerva Hildegard Hatton
- Irene (1940) as Granny O'Dare
- The Texas Rangers Ride Again (1940) as Cecilia Dangerfield
- Breakdowns of 1940 (1940) as Self
- They Made Me a Criminal (1939) as Grandma Rafferty
- Nurse Edith Cavell (1939) as Mme. Rappard
- Yes, My Darling Daughter (1939) as 'Granny' Whitman
- Four Wives (1939) as Aunt Etta
- Daughters Courageous (1939) as Penny, the Housekeeper
- Breakdowns of 1939 (1939) as Self
- That's Right – You're Wrong (1939) as Grandma
- The Kid from Kokomo (1939) as Margaret 'Maggie' / 'Ma' Manell
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) as Aunt Elizabeth
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938) as Aunt Polly
- Four Daughters (1938) as Aunt Etta
- The Texans (1938) as Granna
- A Star Is Born (1937) as Lettie Blodgett
- The Perfect Specimen (1937) as Mrs. Leona Wicks
- Woman in Distress (1937) as Phoebe Tuttle
- Wife vs. Secretary (1936) as Mimi Stanhope
- The Captain's Kid (1936) as Aunt Marcia Prentiss
- Rainbow on the River (1936) as Mrs. Harriet Ainsworth
- Anna Karenina (1935) as Countess Vronsky
- Reckless (1935) as Mrs. Granny Leslie
- Strangers All (1935) as Anna Carter
- Grand Old Girl (1935) as Laura Bayles
- Vanessa: Her Love Story (1935) as Judith Paris
- Movies on Sundays (1935) as Herself (uncredited)
- Age of Indiscretion (1935) as Emma Shaw
- 3 Kids and a Queen (1935) as Mary Jane 'Queenie' Baxter
- Straight Is the Way (1934) as Mrs. Horowitz
- Mills of the Gods (1934) as Mary Hastings
- You Can't Buy Everything (1934) as Mrs. Hannah Bell
- The Hollywood Gad-About (1934) as Self (uncredited)
- Lady by Choice (1934) as Patricia 'Patsy' Patterson
- Alice in Wonderland (1933) as Queen Of Hearts
- Dinner at Eight (1933) as Mrs. Wendel
- Lady for a Day (1933) as Apple Annie
- Dancing Lady (1933) as Dolly Todhunter
- Reunion in Vienna (1933) as Frau Lucher
- The White Sister (1933) as Mother Superior
- Beauty for Sale (1933) as Mrs. Merrick
- Broadway to Hollywood (1933) as Veteran Actress
- The Solitaire Man (1933) as Mrs. Vail
- Men Must Fight (1933) as Maman Seward
- One Man's Journey (1933) as Sarah
- Red-Headed Woman (1932) as Aunt Jane
- If I Had a Million (1932) as Mrs. Mary Walker
- Letty Lynton (1932) as Mrs. Lynton, Letty's Mother
- Strange Interlude (1932) as Mrs. Evans
- Little Orphan Annie (1932) as Mrs. Stewart
- The She-Wolf (1931)
- The King of Kings (1927) as Mother of Gestas
- Turkish Delight (1927) as Tsakran
- The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary (1927) as Aunt Mary Watkins
- Chicago (1927) as Mrs. Morton - Matron
- The Angel of Broadway (1927) as Big Bertha
- Rubber Tires (1927) as Mrs. Stack
- A Harp in Hock (1927) as Mrs. Banks
- Pals in Paradise (1926) as Esther Lezinsky
- Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920) as Prostitute at Clinic (uncredited)
- A Night Out (1916) as Granmum
- A Night Out (1916) Theatre Play
- How Molly Malone Made Good (1915) as Herself
- When Knights Were Bold (1908)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is May Robson best known for?
May Robson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Glitter Force (2012), Bringing Up Baby (1938), A Certain Scientific Railgun (2009), Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017).
When and where was May Robson born?
May Robson was born on April 17, 1858 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. They passed away on October 20, 1942.
How many credits does May Robson have?
May Robson has accumulated over 72 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1920 to 1983.
What is May Robson's background in cinema and television?
May Robson was an Australian‑born actress whose career in the United States spanned 58 years, beginning in 1883 when she was 25. Born in Melbourne, Victoria, in April 1858, she became a major stage performer in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In the 1930s, well into her seventies, she appeared in doz...
May Robson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Bringing Up Baby (1938) as Aunt Elizabeth — aged about 80
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