Post by timshelboy on Jun 24, 2024 18:53:13 GMT
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Born in London in 1931 she studied at Guildhall, played in rep, and got signed by Rank at 17 and debuted on film in a supporting role in THE BLIND GODDESS. More stage work followed (including working with Richard Burton, whom I believe she had an affair with).
Film stardom came with LIMELIGHT, as the ballerina in Chaplin's rather maudlin, if well received, piece.
![](https://cdn.britannica.com/91/175591-050-F303973A/Charlie-Chaplin-Claire-Bloom-Limelight.jpg)
One of my favourites of hers is THE MAN BETWEEN, trapped behind the Iron Curtain with James Mason in full homme fatal mode. Tense, moving and beautifully shot.
RICHARD III saw her opposite Olivier
She returned to hits with LOOK BACK IN ANGER as Burton's svelte mistress
More stage followed including opposite Rod Steiger, who she married.
She was excellent as the febrile nymphomaniac in THE CHAPMAN REPORT, a potboiler following 4 women who participate in a sex survey. She was almost vampirish and very moving. with Glynis Johns, Jane Fonda and Shelley Winters
Even better was the excellent THE HAUNTING as the Mary Quant clad lesbian psychic with an interest in Julie Harris.
THE OUTRAGE( a Western variant of RASHOMON) was not well received in 1964 but it had its moments
THE SPY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD was a strong LeCarre adaptation again with Burton.
CHARLY was a sleeper hit and won Cliff Robertson an oscar
She made two with Steiger, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN and THREE INTO TWO WONT GO, the latter considered very adult material in 1969.
She seemed to enjoy the eccentricities of Iris Murdoch in A SEVERED HEAD 1971 (Ian Holm, Lee Remick & Richard Attenborough costarred)
A DOLLS HOUSE 1973 gave her one really big film role before she eased into supporting roles in films and star turns on TV. She retained star billing on stage.
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED was probably the prestige peak of the TV stuff , as Lady Marchmain (Olivier was Lord)
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The 1983 TV SEPARATE TABLES saw her cast as the proprietress of the Hotel, Wendy Hiller's old role.
SHADOWLANDS with Joss Ackland was a critical success from 85 TV
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ANN AND DEBBIE was a two hander for TV from 1986 with Deborah Kerr as a man's wife and mistress who meet up after his death. it has German (?) subs but is good fun and only 35 minutes long.
CLASH OF THE TITANS, ELLIS ISLAND( a final one with Burton), HOLD THE DREAM (again with Deborah Kerr), a brace of Woody's:CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS, MIGHTY APRODITE;, disaster flic DAYLIGHT and THE KINGS SPEECH were probably the highest profile work during her later career although she has been in everything from CASUALTY to DR WHO. It was a bit sad THE KINGS SPEECH gave her so little to do.
With Martin Landau in CRIMES AND MISDEMEANOURS
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One really good TV effort was FAMILY MONEY from 1997.
SOLDIER IN LOVE a TV effort from 1967 with Keith Michell & Jean Simmons is one of the few of hers to escape me. Source welcome
Any other fans of Claire?
![](https://www.regisautographs.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BLOOM-CLaire.jpg)
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