Anne Baxter is an American Hollywood movie star who has dedicated 45 years of her life to creative work. For all the time, the actress starred in 90 films. The most significant film in Anne Baxter's career was the 1948 drama On the Edge of the Blade, for her role in which she received her first and only Oscar.
Anne Baxter's childhood and adolescence
The future actress was born on May 7, 1923 in Michigan City in the family of Stuart Baxter, a representative of the liquor company, and Catherine Wright Baxter, the daughter of an architect. The girl grew up in Bronxville, a small village near Manhattan, where she also studied at a private school.
At a very young age, Ann realized that she would like to become an actress. Parents and grandfather supported her in the decision not only morally, but also financially. Anne Baxter studied for several years with Maria Uspenskaya (future Russian-American actress) and made her Broadway debut at the age of 13. Critics and viewers called her "cute baby", but Ann herself had rather high ambitions and serious plans for the future, which concerned building a career. After several initial roles on the stage, Twentieth Century Fox signed a seven-year contract with the young actress.
The first appearance of the aspiring actress on the big screen was the Western "Team of Twenty Mules" of 1940.
Anne Baxter was considered for the role of Rebecca in the classic drama of the same name by Alfred Hitchcock. Test videos of the film were even filmed. However, at the last minute, the filmmakers suddenly chose to see actress Joan Fontaine as the main character, for which her rival was nominated for an Oscar.
During World War II, Anne Baxter became the epitome of sane and wholesome young women in American patriotic films such as Dangerous Dive and The Sullivans.
Five classic films with Anne Baxter
The Splendor of the Ambersons (1942) is a family drama and film adaptation of the book by Booth Tarkington, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his writing. The plot of the film revolves around a conservative and wealthy family struggling with the social and economic changes that were in part caused by the appearance of the first car.
"On the Edge of the Blade" (1946) is a tragic melodrama in which Anne Baxter played a supporting role, but it was this role that brought the actress the first and only Oscar in her career. The film follows Larry Darrel, a disenchanted World War I veteran who joins the Lost Generation movement in Paris to find his place in life. Anne Baxter played the role of Sophia MacDonald, Larry's unbalanced girlfriend, whose romantic relationship was undermined by the appearance of the socialite Isabelle Bradley in his life.
"All About Eve" (1950) is a drama about how the once legendary Broadway star Margot Channing (Bette Davis), now a hot-tempered and alcohol-loving lady, took under her upbringing the aspiring actress Eva Harrington (Anne Baxter). Margot does not even suspect about the insidious plans of a rising star, ready to do anything for a career. Baxter and Davis were nominated for Best Actress for their roles, but Judy Holliday won the Oscar for Born Yesterday.
"I Confess" (1953) is a crime thriller by Alfred Hitchcock, in which Anne Baxter starred opposite Montgomery Clift. He portrayed Father Michael Logan, a pious priest who accepts a confession about a murder, but due to the sacrament is unable to give the police information about the crime. The police themselves consider the priest involved in the murder.
The Ten Commandments (1956) is a Bible-based epic drama about the life of Moses, who led the Jewish people out of Egypt and delivered them from death. Anne Baxter played the role of Nefertiti, the wife of Ramses.
The last works of the actress in the movie was the series "Hotel", where she got a supporting role, as well as the crime thriller "Masks of Death".
For 45 years of her film career, Anne Baxter has appeared in more than 90 films.
Personal life of the actress
In 1946, Anne Baxter married actor John Hodiak and gave birth to daughter Katrina, but the marriage ended in divorce.
In 1960, the actress left Hollywood to move to Australia and live on a farm with her second husband, Randolph Golt. Ann Baxter later published her autobiographical book Change: A True Story, which focuses on the experiences and disappointments in the life of the actress. Melissa and Maginelle were born in the marriage. After 10 years, the couple broke up.
In 1977, Anne Baxter married for the third time. The spouse was banker and stockbroker David Clee. The marriage only lasted nine months. While repairing his own home, David Clee died suddenly.
The daughter of the actress Katrina found herself in the music field and became a composer, Melissa works as an interior designer in Atlanta, and Maginelle is a Catholic nun in Rome.
Anne Baxter said: “Being a wife, mother and actress is the hardest thing in the world. But I want it."
Throughout her life, Ann Baxter adhered to the Republican position and conservative views in political views. She participated in supporting the campaigns of Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon, and also provided them with financial assistance.
The actress died on December 12, 1985 at the Lennox Hill Hospital in New York, after eight days of being connected to a ventilator. Ann Baxter was 62 years old.
