
Mary Forbes
ActingAbout Mary Forbes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Mary Forbes (1 January 1883 – 22 July 1974), born Ethel Louise Young, was a British-American film actress, based in the United States in her latter years, where she died. She appeared in more than 130 films between 1919 and 1958. Forbes was born in Hornsey, England. She made her first public appearance on the concert platform giving recitals. Her acting debut was in 1908 on the London stage at Aldwych Theatre. Her American stage debut came in Romance at Maxine Elliott's Theatre in 1913. She took over management of the Ambassadors Theatre in 1913 and had several years experience on stage in Britain and America before her appearances in Hollywood films. Two of her three children by her first marriage in the first quarter of 1904 to Ernest J. Taylor, Ralph and Dorothy Brenda, known as Brenda, were also actors. The middle child of the three, Phyllis Mary Taylor, was not in the acting business. Her second husband was British actor Charles Quartermaine, who married in 1925; the union ended in divorce. She married her third husband, Wesley Wall, an American businessman, in 1935; the couple remained married until her death in 1974. She became a naturalized United States citizen in 1943, with one of her character references being Lucile Webster Gleason, actress and wife of actor James Gleason.
Mary Forbes Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Mary Forbes reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Mary Forbes's work falls within the Romance genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 100% of Mary Forbes's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Laddie, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Mary Forbes Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Mary Forbes's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Mary Forbes has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | You Gotta Stay Happy | Aunt Martha | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Judge Steps Out | Margaret (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | It Had to Be You | Mrs. Kimberly (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | Cigarette Girl | Mrs. Halstead | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | Lady on a Train | - | Hit | Similar → |
| 1945 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Lady Agatha | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Jane Eyre | Mrs. Eshton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Mr. Lucky | War Relief Worker (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Two Tickets to London | Dame Dunne Hartley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sherlock Holmes in Washington | Mrs. Pettibone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | Almost Married | Mrs. Marvin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1942 | This Above All | Vicar's Wife | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Nothing but the Truth | Mrs. Ralston | Hit | Similar → |
| 1941 | Back Street | Mrs. Williams | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | All This, and Heaven Too | Lady at the Theatre (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1940 | Private Affairs | Mrs. Stanley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Ninotchka | Lady Lavenham (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Lady Conyngham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | I Stole a Million | Flower Shop Customer (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Outside These Walls | Gertrude Bishop | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Three Smart Girls Grow Up | Mrs. Withers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | You Can't Cheat an Honest Man | Mrs. Bel-Goodie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | You Can't Take It with You | Mrs. Anthony P. Kirby | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Always Goodbye | Aunt Martha Marshall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | Outside of Paradise | Mrs. Stonewall | Hit | Similar → |
| 1938 | What Do You Think? (Number Three) | Mrs. Dosier - John's Mother (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | The Awful Truth | Mrs. Vance | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Stage Door | Cast of Stage Play | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Theodora Goes Wild | Mrs. Wyatt (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | The White Angel | Lady Disapproving of Florence #1 (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Captain Blood | Mrs. Steed | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Dizzy Dames | Mrs. Stokes | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Les Misérables | Mlle. Baptiseme | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Laddie | Mrs. Anna Pryor | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Roberta | (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | We Live Again | Mrs. Kortchagin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Two Heads on a Pillow | Mrs. Caroline Devonshire | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | She Was a Lady | Lady Diana Vane | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Blind Date | Mrs. Hartwell | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Shock | Lady Heatherly | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Sadie McKee | Mrs. Alderson (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | You Can't Buy Everything | Kate Farley | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | The Silent Witness | Lady Howard | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Working Girls | Mrs. Johnstone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Chances | Mrs. Ingleside | Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | So This Is London | Lady Worthing | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | Sunny Side Up | Mrs. Cromwell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1929 | The Trespasser | Mrs. Ferguson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | Women Who Win | - | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1919 | The Lady Clare | Lady Julia Medwin | Super Hit | Similar → |
Mary Forbes - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Mary Forbes?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Mary Forbes is "Laddie" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Mary Forbes acted in?
Mary Forbes has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Mary Forbes?
Other notable films include "Women Who Win", "The Lady Clare", and "Outside These Walls".




