
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.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Mary Forbes reveals a career defined by exceptional commercial consistency. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Romance
The majority of Mary Forbes's filmography leans towards the Romance genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 82% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Mary Forbes remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in You Can't Take It with You, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Mary Forbes Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Mary Forbes's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Mary Forbes.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | Houseboat | British Society Woman (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 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) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1947 | The Exile | Second Court Lady | Average | Similar → |
| 1947 | Ivy | Lady Crail (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1946 | Terror by Night | Lady Margaret Carstairs | 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 | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Sherlock Holmes in Washington | Mrs. Pettibone | 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 | Laddie | Mrs. Anna Pryor | Average | Similar → |
| 1939 | Ninotchka | Lady Lavenham (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes | Lady Conyngham | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Outside These Walls | Gertrude Bishop | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Three Smart Girls Grow Up | Mrs. Withers | Hit | Similar → |
| 1939 | Risky Business | Mrs. Jameson | Average | 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 → |
| 1937 | The Awful Truth | Mrs. Vance | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Stage Door | Cast of Stage Play | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | One Hundred Men and a Girl | Concert Hall Patron | Average | Similar → |
| 1937 | Wee Willie Winkie | Mrs. MacMonachie | Hit | Similar → |
| 1937 | Another Dawn | Mrs. Lydia Benton | Average | Similar → |
| 1936 | Theodora Goes Wild | Mrs. Wyatt (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | Wedding Present | Mrs. Dodacker | Hit | Similar → |
| 1936 | The White Angel | Lady Disapproving of Florence #1 (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Captain Blood | Mrs. Steed | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Anna Karenina | Princess Sorokina | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Les Misérables | Mlle. Baptiseme | Hit | Similar → |
| 1935 | Roberta | (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | We Live Again | Mrs. Kortchagin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Blind Date | Mrs. Hartwell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | Sadie McKee | Mrs. Alderson (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1934 | You Can't Buy Everything | Kate Farley | Hit | Similar → |
| 1933 | Bombshell | Mrs. Middleton | Hit | Similar → |
| 1932 | A Farewell to Arms | Miss Van Campen | Average | Similar → |
| 1931 | Working Girls | Mrs. Johnstone | Hit | Similar → |
| 1931 | Chances | Mrs. Ingleside | Hit | Similar → |
| 1930 | Holiday | Mrs. Pritchard Ames (uncredited) | Average | 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 → |
Mary Forbes - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Mary Forbes?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Mary Forbes is "You Can't Take It with You" with a rating of 7.5/10.
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 "Outside These Walls", "Ninotchka", and "All This, and Heaven Too".




