Jessica Tandy Biography

Oscar winner Jessica Tandy was an English-born American stage and film actress. She made notable appearances of hers in over 100 stage productions and starred in over 60 characters on film and television. She became popular for her complex portrayals of herself, as well as her opposite roles with her husband, Hume Cronyn in various films.

Early life and education of Jessica Tandy

Jessica Tandy was born on the Geldeston Road in Hackney, London, on June 7, 1909, under the birth sign of Gemini. The youngest of three children, Tandy is the daughter of a former peddler, Harry Tandy, and Jessie Helen. Her father passed away when she was only 12 years old.

Tandy is of British nationality and ethnicity; she is a white british. She grew up in Hackney and studied acting at the Ben Greet Academy. She completed her studies at Dame Owen School in Islington.

Jessica Tandy’s Career

At the age of 18, Jessica Tandy began her acting career, first making her appearance in London in The Rumor (1929) and in New York City in The Matriarch (1930).

After introducing a series of increasingly complex characters, Tandy received overnight popularity for the creation of Blanche DuBois in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire in 1947. For which he received a Tony Award in 1948.

Also, in the year 1951, Tandy made her film debut by appearing in the black and white biopic, The Desert Fox . She was also cast alongside Veronica Cartwright in a 1963 American horror-thriller film The Birds .

Similarly, Tandy also appeared along with her husband, Cronyn in numerous stage productions, including The Fourposter (1951), Madame, Will You Walk? (1953), A Day by the Sea (1955), The Physicists (1964) and Noel Coward in Two Keys (1974) as well.

The couple was also known as the ‘first American theater couple’. In 1994, they received the first Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement. After appearing in several film and stage productions, she finally got her big break when she played the role of Daisy Werthan in a 1989 comedy-drama film, Driving Miss Daisy, alongside Morgan Freeman and Yaykroyd .

For which Tandy also received an Oscar for best actress. The film ultimately earned $106.6 million in North America and $39.2 million in other territories for a worldwide box office take of $145.8 million, while costing only $7.7 million to produce.

Jessica Tandy Net Worth and Body Measurement

Jessica Tandy is one of the most popular American actresses of English origin. According to Celebrity Net Worth, Tandy had an estimated net worth of $20 million.

One of his hit movies Driving Miss Daisy raked in a huge box office take of $145.8 million and the production cost of the movie is only $7.7 million. She for which she also received an Oscar for best actress. She had an average height of 5 feet 4 inches.

Jessica Tandy’s personal life

Jessica Tandy was first married to British actor, Jack Hawkins in 1932, who worked in stage and film from the 1930s to the 1970s. The couple have a daughter named Susan Hawkins who was born in the same year . However, they divorced in 1940.

Following their divorce, Tandy married her boyfriend, an American-Canadian actor, Hume Cronyn in 1942. The couple have two children, Tandy Cronyn and Christopher Cronyn . Tandy and her husband Cronyn appeared together in a number of well-known stage productions and films.

Tandy and Hume also received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1986 for their contributions to the arts. Unfortunately, Tandy died at her home on September 11, 1994, in Easton, Connecticut.