Anne Bancroft - American actress, winner of the Oscar in 1963 for his role in the film "Made a Miracle." Bancroft has acted in films for more than 50 years, from 1951 to 2004. Over the years, the actress has also won several Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe and BAFTA awards.
Childhood and youth
The full name of the actress is Anna Maria Louise Italiano. Ann was born on September 17, 1931 in the Bronx, in the city of New York in the USA. The girl’s mother, Mildred, worked as a telephone operator, and her father, Michael John Napolitano, worked as a dress designer. Ann's parents emigrated to the United States from Italy. A girl from childhood was brought up by an ardent Catholic.
After leaving school, Bancroft entered the Academy of Dramatic Art, and then - at the Lee Strasberg Acting Studio and at the Director's Film Studio at the Los Angeles Film Institute. With such an education and a natural talent for acting, the girl easily began her career in Hollywood.
Carier start
In 1951, Anna took the pseudonym Ann Marno, starred with him in several television series. In 1952, the actress first appeared in a feature film. The film "You Can Enter Without Knocking" directed by Roy Ward Baker is an adaptation of Charlotte Armstrong's novel. The main roles in the film, along with Bancroft, were played by Marilyn Monroe and Richard Widmark.
According to the biography of Anne Bancroft, after spending some time in Hollywood, the actress returned to New York. Already in 1958, the girl played a major role in the Broadway production of "Two on a Swing." In it, Anne played the role of Zhittel. The partner of the actress in the play was Henry Fonda. Bancroft received the Tony Award for her work in this production.
The play and the film "Creating a Miracle"
In 1959, Anne played in the production of "Made a Miracle." This production, based on the play of the same name by William Gibson, is based on the biography of Helen Keller.
Helen is both a blind and deaf American. She lost her sight and hearing in early childhood. Parents spoiled Keller in every possible way, as a result, she grew moody. To teach Helen to live in society, her parents hire a teacher, Miss Sullivan, for her. Sullivan has tough methods, but they give good results.
Bancroft played the role of teacher Sullivan in the production. Other roles were played by actors Patti Duke, Thorin Thatcher, Patricia Neal, Michael Constantine and Bee Richards.
In 1960, the production was nominated for a Tony Award and received five prizes in six categories, including actress Anne Bancroft.
Films-adaptation of “Who made the miracle” were released in 1962, 1979 and in 2000. In the 1962 version, the main roles were played by the same actors as in the Broadway production. The director of the picture was Arthur Penn. Film critics were delighted with this version of the film adaptation. The film is one of the hundred most inspiring films in the last hundred years.
The painting "Creating a Miracle" was nominated for many prestigious film awards. For the Academy Award, the film was nominated in five categories, of which two won. For her role in this film, Ann won an Academy Award, BAFTA, San Sebastiano Film Festival Award, and the National Council of Film Critics of the United States. She was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Awards, nominations and best works
The actress has a huge number of prestigious film awards. Bancroft was nominated:
- on the Oscar - five times;
- on the Golden Globe - eight times;
- on the Emmy - seven times;
- on "Tony" - three times.
In 1964, the movie "Pumpkin Eater" directed by Jack Clayton was released. Pumpkin Eater was nominated for an Oscar, won the Cannes Film Festival, Golden Globe and 4 BAFTA Prizes.
In 1967, Bancroft played in the film directed by Mike Nichols "Graduate". In this film, Anne was paired with Dustin Hoffman. The picture won an Oscar, five BAFTA awards, five Golden Globe awards, and a Grammy award.
In 1972, the film was released by director Richard Attenborough Young Winston, based on an autobiography of Winston Churchill. In Young Winston, Bancroft played the role of Lady Jenny Churchill, Winston's mother. The film was nominated for an Oscar in three categories, received the Golden Globe and the Academy Award.
In 1977, Anne starred in the feature film "Turning Point" about ballet dancers. The director of the picture was Herbert Ross. In addition to Bancroft, Shirley MacLane, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Martha Scott, Leslie Brown and Tom Skerritt played in the film.
The Turning Point was nominated for an Academy Award in 11 categories, but as a result did not receive a single Oscar. The picture was awarded two Golden Globe Prizes.
In 1985, Bancroft played the role of Mother Superior Mary Miriam Ruth in Norman Juison's film Agness of God. Together with Anne in this film, actresses Jane Fonda, Meg Tilly and Ann Pitonyak starred. "Agnes of God" was nominated for an Oscar in three categories, received the Golden Globe Award.
Personal life
Anne Bancroft was married twice. The first time in 1953, Anne married Martin May. The couple divorced four years later, without having given birth to a child.
In 1961, Bancroft met with producer and director Mel Brooks. They worked together on several projects and in 1964 decided to get married.
The only child, the son of Maximilian, was born to Ann and Mel only in 1972. Years later, Maximilian became a screenwriter and writer. In 2005, he and his wife Michelle had a son, Henry Michael Brooks. Henry Michael became the grandson of Anne Bancroft.
The death of the actress
Anne died on 06.06.2005 in a hospital in New York City at the age of 73. The cause of the death of the actress was cancer of the uterus. Bancroft hid her illness from friends, so her death came as a surprise to many. The actress was buried in the cemetery of Kensiko, Valhalla, in the state of New York. Bancroft's parents were buried there.
In memory of Ann's talent, a star was discovered on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Also in her memory is the animated film "Delgo" directed by Jason Morer and Mark Odler.