Nina Foch
Nina Foch was born Nina Consuelo Maud Fock on April 20, 1924, in Leiden, Netherlands. She was a renowned actress, director, and acting teacher who had a diverse and successful career in film, television, and theater.
Foch's family moved to the United States when she was a child, and she began her acting career in the 1940s. She quickly gained recognition for her talent and versatility, appearing in a wide range of genres, including film noir, drama, comedy, and even horror.
In addition to her contributions to film noir, as mentioned earlier, Foch appeared in several other notable films throughout her career. Some of her notable film credits include "An American in Paris" (1951), "Executive Suite" (1954), "Spartacus" (1960), and "The Ten Commandments" (1956). She worked with acclaimed directors such as Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Kubrick, and Cecil B. DeMille.
Foch's talent extended beyond the big screen. She also made numerous appearances on television, both as a guest star and in recurring roles. She received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the TV movie "Lou Grant: Hometown" (1983) and appeared in popular shows like "Columbo," "Kojak," and "The Outer Limits."
In addition to her acting work, Foch became a respected acting teacher and directed theater productions. She taught at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts and the American Film Institute (AFI), among other institutions. Her passion for the craft of acting and dedication to teaching influenced countless aspiring actors.
Nina Foch passed away on December 5, 2008, at the age of 84 in Los Angeles, California. Throughout her career, she left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, both through her memorable performances and her contributions as an educator. Her talent, versatility, and dedication to her craft solidified her status as a respected figure in the world of acting.
Foch's family moved to the United States when she was a child, and she began her acting career in the 1940s. She quickly gained recognition for her talent and versatility, appearing in a wide range of genres, including film noir, drama, comedy, and even horror.
In addition to her contributions to film noir, as mentioned earlier, Foch appeared in several other notable films throughout her career. Some of her notable film credits include "An American in Paris" (1951), "Executive Suite" (1954), "Spartacus" (1960), and "The Ten Commandments" (1956). She worked with acclaimed directors such as Vincente Minnelli, Stanley Kubrick, and Cecil B. DeMille.
Foch's talent extended beyond the big screen. She also made numerous appearances on television, both as a guest star and in recurring roles. She received an Emmy nomination for her performance in the TV movie "Lou Grant: Hometown" (1983) and appeared in popular shows like "Columbo," "Kojak," and "The Outer Limits."
In addition to her acting work, Foch became a respected acting teacher and directed theater productions. She taught at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Cinematic Arts and the American Film Institute (AFI), among other institutions. Her passion for the craft of acting and dedication to teaching influenced countless aspiring actors.
Nina Foch passed away on December 5, 2008, at the age of 84 in Los Angeles, California. Throughout her career, she left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, both through her memorable performances and her contributions as an educator. Her talent, versatility, and dedication to her craft solidified her status as a respected figure in the world of acting.
quotes:
"Believe it or not, teaching is the most rewarding thing I do. It has been the most successful thing I've done in my life."
[on her entry into the studio system] "I had to do something. I didn't really have a home . . . I was a pitiful child, an unloved child."
"You have a choice. You either get afraid, or you get so afraid that you're angry. It is that anger, that rage, that saved my life, I think."
"You know what Einstein said? "Happiness is for cattle." You're not supposed to be happy, you're supposed to feel that you've achieved something."
[on her The Dark Past (1948) co-stars] "Bill Holden [William Holden] was a sweetheart. He was lovely to work with. I think Bill's father had made him believe that acting wasn't really a fit occupation for a man, which gave him great unhappiness. But we got along fine. Lee [Lee J. Cobb] was obnoxious. He'd come in every morning and complain about the film and how awful it was. It drove Bill crazy - he'd be dying inside. But that's how Lee cranked up his motor, by bad-mouthing everything. So I'd commiserate with Bill and get his spirits up again."
[on her early B-movies] "It's extraordinary how fast we made them. You'd shoot an entire picture in 10 or 12 days. We worked six days a week. There was no turn-around time back then, so you'd work into the evening, go home for six hours and then come back to work again. The movies were called noir because no one had the time to light anything."
"I wasn't very happy at Columbia. I didn't like Harry Cohn and his ilk. They wished I was prettier, had luscious lips and big tits, but I didn't. But when you were under contract to a studio, you were stuck."
[on many roles of hers] "Real tough broads... Poor me, I'm a nice lady, with children and a home, but I play castrating broads."
- Nina Foch
trivia:
When she was told that she was not the star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) she verbally said "Well whatever I am, I'm still the blonde."
Was close friends with singer Ella Fitzgerald and helped her rise in her musical career by arranging for her to sing in many upscale nightclubs some of which were segregated during the time of their friendship.
Monroe was a stutterer, a little known fact that was easily covered thanks to studio vocal coaches who provided her with diction lessons.
Her "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress sold for $1,267,500.00, a world record for the most expensive piece of clothing ever sold, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Spent most of her early childhood in foster homes and orphanages because her mother was committed to a mental institution. Later, she lived with her mother's best friend, Grace McKee, and her family. McKee, a big fan of Jean Harlow, allowed her to wear make-up and curl her hair and, when she was 15, it was McKee who pierced her ears for her using a sewing needle. At 16, when McKee could no longer take care of her, she got married to avoid returning to the orphanage.
She tried 9 different shades of blonde hair color before settling on platinum blonde.
The dress Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F. Kennedy, on May 19, 1962 at his birthday celebration was so tight, that it had to be sewn onto her. She had to sit still for approximately an hour.
Learned to play the guitar for her role in River of No Return (1954) and the ukulele for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959).
Although she was perhaps the most famous actress of the 1950s decade, she never made more than $100,000 per picture upfront. Actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck were earning significantly more.
When budding actresses Shelley Winters and Marilyn were roommates in the late 1940s in Hollywood, Shelley said that one day she had to step out and asked Marilyn to "wash the lettuce" for a salad they were to share for dinner. When Shelley got back to the apartment, (Marilyn was apparently new to the art of cooking) had the leaves of lettuce in a small tub of soapy water and was scrubbing them clean. She had not heard of the phrase before either, or did not know it's true meaning.
Was close friends with singer Ella Fitzgerald and helped her rise in her musical career by arranging for her to sing in many upscale nightclubs some of which were segregated during the time of their friendship.
Monroe was a stutterer, a little known fact that was easily covered thanks to studio vocal coaches who provided her with diction lessons.
Her "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress sold for $1,267,500.00, a world record for the most expensive piece of clothing ever sold, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Spent most of her early childhood in foster homes and orphanages because her mother was committed to a mental institution. Later, she lived with her mother's best friend, Grace McKee, and her family. McKee, a big fan of Jean Harlow, allowed her to wear make-up and curl her hair and, when she was 15, it was McKee who pierced her ears for her using a sewing needle. At 16, when McKee could no longer take care of her, she got married to avoid returning to the orphanage.
She tried 9 different shades of blonde hair color before settling on platinum blonde.
The dress Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F. Kennedy, on May 19, 1962 at his birthday celebration was so tight, that it had to be sewn onto her. She had to sit still for approximately an hour.
Learned to play the guitar for her role in River of No Return (1954) and the ukulele for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959).
Although she was perhaps the most famous actress of the 1950s decade, she never made more than $100,000 per picture upfront. Actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck were earning significantly more.
When budding actresses Shelley Winters and Marilyn were roommates in the late 1940s in Hollywood, Shelley said that one day she had to step out and asked Marilyn to "wash the lettuce" for a salad they were to share for dinner. When Shelley got back to the apartment, (Marilyn was apparently new to the art of cooking) had the leaves of lettuce in a small tub of soapy water and was scrubbing them clean. She had not heard of the phrase before either, or did not know it's true meaning.
