Joan Fontaine

Joan Fontaine was a prominent British-American actress.

She was a major star during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her professional career spanned five decades and included more than 45 films. She was the younger sister of actress Olivia de Havilland. The two sisters were famous for their professional rivalry in the media. They also shared a historic achievement in cinema. They remain the only siblings to have won Academy Awards for lead acting.

Fontaine's early life involved several different countries. She was born on October 22, 1917, in Tokyo, Japan. Her father, Walter de Havilland, was an English professor at the Imperial University. Her mother, Lilian Augusta Ruse de Havilland, was a stage actress. After her parents separated, Joan and Olivia moved to the United States. They settled in Saratoga, California, to improve Joan's health. She later returned to Japan at age 16 to live with her father. She graduated from the American School in Japan in 1935.

Her path to stardom required intense dedication. She began her film career in 1935 with RKO Pictures. After small roles, she faced a major turning point at a dinner party. She met producer David O. Selznick while discussing the novel *Rebecca*. Selznick invited her to audition for the lead role. She endured a grueling six-month series of film tests. This process involved competing against hundreds of other actresses. She finally secured the part before her 22nd birthday.

Fontaine's work with director Alfred Hitchcock defined much of her success. Her starring role in *Rebecca* (1940) earned her a first Academy Award nomination.

The following year, she won the Academy Award for Best Actress for *Suspicion* (1941).

This win made her the only actress to win an Oscar for a Hitchcock film. She received a third nomination for *The Constant Nymph* in 1943. During the war years, she also served as a nurse's aide.

In 1946, Fontaine took control of her professional direction. She established her own company, Rampart Productions, with her husband William Dozier. Through this company, she produced several films. These included the 1947 thriller *Ivy* and the 1948 classic *Letter from an Unknown Woman*. She also co-produced the comedy *You Gotta Stay Happy* (1948). This period allowed her to move beyond the melodramas she was often assigned. She sought more variety in the roles she accepted.

As the film industry changed, Fontaine expanded her talents. In the 1950s and 1960s, she moved into stage, radio, and television. She earned critical reviews on Broadway for her role in *Tea and Sympathy* in 1954.

She appeared in many television series, such as *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*. Her final theatrical film role was in the 1966 film *The Witches*. She continued to act in television productions and on stage for many years.

Fontaine's legacy includes both her performances and her personal history. She published her autobiography, *No Bed of Roses*, in 1978. In 1982, she served as the jury president for the Berlin International Film Festival. She eventually moved to Carmel, California, in the early 1980s. Her career demonstrates the evolution of a performer through different eras of entertainment. She transitioned from a studio-contracted star to an independent producer and versatile stage actress.