Two-Faced Facts About Deborah Kerr, The Good Girl With A Wild Side
This British beauty made a living playing prim and proper school teachers, nuns, and princesses. Deborah Kerr, however, longed for roles that would allow her to let her hair down.
Well, when she found herself dressed only in a bikini and cavorting in the waves with a hunky Burt Lancaster, her career changed forever. But did her morals? Kerr played a very public tug-of-war between the saintly and the saucy.
But who was the real Deborah Kerr?
1. She Took It Lying Down
Deborah Kerr came into this world on September 30, 1921, in Glasgow Scotland as Deborah Jane Trimmer. But despite her illustrious future, her childhood was not a walk in the park. You see, Kerr had a very strict grandmother who concocted a somewhat cruel form of therapy for her. It seemed that young Kerr had poor posture and grandma had a ruthless solution.
She forced Kerr to spend extended periods of time lying on the cold hard floor. There’s evidence, however, that Kerr was a glutton for punishment. After all, she chose one of the most grueling vocations.
2. She Wanted To Dance
Lying on the ground was nothing compared to the physical trials Kerr endured throughout her first career: ballet. In addition to the pain and suffering associated with learning to dance on pointe, Kerr also faced another obstacle—her crippling insecurity. Kerr was extremely shy, so dancing in front of a crowd didn't come easy.
And that’s when a close relative suggested something even more difficult.
3. She Made A Switch
Kerr’s aunt, Phyllis Smale, saw Kerr struggling with her shyness and suggested acting. To her aunt, acting seemed like the best way for her niece to face her fears and overcome them, once and for all.
Aunt Phylis just happened to work at a drama school in Bristol. Taking the advice to heart, Kerr left her dance shoes on the sidelines. But it wasn't an easy transition.
Dancing in front of an audience was one thing, but opening your mouth and speaking—well, it could’ve been the end for Kerr.
4. She Got Her First Break
In a surprising twist, acting didn't defeat Kerr at all. Instead, it set her free. She took to the stage quite naturally and even found some success in the theatre. But this was only the beginning. Before long, she got a call that would take her straight to the screen. She received an offer to play a supporting role in 1940’s Contraband.
This British film spy had some high-caliber performers and a team of directors who had already made a hit spy film. Her small role as a salesgirl would be a great start to Kerr’s film career. However, there was one huge problem.
