Thirties and Forties' supporting actor Gladys George was really Gladys Clare and seemed destined to play brassy blondes with hearts of gold.

Born in Hatton, Maine, in 1900, her parents were the English thespians Sir Arthur and Lady Clare.

Gladys was married and divorced four times and, strangely, didn't get the man in her films either.

She made her debut with Isadora Duncan in Betrothal when aged only 15, was Oscar-nominated for her role in Valiant Is The World For Carrie and excelled in The Roaring Twenties with James Cagney and seminal noir thriller The Maltese Falcon with Humphrey Bogart. She died in 1954.

-Gordon Dean, St Luke's Road, Brighton