Dorothy Walton Gatley (August 7, 1902 – September 1, 1981), known professionally as Ann Harding, was an American actress famous for her simple beauty, complicated heroines, and long, blonde locks during The Silent Age of Hollywood and The Pre-Code Era of Hollywood.
Harding began her career on Broadway and slowly transitioned into films during the early sound era. RKO was her home studio, where she played her sophisticated women who would do anything for love. She received an Academy Award nomination for her role in the original 1930 film adaptation of Holiday, and would go on to be a beloved stage and film actress, though her star would sharply fall in the mid-'30s and would never fully recover.
Harding semi-retired from acting after marrying composer and conductor Werner Janssen in 1937, although she continued to appear in smaller film roles during the '40s and '50s. She also appeared on television in the '50s and '60s and continued her stage work until 1965.
She died in 1981, having been in over 30 films during her career.
Ann Harding on TV Tropes:
- The Animal Kingdom (1932)
- Double Harness (1933)
- When Ladies Meet (1933)
- Peter Ibbetson (1935)
- Mission to Moscow (1943)
- The North Star (1943)
- It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947)
