Celia Johnson was a renowned English actress who earned an Academy Award nomination. Born in Richmond, Surrey in 1908, Johnson was raised by her parents, John Robert Johnson and Ethel Griffiths, neither of whom were involved in the entertainment industry.
At the age of eight, Johnson made her theatrical debut in a charity performance of "King Cophetua and the Beggar Maid" in 1916. Although not initially intended to pursue a career in acting, Johnson enjoyed the experience and continued to participate in school plays and music performances.
Johnson attended St Paul's Girls' School in West London from 1919 to 1926, where she developed her acting skills and played music in the school's orchestra. Her music teacher was the famous classical composer Gustav Holst.
In the late 1920s, Johnson studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and the Comédie-Française in Paris. One of her teachers was the French actor Pierre Fresnay, and she was a classmate of Margaretta Scott.
Johnson's professional debut came in 1928 with a performance in "Major Barbara" by George Bernard Shaw. She made her London debut in 1929 and her New York City debut in 1931, establishing herself as a talented theatrical actress throughout the 1930s. In 1931, she married journalist Peter Fleming.
Johnson's career and personal life were disrupted by World War II. A hit role in the 1940 theatrical adaptation of "Rebecca" was cut short due to the bombing of the theatre. Johnson took care of her sister's seven children, leaving her little time for theatrical tours.
During the War, Johnson began appearing in film roles, starting with small parts. Her first major hit was the family drama "The Happy Breed" (1944),for which she received a National Board of Review Award for Best Actress.
In 1945, Johnson starred in the romantic drama "Brief Encounter", earning a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. For most of the late 1940s, Johnson was in semi-retirement, focusing on her family after giving birth to two daughters.
From the 1950s to her death, Johnson primarily appeared in theatrical plays and television roles, with few but critically acclaimed film roles. She passed away in 1982 at the age of 76, leaving an estate worth £150,557 and being survived by three children.
Although Johnson's fame as a theatrical actress faded after her death, her film roles have become available on the home video market, introducing her to new generations of fans.
