Margaret Lindsay, a picture-pretty brunette, was a pleasant and sweet-natured ingénue who captivated audiences in numerous stylish Hollywood pictures of the 1930s. Despite her talent and charm, she often found herself overshadowed by more dramatic and attention-grabbing co-stars like James Cagney and Bette Davis.
Born Margaret Kies in Dubuque, Iowa, Margaret was the eldest of six siblings. Her father, a druggist, enrolled her at the National Park Seminary in Washington, D.C. However, she soon discovered her passion for acting and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Unable to find work in the city, she traveled to England to further her training and made her professional stage debut in plays like "Escape," "By Candlelight," and "Death Takes a Holiday."
Returning to the United States, Margaret continued to pursue her dream of making it big on Broadway. However, her career stalled, and she began to focus on film. She made her screen debut in "Okay America!" (1932) and went on to appear in minor roles before landing a part in the epic film "Cavalcade" (1933) as an optimistic honeymooner on the ill-fated H.M.S. Titanic.
Warner Bros. soon signed Margaret, and she became a regular leading lady, appearing opposite stars like Leslie Howard, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., George Arliss, and Humphrey Bogart. She also worked with Cagney in films like "Lady Killer" (1933),"Devil Dogs of the Air" (1935),"Frisco Kid" (1935),and 'G' Men" (1935). Margaret also supported Davis in several films, including "Fog Over Frisco" (1934),"Bordertown" (1935),"Dangerous" (1935),and "Jezebel" (1938).
Throughout her career, Margaret struggled to find leading roles, often playing secondary characters or romantic rivals. One of her sisters, Jane Gilbert, also acted in the late 1930s and early 1940s and was married to William Hopper, who played private investigator Paul Drake in the TV series "Perry Mason."
Margaret's most notable role was as Hepzibah in "The House of the Seven Gables" (1940),and she went on to appear in the "Ellery Queen" series as mystery writer Nikki Porter opposite Ralph Bellamy or William Gargan. She also appeared in films like "The Vigilantes Return" (1947),"Scarlet Street" (1945),"Cass Timberlane" (1947),and "B.F.'s Daughter" (1948).
In the 1960s, Margaret continued to work in television and on stage, with her final film appearance being in "Tammy and the Doctor" (1963) alongside Sandra Dee. She never married but remained close to her family and had several high-profile romantic relationships. Margaret passed away at the age of 70 in Los Angeles in the spring of 1981 due to emphysema.
