Marie Windsor, born Emily Marie Bertelsen, hailed from Marysvale, Utah, and went on to attend Brigham Young University. Prior to embarking on a career in the film industry, she received training in the art of stage performance under the tutelage of renowned actress Maria Ouspenskaya.
As Marie Windsor's career took off, she quickly became synonymous with the B-movie genre, earning the nickname "Queen of the Bs" due to her prolific output in the late 1940s. Her striking features, including her bedroom eyes, made her a standout on screen, as she delivered memorable performances alongside notable actors such as John Garfield.
Marie's femme fatale roles, which she often described as the woman who "gets the man into bed... then into trouble," became a hallmark of her career. Her portrayal of a manipulative and double-crossing wife in The Killing (1956) earned her a "Look" magazine Best Supporting Actress award, solidifying her status as a master of her craft.
In her own words, Marie loved playing characters that audiences never forget, and her favorite film roles included The Narrow Margin (1952) and Hellfire (1949). Her personal life was marked by two previous marriages before she met her husband, Jack Hupp, a realtor with whom she had a son.
After retiring from the film industry, Marie pursued her passion for the arts, taking up sculpting and painting. Unfortunately, Marie passed away just one day shy of her 81st birthday, and she is interred alongside her husband in her hometown.
While it's true that audiences loved to hate Marie Windsor's characters, it's a testament to her enduring appeal that her films continue to captivate new fans to this day. As film noir remains a beloved genre, Marie Windsor's legacy as a true queen of the screen will forever be remembered.
