Estelle Merle Thompson, born on February 19, 1911, in India to a Welsh and Ceylonese (now Sri Lankan) family, began her educational journey in her homeland until the age of 17, when she departed for London.
Thompson's early career in British films was marked by mostly forgettable roles and bit parts, with her first uncredited appearance being in Alf's Button in 1930, a pattern that would continue for the next three years.
However, movie moguls eventually recognized Thompson's untapped talent and began grooming her for more significant roles. Her breakthrough came with the role of Ysobel d'Aunay in Men of Tomorrow in 1932, followed by The Private Life of Henry VIII in 1933.
Thompson's portrayal of Lady Marguerite Blakeney in The Scarlet Pimpernel in 1934 earned her widespread recognition, and she soon received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role as Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel in 1935. This catapulted her to stardom in both the UK and the USA.
The success of The Dark Angel led to more quality film offers, with Thompson appearing in well-received films such as These Three in 1936, Over the Moon in 1939, and The Divorce of Lady X in 1938. Her most critically acclaimed performance was as Cathy Linton in Wuthering Heights in 1939, with some critics hailing it as "masterful".
The 1940s proved to be a busy decade for Thompson, with her appearing in 15 films. After her role in Berlin Express in 1948, she took a four-year hiatus from the screen before returning in Pardon My French in 1951.
Thompson's subsequent appearances were fewer and farther between, with no films in 1955, only one in 1956, and then none until Of Love and Desire in 1963. In between, she hosted Assignment Foreign Legion on television in 1956.
Thompson's final film was Interval in 1973. After her career ended, she lived a quiet life in retirement until her death from a massive stroke on November 23, 1979, in Malibu, California, at the age of 68, still maintaining her beauty.
