Jean Kent

Jean Kent

Deceased · Born: Jun 29, 1921 · Died: Nov 30, 2013

Personal Details

BornJun 29, 1921 Brixton, London, England, UK

Biography

Jean Kent, a vivacious star of British films, was born with striking hazel eyes and strawberry hair. She was the daughter of variety performers Norman Field and Nina Norre, and was convent-educated. By the age of ten, Jean accompanied her mother on tour, later spending several years in the chorus line at London's Windmill Theatre in the West End.

Honing her acting skills on the provincial repertory stage, Jean signed with Gainsborough Pictures in 1943. Her first notable performance was in Man of Evil (1944),for which she received fifth billing. Through sheer determination and hard work, Jean quickly moved up the ladder to integral roles as willful, "scarlet women" in juicy melodramas.

These roles often involved playing characters that other leading actresses refused to play, such as her gypsy wildcat Rosal in Caravan (1946),which was even considered "too awful" by Margaret Lockwood. Using her training to best advantage, Jean performed some striking dance numbers in the film.

She was the femme fatale wartime audiences loved to hate, an early British sex symbol, most effectively paired with the likes of Stewart Granger or James Mason. In one of her best-remembered performances, Jean took sole limelight as the titular star of the cautionary drama Good-Time Girl (1948),as a juvenile delinquent who falls in with spivs and gangsters and ends up in prison.

However, within just a few years, Jean's box-office appeal had waned, possibly attributable to having portrayed a woman ten years older than herself in The Browning Version (1951),although the film itself was a box-office and critical success. Her remaining screen career was thereafter confined to appearances on the small screen, including the much-derided soap opera Crossroads (1964),as Queen Elizabeth I in the excellent Sir Francis Drake (1961),and as Daphne Goodlace, potential seductress of both Albert and Harold, in Steptoe and Son (1962).

Career

{"id":8463,"title":"Lovejoy","year":1991,"character":"Madelene Gilbert","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/lovejoy","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_8463.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_8463.jpg"},"released":1}
1991
Lovejoy
Lovejoy as Madelene Gilbert
{"id":200681,"title":"Missing Persons","year":"1990","character":"Phillida Meadowhite","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/missing-persons","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_200681.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_200681.jpg"},"released":1}
1990
Missing Persons
Missing Persons as Phillida Meadowhite
{"id":11954,"title":"Shout at the Devil","year":"1976","character":"Mrs. Smythe","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/shout-at-the-devil","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2g18qaiouje0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2g18qaiouje0.jpg"},"released":1}
1976
Shout at the Devil
Shout at the Devil as Mrs. Smythe
{"id":186151,"title":"Thriller","year":"1974","character":"Mrs. Garrick","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/thriller-1974-11","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_186151.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_186151.jpg"},"released":1}
1974
Thriller
Thriller as Mrs. Garrick
{"id":10376,"title":"Public Eye","year":1972,"character":"Mrs Podmore","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/public-eye","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_10376.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_10376.jpg"},"released":1}
1972
Public Eye
Public Eye as Mrs Podmore
{"id":11260,"title":"Sir Francis Drake","year":1961,"character":"Queen Elizabeth I","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/show\/sir-francis-drake","type":"show","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/show_11260.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/show_11260.jpg"},"released":1}
1961
Sir Francis Drake
Sir Francis Drake as Queen Elizabeth I
{"id":94661,"title":"Bluebeard's Ten Honeymoons","year":"1960","character":"Julienne","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bluebeards-ten-honeymoons-1960","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_94661.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_94661.jpg"},"released":1}
1960
{"id":82348,"title":"Web of Evidence","year":"1959","character":"Louise Burt","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/web-of-evidence","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82348.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82348.jpg"},"released":1}
1959
Web of Evidence
Web of Evidence as Louise Burt
{"id":66140,"title":"Please Turn Over","year":"1959","character":"Janet Halliday","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/please-turn-over","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66140.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66140.jpg"},"released":1}
Please Turn Over
Please Turn Over as Janet Halliday
{"id":14731,"title":"The Haunted Strangler","year":"1958","character":"Cora Seth","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-haunted-strangler","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_14731.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_14731.jpg"},"released":1}
1958
{"id":66488,"title":"Bonjour Tristesse","year":"1958","character":"Mrs. Helen Lombard","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bonjour-tristesse-1958","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_66488.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_66488.jpg"},"released":1}
Bonjour Tristesse
Bonjour Tristesse as Mrs. Helen Lombard
{"id":82406,"title":"The Prince and the Showgirl","year":"1957","character":"Maisie Springfield","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-prince-and-the-showgirl","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82406.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82406.jpg"},"released":1}
1957
The Prince and the Showgirl
The Prince and the Showgirl as Maisie Springfield
{"id":67527,"title":"Shadow of Fear","year":"1955","character":"Florence Haddon","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/shadow-of-fear-1955","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67527.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67527.jpg"},"released":1}
1955
Shadow of Fear
Shadow of Fear as Florence Haddon
{"id":67765,"title":"The Big Frame","year":"1952","character":"Louise Parker","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-big-frame","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_67765.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_67765.jpg"},"released":1}
1952
The Big Frame
The Big Frame as Louise Parker
{"id":14436,"title":"The Browning Version","year":"1951","character":"Millie Crocker-Harris","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-browning-version-1951","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_14436.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_14436.jpg"},"released":1}
1951
The Browning Version
The Browning Version as Millie Crocker-Harris
{"id":68716,"title":"Five Angles on Murder","year":"1950","character":"Agnes \/ Madame Astra \/ Parrot (voice)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/five-angles-on-murder","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68716.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68716.jpg"},"released":1}
1950
Five Angles on Murder
Five Angles on Murder as Agnes / Madame Astra / Parrot (voice)
{"id":174561,"title":"The Taming of Dorothy","year":"1950","character":"Dorothy Pellegrini","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-taming-of-dorothy","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_174561.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_174561.jpg"},"released":1}
The Taming of Dorothy
The Taming of Dorothy as Dorothy Pellegrini
{"id":68808,"title":"The Inheritance","year":"1950","character":"Elinor Cheviot","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-inheritance-1950","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68808.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68808.jpg"},"released":1}
The Inheritance
The Inheritance as Elinor Cheviot
{"id":82842,"title":"The Gay Lady","year":"1949","character":"Trottie True","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-gay-lady","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82842.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82842.jpg"},"released":1}
1949
The Gay Lady
The Gay Lady as Trottie True
{"id":32664,"title":"Sleeping Car to Trieste","year":"1948","character":"Valya","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/sleeping-car-to-trieste","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32664.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32664.jpg"},"released":1}
1948
{"id":68737,"title":"Good-Time Girl","year":"1948","character":"Gwen Rawlings","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/good-time-girl","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_68737.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_68737.jpg"},"released":1}
Good-Time Girl
Good-Time Girl as Gwen Rawlings
{"id":187038,"title":"Bond Street","year":"1948","character":"Ricki Merritt","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bond-street","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187038.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187038.jpg"},"released":1}
Bond Street
Bond Street as Ricki Merritt
{"id":69713,"title":"The Loves of Joanna Godden","year":"1947","character":"Ellen Godden","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-loves-of-joanna-godden","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69713.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69713.jpg"},"released":1}
1947
{"id":187080,"title":"The Smugglers","year":"1947","character":"Lucy","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-smugglers-1947","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187080.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187080.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":124134,"title":"Carnival","year":"1946","character":"Irene Dale","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/carnival","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_124134.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_124134.jpg"},"released":1}
1946
Carnival
Carnival as Irene Dale
{"id":82911,"title":"Caravan","year":"1946","character":"Rosal","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/caravan-1946","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_82911.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_82911.jpg"},"released":1}
Caravan
Caravan as Rosal
{"id":70040,"title":"The Magic Bow","year":"1946","character":"Bianchi","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-magic-bow","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70040.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70040.jpg"},"released":1}
The Magic Bow
The Magic Bow as Bianchi
{"id":69915,"title":"The Wicked Lady","year":"1945","character":"Jackson's Doxy","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-wicked-lady-1945","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69915.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69915.jpg"},"released":1}
1945
The Wicked Lady
The Wicked Lady as Jackson's Doxy
{"id":70384,"title":"Notorious Gentleman","year":"1945","character":"Jill Duncan","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/notorious-gentleman","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70384.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70384.jpg"},"released":1}
Notorious Gentleman
Notorious Gentleman as Jill Duncan
{"id":70312,"title":"Waterloo Road","year":"1945","character":"Toni","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/waterloo-road","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70312.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70312.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":70023,"title":"Madonna of the Seven Moons","year":"1945","character":"Vittoria","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/madonna-of-the-seven-moons","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70023.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70023.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":187264,"title":"Bees in Paradise","year":"1944","character":"Jani","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bees-in-paradise","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187264.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187264.jpg"},"released":1}
1944
{"id":69883,"title":"Man of Evil","year":"1944","character":"Lucy Beckett","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/man-of-evil","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_69883.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_69883.jpg"},"released":1}
Man of Evil
Man of Evil as Lucy Beckett
{"id":196431,"title":"Soldier, Sailor","year":"1944","character":"Cigarette Girl","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/soldier-sailor","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_196431.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_196431.jpg"},"released":1}
Soldier, Sailor
Soldier, Sailor as Cigarette Girl
{"id":70586,"title":"Two Thousand Women","year":"1944","character":"Bridie Johnson","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/two-thousand-women","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_70586.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_70586.jpg"},"released":1}
Two Thousand Women
Two Thousand Women as Bridie Johnson
{"id":95088,"title":"Champagne Charlie","year":"1944","character":"Dolly Bellwood","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/champagne-charlie-1944","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_95088.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_95088.jpg"},"released":1}
Champagne Charlie
Champagne Charlie as Dolly Bellwood
{"id":175362,"title":"Miss London Ltd.","year":"1943","character":"The Encyclopedia Girl","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/miss-london-ltd","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_175362.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_175362.jpg"},"released":1}
1943
Miss London Ltd.
Miss London Ltd. as The Encyclopedia Girl
{"id":95124,"title":"Warn That Man","year":"1943","character":"Frances Lane","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/warn-that-man","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_95124.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_95124.jpg"},"released":1}
Warn That Man
Warn That Man as Frances Lane
{"id":187280,"title":"It's That Man Again","year":"1943","character":"Kitty","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/its-that-man-again-1943","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_187280.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_187280.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":266967,"title":"Haunted Memories","year":"2007","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/haunted-memories","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_266967.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_266967.jpg"},"released":1}
2007
{"id":61081,"title":"The Making of a Legend: Gone with the Wind","year":"1988","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/the-making-of-a-legend-gone-with-the-wind","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_61081.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_61081.jpg"},"released":1}
1988