Moira Shearer
(1926-2006), Ballet dancer, actor and writerMoira Shearer (Lady Kennedy)
Sitter in 11 portraits
Shearer joined the Sadler's Wells Ballet School in 1940. She made her professional debut with International Ballet and joined Sadler's Wells Ballet in 1942. Cast by Ashton as Pride in The Quest (1943), she progressed rapidly and danced all the major classical roles. In 1946 she was one of the six dancers on whom Ashton created his masterpiece Symphonic Variations and in 1948 she created the title role in Cinderella. Her appearance in the film The Red Shoes (1948) brought her international stardom and created a new audience for ballet. In 1952 she left the Company to pursue a successful career as an actress.
by Robin Craig Guthrie
oil on canvas, circa 1946
NPG 5974
by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1940s
NPG x14203
Sir Robert Murray Helpmann; Moira Shearer
by Cornel Lucas
bromide fibre print, 1947
NPG x87555
Moira Shearer; Léonide Massine
by (Edward) Russell Westwood
cibachrome print from original transparency, 1948
NPG x68253
by Virginia Surtees
vintage snapshot print, September 1948
NPG x136211
by Virginia Surtees
vintage snapshot print, September 1948
NPG x136212
by Virginia Surtees
vintage snapshot print, September 1948
NPG x136213
by Virginia Surtees
vintage snapshot print, September 1948
NPG x136215
by Baron (Sterling Henry Nahum)
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 19 January 1949
NPG x193345
by Vivienne
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 25 February 1953
NPG x136627
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.