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Edna Best

(1900-1974), Actress

Sitter in 12 portraits
Actress and a star of British film from 1921, established her career by playing the romantic lead in a number of early 'talkies', often with Herbert Marshall, her husband from 1928-40. She appeared in a production of Brown Sugar, and went on to make her screen debut in A Couple of Down and Outs (1923). She is most noted for her role as Tessa in The Constant Nymph (1926), and for her appearances in Noël Coward productions, particularly Fallen Angels. In the 1940s and 50s, she turned her attentions towards the American stage, appearing in The Browning Version and Quadrille in New York.

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Edna Best, by Howard Instead - NPG Ax24980

Edna Best

by Howard Instead
matte bromide print, 1920s
NPG Ax24980

Edna Best, by Janet Jevons - NPG x198087

Edna Best

by Janet Jevons
hand-coloured bromide postcard print, 1920s
NPG x198087

Edna Best, by Janet Jevons - NPG x198088

Edna Best

by Janet Jevons
bromide postcard print, 1920s
NPG x198088

Edna Best, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x193308

Edna Best

by Dorothy Wilding
halftone colour reproduction tear sheet, published 6 September 1922
NPG x193308

Edna Best, by Peter North - NPG x26074

Edna Best

by Peter North
bromide print, late 1920s
NPG x26074

Edna Best; Heather Thatcher, by Dudley Glanfield - NPG x198277

Edna Best; Heather Thatcher

by Dudley Glanfield
bromide postcard print, 1930s
NPG x198277

Edna Best; Herbert Marshall, by Paul Tanqueray - NPG x180193

Edna Best; Herbert Marshall

by Paul Tanqueray
whole-plate glass negative, 1931
NPG x180193

Edna Best, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x26075

Edna Best

by Dorothy Wilding
toned bromide print, 1934
NPG x26075

Edna Best; Benita Hume; Ronald Colman, by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd - NPG x184216

Edna Best; Benita Hume; Ronald Colman

by P.A. Reuter Photos Ltd
bromide press print, 20 May 1948
NPG x184216

Edna Best, by Unknown photographer, issued by  Carreras Tobacco Company - NPG D49320

Edna Best

by Unknown photographer, issued by Carreras Tobacco Company
colour relief halftone cigarette card, 1935
NPG D49320

Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant, by Anthony Wysard - NPG D312

Diners at Denham Studios Restaurant

by Anthony Wysard
watercolour and pencil, published 1937
NPG D312

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