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Merle Oberon

(1911-1979), Film actress

Merle Oberon (Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson)

Sitter in 31 portraits
Merle O'Brien was born in Bombay of an Anglo-Indian mother and an Australian father. She came to London when she was 17. Under her stage name, Merle Oberon, she was nominated for an Oscar for her part as Kitty Vane in The Dark Angel (1935). However, she is best remembered for playing Cathy in Wuthering Heights (1939) with Laurence Olivier as Heathcliffe.

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Merle Oberon, by Victor Weisz - NPG 6636

Merle Oberon

by Victor Weisz
ink, gouache and crayon, circa 1945
NPG 6636

Merle Oberon, by E. Woods - NPG x194149

Merle Oberon

by E. Woods
vintage print, 1930s
NPG x194149

The opening night of 'The Private Life of Henry VIII', by George Woodbine, for  Daily Herald - NPG x135050

The opening night of 'The Private Life of Henry VIII'

by George Woodbine, for Daily Herald
modern bromide print from original negative, 24 October 1933
NPG x135050

Merle Oberon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x14167

Merle Oberon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, 1934
NPG x14167

Merle Oberon; David Niven, for ACME Newspictures, Inc. - NPG x139880

Merle Oberon; David Niven

for ACME Newspictures, Inc.
bromide press print, 1935
NPG x139880

Merle Oberon, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x19360

Merle Oberon

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 4 February 1937
NPG x19360

Merle Oberon, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x19361

Merle Oberon

by Bassano Ltd
half-plate glass negative, 4 February 1937
NPG x19361

Merle Oberon, by Bassano Ltd - NPG x19236

Merle Oberon

by Bassano Ltd
whole-plate film negative, 4 February 1937
NPG x19236

Alexander Korda; Merle Oberon, by Alexander Paal - NPG x137586

Alexander Korda; Merle Oberon

by Alexander Paal
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 10 January 1940
NPG x137586

Alexander Korda; Merle Oberon, by International News Photos - NPG x194012

Alexander Korda; Merle Oberon

by International News Photos
bromide press print, 22 September 1942
NPG x194012

Oliver Messel; Peter Cusick; Merle Oberon, by Carl Perutz - NPG x194302

Oliver Messel; Peter Cusick; Merle Oberon

by Carl Perutz
vintage print, circa 1950
NPG x194302

Merle Oberon, by Cecil Beaton - NPG x14168

Merle Oberon

by Cecil Beaton
bromide print on white card mount, circa 1955
NPG x14168

Merle Oberon, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x36821

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36821

Merle Oberon, by Dorothy Wilding - NPG x194363

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
bromide print
NPG x194363

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

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Tunbridge
bromide print, 1933
NPG x34550

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Walter Bird
halftone reproduction tear sheet, published 13 December 1933
NPG x137075

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36813

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36814

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36815

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36816

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36817

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36818

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36819

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36820

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36822

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36823

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36824

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36825

Web image not currently available

Merle Oberon

by Dorothy Wilding
half-plate film negative, 1956
NPG x36826

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great-british

16 September 2015, 00:07

She was married to the film producer and director Alexander Korda from 1939 to 1945.