Born 1918 in Herne Hill, London, English-American actress and singer Ida Lupino became a pioneering director and producer, the only woman working within the 1950s Hollywood studio system to do so. With her independent production company, she co-wrote and co-produced several of her own social-message films, and was the first woman to direct a film noir, The Hitch-Hiker, in 1953.
In her 48-year career, Lupino made acting appearances in 59 films and directed eight others, mostly in the United States, where she became a citizen in 1948. The majority of her later career as an actress, writer, and director was in television, where she directed more than 100 episodes of productions ranging across Westerns, supernatural tales, situation comedies, murder mysteries, and gangster stories.
Lupino was also the only woman to direct episodes of the original The Twilight Zone series, as well as the only director to have starred in the show.
Lupino died from a stroke while undergoing treatment for colon cancer in Los Angeles in 1995, at the age of 77.
Take a look at these glamorous pictures to see the beauty of this talented woman in the 1930s.
In her 48-year career, Lupino made acting appearances in 59 films and directed eight others, mostly in the United States, where she became a citizen in 1948. The majority of her later career as an actress, writer, and director was in television, where she directed more than 100 episodes of productions ranging across Westerns, supernatural tales, situation comedies, murder mysteries, and gangster stories.
Lupino was also the only woman to direct episodes of the original The Twilight Zone series, as well as the only director to have starred in the show.
Lupino died from a stroke while undergoing treatment for colon cancer in Los Angeles in 1995, at the age of 77.
Take a look at these glamorous pictures to see the beauty of this talented woman in the 1930s.
