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opportunity of advancing her career and undertook to do intensive elocution lessons, saying "I don't care how hard I have to work so long as I amount to something in the end." Harcourt received requests for her photo from international newspapers so they could place her face alongside their own beauties. Harcourt started modelling and not long after arriving in
Melbourne, was already working as a mannequin for
50:
Jessica Edna
Harcourt was born on 7 April 1905 in Woollahra, Sydney. She was the daughter of Aubrey William Harcourt, a mercer, and Ada Hobson. Harcourt believed her family were direct descendants of Ivo d'Harcourt, a companion of William the Conqueror. As a young woman working as a programme seller
69:
in 1924. She was quickly dubbed "Australia's loveliest girl". Longstaff described her as “more
English than Australian, her lovely coloring and features, combined with character and high intelligence, give her very high rank among the many beautiful women I have seen.” Harcourt recognised the
115:, a tropical comedy/drama. The filming on location was to include "500 war canoes and outriggers and 2000 native warriors dancing in full war dress with clubs and spears". Filming was to take six weeks and Harcourt made it back to Australia in time for the premiere of her first movie
104:, Harcourt recalled her surprise at being cast as Sarah Purfoy. She said "...when it was offered to me, I was astounded. I still am! Most of the actresses in Sydney wanted it and there I was, 19, with no acting experience, and I got it!"
223:
at St John's Church, Toorak and retired from acting. She said that
Thwaites did not approve of her acting, "so she devoted the rest of her time to typing manuscripts". They had two children and remained married until his death in 1979.
218:
magazine. Harcourt created a range of beauty products called "Jessica
Harcourt Beauty Preparations" scented with orange blossom and presented in Wedgewood blue and white containers. In 1938 she married the Australian author
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and
Launceston, Tasmania and Master Pictures' studio in Bondi, NSW. Of her performance, the director Norman Dawn said Harcourt had "acted capitally" in an emotional scene and "her film prospects were good".
212:, and touring Australia as a mannequin. She produced a number of fashion shows, wrote newspaper articles, and had a short story entitled "The Mystery Submarine" published in
161:
for the
National Gallery of Victoria for 250 guineas. A miniature portrait of Harcourt, painted in watercolour on ivory by Melbourne miniaturist
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200:, Sydney won a silver plaque at a photographic competition in London in 1925 with one of his many photographic portraits of Harcourt.
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169:. The miniature hung alongside a similar Whiting miniature of her younger sister, Rene Harcourt, who was regarded as one of the
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which was filmed in and around Sydney, including Hyde Park and the private homes of socially prominent Sydney families.
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Not long after completing filming, Harcourt was off with Norman Dawn to Suva, Fiji to film an adaption of
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Harcourt was regarded as a "silent screen star" as she only ever appeared in silent movies.
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188:. Another portrait of Harcourt by Mrs E.M. Robb was exhibited at the 1932 Paris Salon and
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of the day and who had also appeared with her sister in the stage production of
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335:"Jessica Harcourt Declares Beauty Demands that You Do Not Drink Cocktails"
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588:"Santrey's Band -- Jazz and Variety - Stage and Screen Stage and Screen"
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192:'s portrait of Harcourt was a finalist in the 1936 Archibald Prize.
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36:, author and actress, best known for playing a leading role in
128:
In 1928 Harcourt was cast as widow Ruby
Russell in the movie
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painted several portraits of her, one of which hung in the
180:
Whiting's portrait of
Harcourt subsequently hung in the
149:in London. A second portrait was exhibited at the
208:During the 1930s, Harcourt was under contract to
92:Filming commenced in 1926 and locations included
85:Harcourt made her cinema debut as Sara Purfoy in
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620:"Silent screen star returns to the limelight."
997:. Melbourne, Vic. 26 February 1930. p. 10
926:Pamphlet on film from Oz Silent Film Festival
25:"The Maid and the Magnolia", Harcourt in 1937
971:. Brisbane, Qld.). 18 April 1925. p. 14
184:in 1934 and is now in the collection of the
788:. Sydney, NSW. 15 September 1926. p. 8
542:. Melbourne, Vic. 12 August 1924. p. 7
341:. Brisbane, Qld. 25 August 1936. p. 16
695:. Melbourne, Vic. 30 June 1928. p. 22
568:. Launceston, Tas. 22 July 1926. p. 7
840:. Sydney, NSW. 24 August 1930. p. 25
814:. Cairns, Qld. 19 August 1933. p. 25
516:. Adelaide, SA. 9 August 1924. p. 15
490:. Brisbane, Qld. 20 July 1924. p. 19
386:. Melbourne, Vic. 28 June 1924. p. 7
165:, was selected as a finalist in the 1925
63:. She became a chorus girl, appearing in
261:, 1925. His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
249:, 1924, His Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne
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412:. Sydney, NSW. 19 June 1927. p. 32
231:for the premiere of the restoration of
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643:. Sydney, NSW. 19 May 1927. p. 16
438:. Sydney, NSW. 4 July 1924. p. 14
991:"Capitol House Towers Above the City"
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669:. Sydney, NSW. 2 May 1927. p. 6
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151:Twenty Melbourne Artists' Exhibition
125:and had limited box office success.
32:(1905–1988) was an Australian
945:. Melbourne. 2 July 1924. p. 7
891:. Perth, WA. 12 May 1935. p. 1
718:9 September 1932: 10 Edition: Daily
196:, a well-known photographer of the
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1081:21st-century Australian actresses
1071:20th-century Australian actresses
1039:Portrait of Miss Jessica Harcourt
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910:"Miss Jessica Harcourt Married."
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1056:Australian silent film actresses
757:"Archibald Prize finalists 1936"
294:For the Term of His Natural Life
234:For the Term of His Natural Life
117:For the Term of His Natural Life
88:For the Term of His Natural Life
39:For the Term of His Natural Life
1033:National Film and Sound Archive
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965:"Anglo Australian Social Notes"
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16:Australian actress (1905–1988)
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1076:21st-century Australian women
622:The Australian Women's Weekly
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157:in 1925 and purchased by the
53:Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney
380:"Romance of "Lovliest Girl""
227:In 1981 she appeared at the
186:National Gallery of Victoria
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885:"Beauty-for the Busy Woman"
365:The West Australian (Perth)
119:. The film was released as
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716:Examiner (Launceston, Tas)
432:"First Automobile Meeting"
939:"Stage Beauty's Portrait"
761:www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
689:""Wings" For The Capitol"
406:"Australia's Beauty Girl"
102:Australian Women's Weekly
100:In an interview with the
61:J. C. Williamson Ltd
637:"Three American "Stars""
81:Jessica Harcourt in 1924
210:J. C. Williamson's
912:Advocate (Burnie, Tas)
834:"Beauty is a Handicap"
247:Whirled into Happiness
113:Conn of the Coral Seas
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66:Whirled into Happiness
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510:"Stars and Stageland"
221:F. J. "Fred" Thwaites
138:Portraits of Harcourt
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302:The Adorable Outcast
229:Sydney Film Festival
122:The Adorable Outcast
928:accessed Dec 6 2011
916:accessed 6 Dec 2011
626:accessed 6 Dec 2011
536:"Parade of Fashion"
369:accessed 6 Dec 2011
808:"A Woman's Letter"
602:– via Trove.
562:"His Natural Life"
310:The Russell Affair
131:The Russell Affair
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57:Sir John Longstaff
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969:Queensland Figaro
714:"Woman's World."
663:"To Make a Movie"
363:"Woman's Realm."
265:The Vagabond King
190:Ernest Buckmaster
109:Beatrice Grimshaw
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204:Later years
182:Paris Salon
163:Ada Whiting
94:Port Arthur
1050:Categories
720:6 Dec 2011
592:The Herald
488:Daily Mail
318:References
259:Wildflower
194:Monte Luke
176:Wildflower
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339:Telegraph
143:Longstaff
111:'s novel
46:Biography
34:mannequin
566:Examiner
277:Rio Rita
215:The Home
171:it girls
42:(1927).
860:"Trove"
153:at the
995:Herald
943:Herald
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384:Herald
313:(1929)
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273:, 1930
267:, 1928
1024:IMDb
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