Merle Oberon

Actress[30]

What is Merle Oberon known for?

Merle Oberon was one of the most shining stars in the golden era of Hollywood. Born as Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson on 19th February 1911 in Bombay, British India, Oberon's journey to stardom was no less than a dramatic roller coaster ride.

Oberon began her career in British films, with her first notable role as Anne Boleyn in "The Private Life of Henry VIII" (1933). She subsequently moved to the United States to make films for Samuel Goldwyn. Her most memorable performances include the film "The Dark Angel" (1935), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, and the iconic 1939 film adaptation of "Wuthering Heights," directed by William Wyler. Other notable films include "These Three" (1936), "A Song to Remember" (1945), "Berlin Express" (1948), and "Désirée" (1954). Despite a traffic collision in 1937 that left her with facial injuries, she managed to continue her career until 1973.

Her life off-screen was just as interesting as the roles she played. She was married four times, and had two children. She went to great lengths to protect her personal life, to the extent that she claimed to have been born in Tasmania, Australia, and that her birth records were destroyed in a fire. Contrary to her claims, she was, indeed, born in Bombay, British India, and was brought up as the daughter of Arthur Thompson and Charlotte Selby. The reality, however, was that she was born as a result of an illicit relationship between her step-father and her mother, who was only 12 at the time.

Oberon's life was full of secrets and contradictions. In their biography of Oberon, Charles Higham and Roy Moseley discovered that she was of Māori ancestry, adding another layer of intrigue to her life story.

Later, New Zealand author Witi Ihimaera used Oberon's hidden South Asian and alleged Māori heritage as the inspiration for the novel "White Lies," which was turned into a movie in 2013. Oberon passed away on 23rd November 1979, in Malibu, California, leaving behind a captivating legacy.

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