Ann Richards

Ann Richards
Born	Shirley Ann Richards 13 December 1917(1917-12-13) Sydney, Australia
Died	25 August 2006 (aged 88) Torrance, California, U.S.

Ann Richards (13 December 1917 – 25 August 2006) was an Australian actress, who achieved notability in Australian films as Shirley Ann Richards before moving to the United States where she continued her career as a film actress, mainly as an MGM starlet.

Life and career

Early life

Born Shirley Ann Richards in Sydney, Australia and educated at Ascham School Edgecliff, Richards began her career as a lead actress in several successful Australian productions, including Ken Hall's Dad and Dave Come to Town (1938).

American film career

She moved to the United States in 1942 and was signed to a contract with MGM, who insisted that she change her name to avoid confusion with the actress Anne Shirley. After a number of supporting roles, including Random Harvest with Ronald Colman and Greer Garson, she was groomed by MGM for leading roles. She was scheduled to star opposite Joseph Cotten in Love Letters), but the studio instead chose to use Jennifer Jones in the role, and Richards was given a supporting role. She starred in The Searching Wind with Robert Young in 1946. After being dropped from MGM, Richards finished out her career with supporting roles in films such as Sorry, Wrong Number in 1948.

After the unsuccessful film noir Breakdown (1952), Richards retired from acting.

Personal life

She married the producer-director Edmond Angelo in 1949, and together they raised three children. She also wrote the verse play Helen of Troy in the 1970s. which she and Angelo presented on college campuses. They remained married until Angelo's death in 1983.

After her retirement, Richards ventured into poetry, publishing several well-received volumes including The Grieving Senses in 1971 and Odyssey for Edmond in 1991.

External links

• Ann Richards at the Internet Movie Database
• Shirley Ann Richards at the National Film and Sound Archive