If any of you want Tidbits emailed directly, let me know and I'll take care of it. Tidbits may be reprinted without charge -- with attribution and without change. Additionally, if you know of anyone who you think would enjoy Tidbits, please make them aware of us. URL
I was born in Bombay. My mother was Ceylonese. My father ... a British railway engineer. I am my mother's second child but only I lived at home as my sister was abandoned. She was born out of wedlock and my mother refused to take care of her and so stuck her in a boarding school. When it comes to heartlessness ... humanity places no boundries.
I was born on February 19, 1911. My father died in 1914. He was serving on the front lines of the war between England and Germany. Mother and I lived an impoverished existence in Bombay. Then ... in
1917 I received a foundation to go to a good school. We moved to Calcutta where I was constantly being taunted for being Anglo-Indian. So I quit school and relied on home education.I loved the movies and first performed with the Calcutta Amateur Dramatic Society. During my teen years I dated prestigious men. Beauty offers unparalleled rewards. In 1929 I was foolish enough to follow a man to France where I had been promised untold opportunities in the world of acting. Unfortunately ... the curse of being a half-breed followed me and when it was discoved my mother had dark skin ... I was dumped by my supposed benefactor. However ... my exotic good looks held me in good standing ... and I was soon getting bit parts.
I moved to London with my mother. I worked as a dance hostess. And I began getting a handful of walk-on and extra roles in the movies. And then I met Alex Korda. He loved my looks. He changed my last name. And my career began its ascent. Korda invented my past. I was born in Tasmania, he said. My father was an army Major.
After an operation on my fallopian tubes--a presage to my inability to ever bear children--I was given the role of Anna Boleyn in The Private Life of Henry VIII. The reviews were dizzying. The Private Life of Don Juan followed. Then ... The Scarlet Pimpernel with Leslie Howard ... with whom I had a fling.
1935. Korday splits my contract with Samuel Goldwyn who cast me in Dark Angel. I received and Academy Award nomination for best actress. I was launched. The Children's Hour came next. And I was established. Then came I, Claudius and the Divorce of Lady X with myself and Laurence Olivier. I acted with Lawrence again ... and my name was now assured of its place in the annals of Hollywood fame.All that said ... since Tidbits is more about jewelery than about mysterious actresses ... I feel it only fair to show you a trinket of mine. It's a rather attractive thing ... a diamond and emerald necklace made by Cartier. It has diamond rondelles and and 29 exotic emeralds.
As to who I am ... well ... ask Benjamin. He knows. Write to him. Take a guess. He's a rather decent sort and will not mock you if you guess wrong. Truth be told ... another time another place ... with his green eyes and impish grin ... mmmmm .... But enough said about that. Go. Go. Take a look. And let Benjamin know if you know who the exquisiteness of me is.
For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I direct you to my home page at
And there ya have it. That's it for this week folks. Catch you all next week. Benjamin Mark
All issues of Tidbits are copyrighted and available from our home page. All rights reserved.