Biography from Rumour of Heaven

(1903-1979) was born at Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, the third child of R.C. Lehmann, and sister of Rosamond and John Lehmann. She was educated at home and then trained at RADA, making her professional debut in 1924 at the Lyric, Hammersmith, in The way of the world. In the following two years she twice understudied Tallulah Bankhead in long West End runs and went on to gain important experience in avant garde theatre with Peter Godfrey at the Gate. But it was in 1929 that Beatrix Lehmann first made her mark as the fanatical Susie in Sean O'Casey's The silver tassie. This led to noteable roles in the 1930s, including parts in J.B. Priestley's Eden End and They walk alone. During this period she spent some time in Berlin with her friend Christopher Isherwood, who dedicated Goodbye to Berlin to her.

In 1945 she was the President of Equity, which followed (in 1946) by a brief period as director-producer of the Arts Council Midland Theatre Company in Coventry. In 1947 she was invited to Stratford-upon-Avon where she played Portia and Viola, and the Nurse in Peter Brook's production of Romeo and Juliet. In a career spanning fifty years, Beatrix Lehmann became known as one of the most strangely individual actresses of her generation, renowned for her ability to create a sinister or brooding impression with little apparent effort. This particular also pervades her two novels, But wisdom lingers and Rumour of Heaven published in 1932 and 1934 respectively.

Whilst Beatrix Lehmann was ranked as a tragedienne, she could also turn herself to comedy and is remembered for her role as the landlady in Ben Travers' A cuckoo in the nest, which she played in 1964 after five years absence from stage. In later years she also acted in films and on television, working steadily through her seventies until failing health made it impossible. Beatrix Lehamnn became ill after opening in excellent reviews in T.S. Elliot's Family reunion and died in London at the age of seventy-six.

(a lot of this seems copied almost word for word from the Times obituary.)