Belita
| Belita | ||
 Belita | ||
| Background information | ||
| Born as: | Maria Belita Gladys Jepson-Turner | |
| Born | Oct 21, 1923 Garlogs, Nether Wallop, England | |
| Died | Dec 18, 2005 - at age 81 | |
| Spouse(s): |
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| Years active: | 1947–1963 | |
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Gladys Lyne Jepson-Turner (b. October 25 1923, Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England - d. December 18 2005), known professionally as Belita, was an Olympic ice-skater, dancer and early film actress. She skated for Great Britain in the 1936 Olympics, then turned to Hollywood to further her career.
Early years
Belita was born at Nether Wallop, Hampshire, to Major William Jepson-Turner and his wife Gladys Olive Lyne-Stivens. She skated (as Belita Jepson-Turner) for the United Kingdom in the 1936 Winter Olympics, where she was placed 16th in the singles, then her career turned towards Hollywood. She had classical Russian ballet training, which carried over into her skating. As a young ballerina, she was a partner to Anton Dolin, appearing with the Dolin-Markova Ballet.
Film career
Belita appeared in films, making several highly profitable productions for Monogram Pictures, including skating in Silver Skates (1943) and Lady, Let's Dance (1944), skating and playing the dramatic lead in the film noir Suspense (1946 film), the female lead in The Gangster (1947 film), and skating again and playing the dramatic lead in The Hunted (1948 film). For a brief period, she was Monogram's highest-paid star. Later she worked with A-list stars Charles Laughton in The Cherry Orchard and The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949), and Clark Gable in Never Let Me Go (1953). In 1957 she danced with Fred Astaire in Silk Stockings (1957 film).
Retirement
In 1956, she retired from skating and, three years later, gave up show business altogether. She appeared briefly on the ice at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1981 in a short production based on "Solitude" by Duke Ellington.
Personal life
Belita married Joel McGinnis in 1946; they divorced in 1956. She married Irish actor James Berwick (né Kenny; 1929–2000) in 1967; they remained married until his death. Both marriages were childless.
Belita retired from her second career as a landscape nursery owner and later relocated to Montpeyroux, Hérault, France, where she died in 2005, aged 82.
In 1946, Belita married Joel McGinnis; they divorced in 1956. She married, secondly, James Berwick (died 2000). In 1956, she retired from skating and gave up show business three years later.
Her autographed ice skates remain on display at the Smithsonian Institute.
- Belita appeared in YANK magazine on 22 September 1944
External links
- Belita at the Internet Movie Database
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