Haiku: The Rodent Rat - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

The rat gnaws the woman’s clothes

The man laughs at the gnawing rat

And the two flee from the furious woman.

David Niven - ©Theda Bara

The name I present in this post is that of the excellent British actor, born in London, England, David Niven, famous for his films in the United States and Europe.

David Niven won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1959 for his performance in the film “Separate Tables” (1958), playing the role of “Major Angus Pollock”. He was the only actor/actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actor in the same year he served as master of ceremonies.

In addition to the 1959 Academy Award for Best Actor, David Niven won two Golden Globes: Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy in 1954, for “The Moon Is Blue” (1953), playing the role of “David Slater”, and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama in 1959 for “Separate Tables”.

David Niven has two stars on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame: one at 6384 Hollywood Boulevard in the Motion Picture category, and the second at 1623 Vine Street in the Television category.

James David Graham Niven, born on March 1, 1910, at Grosvenor Gardens House, London, United Kingdom, died on July 29, 1983, in Château-d’Oex, Switzerland, at the age of 73.

David Niven was married twice, the first to British actress Primula Rollo (1918-1946), daughter of Sir William Rollo (1885-1900), a British aviation hero. Primula and David were married from 1940 to 1946, leaving the actor a widower. The couple had two sons: film producer David Niven Jr. (1942-) and businessman Jamie Niven (1945-); After the death of his first wife, David Niven married Swedish actress and model Hjördis Paulina Genberg (1919–1997) from 1948 to 1983. The couple had two daughters, British government administrative assistant Fiona Niven (1950–) and Kristina Niven (1961–1977). In November 1977, while David Niven was in Egypt filming “Death on the Nile” (1978), playing the role of “Colonel Race”, he received news that his daughter Kristina had died in a car accident in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 16.

Haiku: Blossom - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

People feel

That which tends

To make love blossom!

Alec Guinness - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is that of the excellent British actor Alec Guinness, famous in film and theater. He is considered one of the most talented and versatile actors of his generation, having been Knighted (Sir.) in 1959 by Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) in recognition of his services to the arts.

Alec Guinness won the Academy Award for Best Actor 1958 for his performance as “Colonel Nicholson” in “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957). He also received an honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement (1980). The actor was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor (1951) for his role as “Dutch Holland” in “The Lavender Hill Mob” and for Best Supporting Actor (1978) for his role as “Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi”, in the original trilogy “Star Wars”: “Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope”, but lost both times. Regarding “Star Wars”, the actor never hid the fact that he had little regard for the role, thinking it was a silly franchise.

In addition to the two Oscars, Alec Guinness won two BAFTA Awards for Best Actor (Television): “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” (1980) and “Smiley’s People” (1983), both playing the spy “George Smiley”; a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: “The Bridge on the River Kwai” (1957) and a Tony Award.

Alec Guinness has a star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, located at 1559 Vine Street, in the Motion Picture category.

Alec Guinness de Cuffe, born April 2, 1914, Maida Vale, London, United Kingdom, died August 5, 2000, in Midhurst, United Kingdom, at the age of 86.

Alec Guinness married only once, to British actress Merula Salaman (October 16, 1914 – October 18, 2000), dying two days after his 86th birthday. Her husband had died two months earlier. The couple lived together from 1938 to 2000, a total of 62 years. They had one son, British actor and director Matthew Guinness, born in 1940, now 85.

Haiku: Love is... - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

Love is...

Freedom and autonomy

And it comes from the desire to dream!