Deborah Kerr - ©Theda Bara

The name I want to highlight in this post is that of actress Deborah Kerr, nominated for an Oscar six times but never a winner, although the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences awarded her an honorary Oscar in 1994 for her film career.

Deborah Kerr was honored by Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom (1926-2022), being appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1998. She also won two Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical in 1957 for “The King and I” (1956), for her role as “Anna Leonowens”; and the Henrietta Award in 1959. In addition, she received a BAFTA Special Award in 1991.

There is a book by biographer Michelangelo Capua (1966-), “Deborah Kerr: A Biography”, a biographical work about the life and career of the British actress, published in 2010. The book addresses Kerr’s rise to fame in British and Hollywood cinema and her most notable roles. Capua has degrees in Law and Political Science and lives and works in London, where he is a correspondent for an Italian film magazine. The biographer is also a collector and dealer of rare books.

Actress Deborah Kerr has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1709 Vine Street, in the Film category.

Deborah Jane Kerr-Trimmer was born on September 30, 1921, in Scotland, United Kingdom, and died on October 16, 2007, in Botesdale, United Kingdom, at the age of 86.

Deborah Kerr was married twice. Her first marriage was to Anthony Charles Bartley (1919-2001), a British film and television executive and fighter pilot. As a Spitfire pilot in the Royal Air Force, Bartley received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during the Battle of Britain, in which he became an ace pilot. The couple remained together from 1945 to 1959 and had two daughters: Professor Emerita Melanie Jane Bartley (1947-), of University College London, and homemaker Francesca Shrapnel (1951-). Her second marriage was to the German screenwriter and writer Peter Viertel (1920-2007), from 1960 to 2007, who left the actress a widow and, after her, also died.

Haiku: Christmas Lights - ©Theda Bara

🎄 Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

I like Christmas carols

I like Christmas lights

Christmas is so good that it unites hearts!

Barbra Streisand - ©Theda Bara

The name I present to you in this post is that of the multi-award-winning American actress, singer, songwriter, director, and film producer, Barbra Streisand, who won the 1969 Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in the film “Funny Girl” (1968), the only tie in the Best Actress Oscar, having shared the statuette with American actress Katharine Houghton Hepburn (1907-2003). Barbra played the role of “Fanny Brice”, a talented comedian and singer who rises from obscurity to become one of the most beloved artists on Broadway in New York; her second statuette came in 1977 for Best Original Song: “Evergreen” (1976).

In addition to 2 Oscars, Barbra Streisand won 10 Grammy Awards: Album of the Year, 1964, “The Barbra Streisand Album”; 1966, 1978 and 1987 for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance; Song of the Year 1977 - “Evergreen”, Best Pop Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group 1981, “Guilty”; Music Legend Award 1993; Lifetime Achievement Award 1995; Best Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program 1995 and 2001. - 10 Golden Globe Awards: Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical 1969, “A Star Is Born”, 1977, “Funny Girl”; Henrietta Award 1971, 1975 and 1978; Best Original Song 1973, “The Way We Were” and 1977, “Evergreen”; Best Director 1984, “Yentl”; Best Comedy or Musical Film 1984, “Yentl”; Cecil B. DeMille Award 2000. - 3 Primetime Emmy Awards: Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment 1965; Best Variety, Music or Comedy Special 1995, “The Concert”; Special Program 2001, “Reel Models: The First Women of Film”. - 1 Special Tony Award 1970.

The actress has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Motion Pictures category.

Barbara Joan Streisand was born on April 24, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, United States, and is now 83 years old.

Barbra Streisand has been married twice, first to American actor Elliott Gould, born Elliott Goldstein (1938-) from 1963 to 1971. The couple has one son, American actor and film director Jason Emanuel Gould (1966-), and with her current husband, American actor Craig Kenneth Bruderlin, known professionally as James Brolin (1940-) since 1998.

Haiku: Little Christ - ©Theda Bara

🎄 Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

Another year is drawing to a close

Enjoy your plans for the future

Be the little Christ in your life!

Gregory Peck - ©Theda Bara

The name I highlight in this post is that of American actor Gregory Peck, who won the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1963 for his performance in the film “To Kill a Mockingbird” (1962), based on the novel of the same name by American author Nelle Harper Lee (1926-2016), published in 1960. In the film, Peck plays the role of the extremely upright lawyer “Atticus Finch”.

In addition to the Oscar, Gregory Peck won 6 Golden Globe Awards: 5 for Best Actor in a Drama Film: 1947, 1951, 1955 (Henrietta Award), 1963, 1969 (Cecil B. DeMill Award) and 1 for Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series (1999).

The actor has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 6100 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Film category.

Eldred Gregory Peck was born on April 5, 1916, in La Jolla, San Diego, California, United States, and died on June 12, 2003, in Los Angeles, California, United States. The actor died of bronchopneumonia at his home, while sleeping, at the age of 87.

Gregory Peck was married twice: his first marriage was to Finnish-American real estate broker Greta Kukkonen (1911-2008), from 1942 to 1954. Together, they had three children: biographer Jonathan Peck (1944-1975), writer Stephen Peck (1946-) and actor Carey Paul Peck (1949-), all Americans; his second marriage was to Franco-American journalist and philanthropist Veronique Passani (1932-2012), in 1955, shortly after his divorce. They were married until Peck’s death in 2003. With her, Peck had two children: American actor Anthony “Tony” Peck (1956-) and American film producer Cecilia Peck (1958-).