Alfred Hitchcock - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring in this post is that of the “Master of Suspense”, the British Alfred Hitchcock, who was a renowned film director and producer, who always appeared in scenes in his films. Hitchcock is still considered one of the most revered and influential filmmakers of all time, having been chosen by The Telegraph as the greatest director in British history and, by Entertainment Weekly, the greatest director in world cinema.

Over the course of his nearly 6-decade career, Hitchcock made more than 50 films. The filmmaker's first film was: “The Pleasure Garden”, which was restored by the British Film Institute. The new version of the silent film, made in 1925 and released in 1926, had around 20 minutes of new scenes added.

Considered the “Master of Suspense”, Alfred Hitchcock never won a personal Oscar. He was nominated five times in the Best Director category, for: “Rebecca” (1940), “Lifeboat” (1944), “Spellbound” (1945), “Rear Window” (1954) and “Psycho” (1960), but the award never arrived, being surpassed every time. However, in his Hollywood debut, Alfred Hitchcock won the Oscar for Best Film for: “Rebecca” (1940).

Alfred Hitchcock won two Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Program in 1958: “Alfred Hitchcock Presents” and for the television biography of fellow American filmmaker Cecil Blount DeMille, better known as Cecil B. DeMille (1881-1959), in 1972.

In the 60s, when Alfred Hitchcock was choosing the cast of the film: “The Birds”, (1963) he received a refusal from his favorite actor and protagonist of four of his films, James Stewart (1908-1997): “Rope” (1948); “Rear Window” (1954); “The Man Who Knew Too Much” (1956) and “Vertigo” (1958). Stewart said he didn't fit into the script. After this refusal, Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart never worked together again.

Alfred Hitchcock has two stars on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, at 6506 and 7013 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Cinema and Television categories respectively.

Born Alfred Joseph Hitchcock on August 13, 1899, Leytonstone, London, United Kingdom, died April 29, 1980, Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, United States, aged 90.

Alfred Hitchcock was married to British screenwriter and film editor Alma Reville (1899-1982) from 1926 to 1980, when she became the widow of filmmaker and knight of the Queen Sir. Alfred Hitchcock. The couple had one daughter, American actress Patricia Alma Hitchcock O’Connell, known as: Pat Hitchcock (1928-2021).

Haiku: Love Without Love and With so Much Love - ©Theda Bara

Haiku authored ©Theda Bara

Poets love without wanting to love

And without wanting to love, they are already loving

We are so foolish and so full of wisdom!

Cillian Murphy - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is Cillian Murphy, Irish theater, film and television actor and musician. Having begun his artistic career as a vocalist, pianist and composer in a rock band, Murphy turned down a record deal in the late 1990s and began acting on stage, in short films and independent films.

Cillian Murphy, despite being the last winner of the Oscar for Best Actor in 2024, for the film: “Oppenheimer” (2023), playing the biographical role of “J. Robert Oppenheimer”, who worked with a team of scientists during the Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the atomic bomb, still does not have his star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame. The film: “Oppenheimer” also earned the actor the Golden Globe for Best Actor 2024.

Cillian Murphy was born on May 25, 1976, in Douglas, Cork, Ireland, and is now 47 years old.

Cillian Murphy is married to Irish visual artist working in a variety of contexts including video installation and printmaking, Yvonne McGuinness (1972-) since 2004. The couple have two children: British actor Malachy Murphy (2005-) and Swedish student Carrick Murphy (2007-).

Haiku: Love is a Small Animal - ©Theda Bara

Haiku authored ©Theda Bara

Love is a small animal

That if we don’t tame it

Even if it’s good, it scratches us!

Robert Donat - ©Theda Bara

The name I bring to you in this post is that of the excellent British actor Robert Donat, who shone in theater and cinema. Robert won the Oscar for Best Actor in 1940, for his performance in the film: “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1939), playing the teacher “Arthur Chippings”.

Robert Donat, has his star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame, at 6420 Hollywood Boulevard, in the Cinema category.

Frederick Robert Donat, born March 18, 1905, Withington, Manchester, United Kingdom, and died June 9, 1958, London, United Kingdom, still young, aged 53.

Robert Donat was married twice. In 1927, Robert proposed to Ella Annesley Voysey (1903-1994), a young 24-year-old actress he met while they were acting, and two years later they married, living together from 1929 to 1946; his second and last marriage was to Dorothy Renée Ascherson, known professionally as Renée Asherson (1915-2014), British actress, who specialized in theater in Shakespeare’s plays: from 1953 to 1958, when she became Robert’s widow.

Robert Donat had three children: Polish assistant director Joanna Donat (1932-2015); British screenwriter John Donat (1933-2004) and American jazz cellist Brian Donat (1939-2011). It is important to highlight that all of the actor’s children come from extramarital affairs.