Joan Fontaine
Birthday: 22 October 1917, Tokyo, Japan
Birth Name: Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland
Height: 161 cm
Born Joan de Beauvoir de Havilland on October 22, 1917, in Tokyo, Japan, in what was known as the International Settlement. Her father was a British patent attorney with a lucrative practice in Japan, ...Show More
[in 1978, on marriage] The main problem in marriage is that, for a man, sex is a hunger-like eating. Show more
[in 1978, on marriage] The main problem in marriage is that, for a man, sex is a hunger-like eating. If a man is hungry and can't get to a fancy French restaurant, he'll go to a hot dog stand. For a woman, what's important is love and romance. Hide
Marriage, as an institution, is as dead as the dodo bird.
Marriage, as an institution, is as dead as the dodo bird.
[in 1978, about sister Olivia de Havilland] Olivia has always said I was first at everything. If I d Show more
[in 1978, about sister Olivia de Havilland] Olivia has always said I was first at everything. If I die, she'll be furious because, again, I'll have got there first. Hide
[on beating sister Olivia de Havilland for the Oscar] I froze. I stared across the table, where Oliv Show more
[on beating sister Olivia de Havilland for the Oscar] I froze. I stared across the table, where Olivia was sitting. "Get up there!" she whispered commandingly. Now what had I done? All the animus we'd felt towards each other as children, the savage wrestling matches, the time Olivia fractured my collarbone, all came rushing back in kaleidoscopic imagery. Hide
I hope I'll die on stage at the age at 105, playing Peter Pan.
I hope I'll die on stage at the age at 105, playing Peter Pan.
[on Olivia de Havilland] We're getting closer together as we get older, but there would be a slight Show more
[on Olivia de Havilland] We're getting closer together as we get older, but there would be a slight problem of temperament. In fact, it would be bigger than Hiroshima. Hide
You know, I've had a helluva life. Not just the acting part. I've flown in an international balloon Show more
You know, I've had a helluva life. Not just the acting part. I've flown in an international balloon race. I've piloted my own plane. I've ridden to the hounds. I've done a lot of exciting things. Hide
[on Olivia de Havilland] My sister is a very peculiar lady. When we were young, I wasn't allowed to Show more
[on Olivia de Havilland] My sister is a very peculiar lady. When we were young, I wasn't allowed to talk to her friends. Now, I'm not allowed to talk to her children, nor are they permitted to see me. This is the nature of the lady. Doesn't bother me at all. Hide
[Before the failure of her first marriage] Too many Hollywood marriages have smashed up because husb Show more
[Before the failure of her first marriage] Too many Hollywood marriages have smashed up because husbands were Mr. Joan Fontaine. That will never happen in our marriage because I am 100% Mrs. Brian Aherne. Hide
If you keep marrying as I do, you learn everybody's hobby.
If you keep marrying as I do, you learn everybody's hobby.
I'm a very affectionate person, and no man was ever able to satisfy that need for affection as well Show more
I'm a very affectionate person, and no man was ever able to satisfy that need for affection as well as my dogs do. Hide
[on working with director George Cukor on The Women (1939)] I learned about acting from George than Show more
[on working with director George Cukor on The Women (1939)] I learned about acting from George than anyone else and through just one sentence. He said, "Think and feel and the rest will take care of itself." Hide
[on working with Orson Welles on Jane Eyre (1943)] You can not battle an elephant. Orson was such a Show more
[on working with Orson Welles on Jane Eyre (1943)] You can not battle an elephant. Orson was such a big man in every way that no one could stand up to him. On the first day at 4 o'clock, he strode in followed by his agent, a dwarf, his valet and a whole entourage. Approaching us, he proclaimed, "All right, everybody turn to page eight." And we did it, though he was not the director. Hide
[on Charles Boyer] Charles Boyer remains my favorite leading man. I found him a man of intellect, ta Show more
[on Charles Boyer] Charles Boyer remains my favorite leading man. I found him a man of intellect, taste and discernment. He was unselfish, dedicated to his work. Above all, he cared about the quality of the film he was making, and unlike most leading men I have worked with, the single exception being Fred Astaire, his first concern was the film, not himself. Hide
I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia [sister Olivia de Havilland] did, and if I die first, s Show more
I married first, won the Oscar before Olivia [sister Olivia de Havilland] did, and if I die first, she'll undoubtedly be livid because I beat her to it! Hide
I made about seven tests for Rebecca (1940). Everybody tested for it. Loretta Young, Margaret Sullav Show more
I made about seven tests for Rebecca (1940). Everybody tested for it. Loretta Young, Margaret Sullavan, Vivien Leigh, Susan Hayward, Anne Baxter, you name her. Supposedly, [Alfred Hitchcock] saw one of my tests and said, "This is the only one". I think the word he used to describe what set me apart was "vulnerability". Also, I was not very well-known and producer David O. Selznick saw the chance for star-budding. And may I say he also saw the chance to put me under contract for serf's wages. Hide
When I came to Hollywood I did not know [Ida Lupino], and she was married to Collier Young, his nick Show more
When I came to Hollywood I did not know [Ida Lupino], and she was married to Collier Young, his nickname was "Collie". A few years after they were married, they got a divorce, but remained friends. I had been in pictures for a few films and Ida wanted me to be in a film with her called The Bigamist (1953). It turned out that Collie was going to co-produce the film with Ida. I got a chance to meet Collie, I fell in love with him, and I married him. So, as it turned out, when Ida was very ill and in the hospital I visited her. She knew that I loved animals and asked if when the time comes, would I take Holden [Lupino's dog] to come and live with me. So this is how I came to be Holden's owner. So it turns out that I got two collies from Ida Lupino, and they both turned out to be dogs! Hide
Joan Fontaine's FILMOGRAPHY
as Actor (54)
Joan Fontaine'S roles