Genevieve Blinn (born Genevieve Clothilde Nannery; June 12, 1874 – July 20, 1956) was a Canadian actress who appeared on stage and in Hollywood silent motion pictures. She was a native of New Brunswick, Canada.

Genevieve Blinn
American Methods (1917)
Born(1874-06-12)June 12, 1874
DiedJuly 20, 1956(1956-07-20) (aged 82)
OccupationActress

Family

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Genevieve Nannery was the last member of an old theater family from Saint John, New Brunswick. Her brother Ed Nannary was a stage actor in New York City and on the west coast. Her sister May performed as a star of the old Alcatraz Theater in San Francisco, California.

Stage career

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In October 1906 Blinn was the leading woman in the Ezra Kendall production of Swell, Elegant Jones. A comedy in three acts, the play was staged at the Wilmington, Delaware, Opera House. Brinn acted in stage roles opposite Richard Mansfield, Robert Mantel, and Willard Mack.

Blinn came to Los Angeles, California, in February 1912 as the leading lady of the Burbank Stock Company. Her arrival was in the press after she established a name for herself in eastern theatrical engagements. In New York she appeared at the head of the Crescent Stock Company for the previous five months. Her first performance with Burbank came as "Ann Brown" in a farce called Seven Days. The primary comedy figure, Blinn played a woman who believed in theosophy.

Silent films

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Blinn's career as a performer in movies began with a role as "Countess de Moray" in A Wife's Sacrifice (1916). She is best known for her role as the Bath-Sheba in The Queen of Sheba (1921). Aside from this feature, she was in a number of other films which starred Theda Bara.

Blinn retired from the stage and screen with the advent of sound motion pictures. Her last film was Common Clay (1930), in which she played the role of "Mrs. Fullerton."

Personal life

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On June 4, 1895, Genevieve Nannery married lumberman Irving L. Blinn[1] from Los Angeles, California. She petitioned for a divorce from her husband in July 1904.

Blinn died in 1956 in San Rafael, California, following a long illness. A son, William Lewis Blinn, predeceased his mother. He was a member of the Olympic Club and a graduate of the University of Santa Clara.

Partial filmography

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Year Film Role Notes
1916 A Wife's Sacrifice Countess de Moray
1917 Tangled Lives Countess Dassori
Conscience Mrs. Marsh
Cleopatra Octavia
The Rose of Blood Governess
Madame Du Barry Duchess deGaumont
1918 Salomé Queen Marian
When a Woman Sins Mrs. West
The Rainbow Trail Ruth
1919 When Fate Decides Mrs. Veriker
The Last of the Duanes Mrs. Lee
Wings of the Morning Lady Costabel
1920 The Path She Chose Forewoman
1921 The Queen of Sheba Beth-Sheba
Crazy to Marry Mrs. Landis
Don't Tell Everything Mrs. Morgan
1922 If I Were Queen Sister Ursula
The Call of Home Nancy Wayne
1924 The Dramatic Life of Abraham Lincoln Mrs. Ninian Edwards
1930 Common Clay Mrs. Fullerton

References

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  1. ^ "Actress Genevieve Nannery gets a divorce". The San Francisco Examiner. July 20, 1905. p. 10. Retrieved September 15, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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