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Estelle Hemsley was a prominent early African American actress of stage and screen. She appeared in the stage and screen versions of Take a Giant Step, earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the 1959 movie directed by Philip Leacock. Her other notable film roles include playing Grandmother Topouzoglou in Elia Kazan's 1963 movie America, America, the role of Cla-Cla in Mel Ferrer's 1959 film Green Mansions, the mother of Ruby Dee in Edge of the City (1957), and Catherine in Robert Mulligan's 1965 movie Baby the Rain Must Fall.
Born
Thursday, 05 May 1887
Died
Tuesday, 05 November 1968
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Baby the Rain Must Fall | Catherine | 1965 |
| America America | Grandmother Topouzoglou | 1963 |
| The Leech Woman | Old Malla | 1960 |
| Take a Giant Step | Gram Martin / Grandmother Martin | 1959 |
| Green Mansions | Cla-Cla | 1959 |
| Edge of the City | Lucy's Mother / Mrs. Price | 1957 |
| The Philco Television Playhouse | Negro Woman | 1948 |
| The Return of Mandy's Husband | Mandy | 1948 |
Actress Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Baby the Rain Must Fall | Catherine | 1965 |
| America America | Grandmother Topouzoglou | 1963 |
| The Leech Woman | Old Malla | 1960 |
| Take a Giant Step | Gram Martin / Grandmother Martin | 1959 |
| Green Mansions | Cla-Cla | 1959 |
| Edge of the City | Lucy's Mother / Mrs. Price | 1957 |
| The Philco Television Playhouse | Negro Woman | 1948 |
| The Return of Mandy's Husband | Mandy | 1948 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1960 | Golden Globe | Best Supporting Actress | Nominated |
