Geraldine Chaplin was born on July 31, 1944 in Santa
Monica, California. The eldest daughter from Charles Chaplin's marriage to Oona
O'Neill, the daughter of famed playwright Eugene O'Neill, she spent her first
eight years in Hollywood, but then moved with her family to Switzerland when
her father was persecuted by the U.S. government for his political beliefs. In
her new home, Ms. Chaplin attended private schools and was trained in classical
ballet at the Royal Ballet School in London with the English Royal Ballet. She
made her film debut in the elder Chaplin's “Limelight” (1952) as a dancer. She
also played a small role in her father's last film, “Countess From Hong Kong”
(1964). She had her first major adult role in 1965 playing Omar Shariff's wife,
Tonya, in “Doctor Zhivago” (1965). Much of the film was shot in Spain and it
was there that Chaplin began a long romance with director Carlos Saura, who
featured her in several films. She has subsequently worked with some of
Europe's finest directors. She has also worked with American directors, most
notably Robert Altman, who first utilized her in “Nashville” (1975) as the
chatty, shallow BBC reporter Opal. In addition to her busy film career, Chaplin
also appeared on-stage and in television miniseries such as ‘Gulliver's Travels’
(1996) and ‘The Odyssey’ (1997). Though she has often played leads, the
diminutive, willowy, and offbeat beauty with the haunting blue eyes claims she
is more comfortable in character roles. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi
Chaplin appeared in two Euro-westerns: The TV film
“Carlos” (1971) as Lisa and “Yankee Dudler” (1973) as Kate Elder.
Today we celebrate Geraldine Chaplin’s 70th
birthday.
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