Remembering Joan Fontaine - a true vintage beauty and her own lovely 1930s wedding dress

Dear Reader

Today on my vintage wedding blog I'd like to take a moment to remember wonderful actress Joan Fontaine - one of the true Hollywood greats and a classic vintage beauty - who died this week aged 96.

Her most famous role: the second Mrs De Winter, in Hitchcock's Rebecca

Fontaine found fame as one of Alfred Hitchcock's 'cool blondes' when she starred in his first Hollywood movie, Rebecca - an adaptation of Daphne Du Maurier's gothic novel.

With Rebecca co-star Laurence Olivier - husband Max De Winter

And with Rebecca co-star Judith Anderson - wicked housekeeper Mrs Danvers

She gained an Oscar nomination for her role in Rebecca, but didn't win. And the following year Joan was nominated again for Best Actress - this time in competition with her actress sister Olivia de Havilland. Joan beat her sister and won the award with her second Hitchcock film, Suspicion. 

Congratulated on her wedding day by sister Olivia de Havilland 

The two sisters had always been rivals, and it's said that their relationship never fully recovered. Joan went on to work for many great Hollywood directors and starred in some of my very favourite films, including Rebecca and Jane Eyre. If you've never seen the film, there's a wonderful original 1944 trailer for Jane Eyre here.

To me, Joan is one of the most beautiful of all the classic Hollywood actresses, with her luminous complexion and elegant vintage glamour. I'll sign off with a picture of Joan at her happiest, at her own 1939 wedding to actor Brian Aherne.

Happy and beautiful at her own 1939 wedding to Brian Aherne

Thanks for stopping by today.

Love 
Helena
Heavenly Vintage Brides