Madeleine Carroll Biography

Fast Facts

• Was the first woman in the U․S․ to volunteer for the Red Cross program that enlisted women as nursing aides, and for her efforts, she earned the civilian Medal of Freedom from the U․S
• Converted her French chateau into an orphanage in 1940 and devoted much time to it during World War II
• Was inducted into the French Legion of Honor for her overseas work during World War II
• Earned her B․A․ from the University of Birmingham
• Taught in a girls' public school for a time before becoming a star
• At the peak of her success in 1938, she earned $250,000, making her the highest paid actress in the world at the time
• Director Alfred Hitchcock immortalized her as his first icy blonde heroine when she starred in "The 39 Steps․"
• Born in the United Kingdom, she became a naturalized American citizen in 1943
• Conducted a radio program fostering friendship between France and America after World War II
• After helping to form a production company, she made several two-reel documentaries to promote better understanding among the peoples of the world