Flora Robson knew she was no beauty, but her wise and sympathetic face would become a familiar - indeed, shining - ornament of the 1930s and 40s silver screen. Though not sure of acting as a career in her early years, she nevertheless appeared on stage for the first time at 5 years old. She was educated at Palmer's Green High School and went on still in her teens to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, winning a Bronze Medal in 1921. Between 1921 to 1923 she performed in London and Oxford, but both uncertainty and the unstable income of acting at that time convinced her to spend the next few years working as a factory welfare officer in east London. Still her versatility, even in her youth, as a budding character actress of the first water, was noticed. In 1929 a friend urged her to join the Cambridge Festival Theatre where she remained two years. By 1931 she was in residence at the Old Vic with as varied roles as Herodias in "Salome" . She had the further honor of rating two portraits in the National Portrait Gallery in London for her full and distinguished life.
Never married or had children.
She was awarded the DBE (Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1960 Queens Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.
She was awarded the CBE in the 1952 Kings New Year Honours List for her services to drama.
Buried in St Nicholas churchyard, Brighton, UK.
Short biography in "Actresses of a Certain Character: Forty Familiar Hollywood Faces from the Thirties to the Fifties" by Axel Nissen.
She played Queen Elizabeth I twice on-screen: in Fire Over England and The Sea Hawk . Some of her scenes from Fire Over England were also featured in the WWII propaganda film, The Lion Has Wings .
Won the prestigious London Evening Standard Best Actress Award for her stage performance in Henry James The Aspern Papers,.
Awarded Doctorate of Letters by Durham University. Finland presented her with The Order of the White Rose and Lion.
