MARION DAVIES: Fun Facts

Davies was born Marion Cecilia Douras on January 3, 1897 in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest of five children born to Bernard J. Douras a lawyer and judge and Rose Reilly. The sisters changed their name to Davies, which one of them saw on a realtor's sign in the neighborhood. Having a British name really helped Marion's carrer. Marion was signed on as a Ziegfeld girl in the Ziegfeld Follies of (1916).

After making her screen debut in (1916) modeling gowns by Lady Duff-Gordon, she performed in her first feature film in Runaway Romany(1917). It was a film written by Marion and directed by her brother-in-law, Broadway producer George W. Lederer. The following year she starred in three films, The Burden of Proof, Beatrice Fairfax, and Cecilia of the Pink Roses. Playing light comedic roles. Cecilia of the Pink Roses in (1918) was her first film backed by Hearst. During the next 10 years she appeared in 29 films, an average of almost three films a year.

FUN FACTS: Wikipedia.

Portrayed by Kirsten Dunst in The Cat's Meow (2001), by Melanie Griffith in RKO 281 (1999) (TV), by Virginia Madsen in The Hearst and Davies Affair (1985) (TV) and by Heather McNair in Chaplin (1992)

The character of Susan Alexander Kane played by Dorothy Comingore in Citizen Kane (1941) was based on her. She liked to do puzzles and this hobby was incorporated into the character.