Belita

Belita
Belita in 1940
Born	Maria Belita Gladys Jepson-Turner (1923-10-21)21 October 1923 Garlogs,Nether Wallop,England
Died	18 December 2005(2005-12-18)(aged 82) Montpeyroux, Hérault,France
Years active	1947–1963
Spouses	Joel McGinnis ​ ​ (m.1946;div.1956)​ James Berwick (né James Kenny) ​ ​ (m.1967;d.2000)​

Belita Jepson-Turner(21 October 1923– 18 December 2005), known professionally asBelita,was a British Olympic figure skater, dancer, and film actress.

Early years

Belita was born atNether Wallop,Hampshire,to Major William Jepson-Turner and wife Gladys Olive Lyne-Stivens.She skated (as Belita Jepson-Turner) for the United Kingdom in the1936 Winter Olympics,where she was placed 16th in the singles, then her career turned towardsHollywood.She had classicalRussian ballettraining which carried over into her skating. As a young ballerina, she was partner toAnton Dolin,appearing with the Dolin-Markova Ballet.

Film career

Belita appeared in films, making several highly profitable productions forMonogram Pictures,including skating inSilver Skates(1943) andLady, Let's Dance(1944), skating and playing the dramatic lead in and thefilm noirSuspense(1946), the female lead inThe Gangster(1947), and skating again and playing the dramatic lead inThe Hunted(1948). For a brief period, she was Monogram's highest-paid star. Later she worked with A-list starsCharles LaughtoninThe Man on the Eiffel Tower(1949, andClark GableinNever Let Me Go(1953). In 1957 she danced withFred AstaireinSilk Stockings.

Retirement

In 1956, she retired from skating, and three years later gave up show business altogether. She appeared briefly on the ice atMadison Square Gardenin New York City in 1981 in a short production based on "Solitude" byDuke Ellington.

Personal life

Belita married Joel McGinnis in 1946; they divorced in 1956. She married Irish actor James Berwick (né Kenny; 1929–2000) in 1967; they remained married until his death. Both marriages were childless.

Belita retired from her second career, as a landscape nursery owner,and later relocated toMontpeyroux, Hérault,France, where she died in 2005, aged 82.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1941	Ice-Capades	Ice Capades Skater	Uncredited
1943	Silver Skates	Herself
1944	Lady, Let's Dance	Herself
1946	Suspense	Roberta Leonard, aka Roberta Elva
1947	The Gangster	Nancy
1948	The Hunted	Laura Mead
1949	The Man on the Eiffel Tower	Gisella Heurtin
1953	Never Let Me Go	Valentina Alexandrovna
1956	Invitation to the Dance	The Femme Fatale in 'Ring Around the Rosy'
1957	Silk Stockings	Vera	Uncredited
1958	The Key	Canteen Hostess	Uncredited
1963	The Terrace	Herself	(final film role)

External links

• BelitaatIMDb
• BelitaatOlympedia