Miriam Hopkins, American actress (b. 1902)
Ellen Miriam Hopkins (October 18, 1902 – October 9, 1972) was an American actress known for her versatility. She first signed with Paramount Pictures in 1930.
Her best known roles included a pickpocket in Ernst Lubitsch's romantic comedy Trouble in Paradise, bar singer Ivy in Rouben Mamoulian's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the titular character in the controversial drama The Story of Temple Drake. She received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actress for the 1935 film Becky Sharp, by which she earned the distinction of being the first performer nominated for a performance in a color picture, and a Golden Globe nomination for The Heiress. She co-starred with Joel McCrea in five films.
Her long-running feud with actress Bette Davis was publicized for effect. Hopkins later became a pioneer of TV drama. She was considered a distinguished hostess in Hollywood, and moved in intellectual and creative circles.