She was the daughter of Lydia Thompson, one of the giants of 19th
century British theater, who brought her troupe of "British Blondes" to
New York in 1868.
Almost from the beginning of her film career, she was typecast in
grandmotherly roles, both sweet and diabolical.
Concealed her near-blindness from the public during her later film career in the 1930's.
On the Broadway stage from 1904.
Her mother, Lydia Thompson, was an actress and theatrical producer.