Lotus Thompson

Lotus Thompson (1906–1963) was an Australian actress of silent and sound films. Her film career began in 1921 and ended in 1949 during which she appeared in thirty-five motion pictures.

Biography

Thompson was born in Charters Towers, Queensland on 26 August 1906. As a child, the Australian youth showed talent in school and church theatricals. Thompson was considered a beautiful girl as a youth. When she was fifteen her admirers entered her in a beauty contest. She was awarded first prize by a unanimous vote of the judges. One of the judges was a young artist. He was asked his reason for selecting her. He remarked that he chose her not so much for the beauty of her eyes, head, or lovely complexion. Instead, he admired her legs most, as they were "the sort of limbs a Diana or Venus must have had at her age". The contest won for her the title as the most beautiful girl in Australia.

Her mother was encouraged to let her sign with a stock company as soon as her school days ended. Her film debut was in the 1921 Australian film Know Thy Child. Mother and daughter set out for Hollywood, arriving in San Francisco on the 25th of March 1924. Lotus was picked by a director from Paramount Pictures from among a crowd of applicants.