Dame Flora Robson, in full Dame Flora McKenzie Robson born in South Shields, Durham, British actress renowned for the excellence of her performances on the stage and in motion pictures, knew she was no beauty, but her wise and sympathetic face would become a familiar - indeed, shining - ornament of the 1930s and 40s silver screen.
Robson was educated at Palmer's Green High School, and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and made her first professional appearance at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London, in 1921.
She performed in repertory companies until 1924, when she left the theatre because of dissatisfaction with her professional progress.
After taking a job in a food-processing factory, she formed an amateur theatrical group among the workers there. She later credited this experience with enlarging her view of dramatic structure and acting.

Robson returned to professional acting in 1929 and in 1931 won wide acclaim for her performances in Eugene O’Neill’s Desire Under the Elms and James Bridie’s The Anatomist.
She soon gained a reputation for playing a wide range of roles. She appeared in motion pictures first in England in 1933 and later in Hollywood, made her stage debut in the United States in 1940, and began a television series in 1974.
Robson appeared in more than 100 stage plays and 60 motion pictures. She is best remembered for her roles in "Fire Over England" (1937), "The Sea Hawk" (1940), "Caesar and Cleopatra" (1945), "Saratoga Trunk" (1945), "Black Narcissus" (1947), "55 Days at Peking" (1963), "7 Women" (1966) and her last film "Clash of Titans" (1981).
She was created a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1952, and raised to Dame Commander (DBE) in 1960. She was also the first famous name to become President of the Brighton Little Theatre.
On 4 July 1958, Robson received an honorary DLitt from Durham University at a congregation in Durham Castle.
She was the subject of This Is Your Life in February 1961 when she was surprised by Eamonn Andrews in central London.

Source: Wikipedia.org