Joan Fontaine: Hollywood Woman of the World

Upon her return to California, Joan didn't want to live with her mother and sister, so she found a family friend to take her in. She began to pursue an acting career. Through a lucky connection, she won a small part in a local play with stage great May Robson.

The play led to a small role with Joan Crawford in No More Ladies (1935). She was billed as Joan Burfield because her sister had already claimed the family name for her movie career. She didn't get another role for two years.

One night, a fortune teller in a restaurant told Joan that she would find success with a stage name that ended in 'e'. Though she still resented Fontaine, it was the only name she could think of. Soon, her luck did begin to change.

In 1937, Joan appeared opposite Fred Astaire in Damsel in Distress and Katharine Hepburn in Quality Street. When she failed to make an impression in these roles, the studio thought she had potential and she was cast in a series of 'B' pictures where she could hone her skills.

The 'B' roles were an effective education. Joan finally gained attention as a soldier's sweetheart in Gunga Din (1939). She followed the part with another good role in the all-female cast of The Women (1939).

That year, Joan also married British movie actor Brian Aherne. Both agreed that it was no longer necessary for Joan to pursue a movie career. However, Aherne encouraged Joan to take a few roles in order to fill her days while he was at the studio.

At a dinner party one evening, Joan mentioned to producer David Selznick how much she had enjoyed the novel Rebecca, by Daphne Du Maurier. He told her that he had just purchased the rights to the book. Selznick was convinced that she would be perfect as the timid, insecure heroine.

After testing numerous actresses, Selznick gave Joan the female lead. Her costar Laurence Olivier was furious that his lover Vivien Leigh had not won the part. Director Alfred Hitchcock used the resulting tension on the set to coax a great performance from cowering Joan. She was nominated for an Academy Award. Though she didn't win, Joan became a star.

She followed her success with Suspicion (1941), another Hitchcock thriller. She was nominated again for an Academy Award, and this time she won. Winning was bittersweet for Joan; Olivia was also nominated for

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