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Wendy Barrie

Wendy Barrie

Actor · Died February 2, 1978, aged 65 · Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]

Wendy Barrie was a British actress who worked in British and American films. Barrie was born in London to English parents. Her father, Francis Charles John Graigoe Jenkin KC (1883 – 1936), was an employee of Great Western (according to the 1901 census), who then joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1902. Her mother was Ellen McDonagh. Hollywood gave her a more exotic parentage with her father being a King's Counsel and her mother a Russian-Jewish actress who had performed in the world's first professional Yiddish-language theater troupe. She received her education at a convent school in England and a finishing school in Switzerland. In 1932, Barrie made her screen debut in the film Threads, which was based upon a play. She went on to make a number of motion pictures for London Films under the Korda brothers, Alexander and Zoltan, the best known of which is 1933's The Private Life of Henry VIII, in which she portrayed Jane Seymour. In 1934, she appeared in Freedom of the Seas and was contracted by Fox Film Corporation for a film directed by Scott Darling that was made in Britain. The following year, she moved to the United States and made her first Hollywood film for Fox opposite Spencer Tracy in the romantic comedy It's a Small World, followed by Under Your Spell with Lawrence Tibbett. Loaned to MGM, Barrie starred opposite James Stewart in the 1936 film Speed. In 1939 she starred with Richard Greene and Basil Rathbone in the 20th Century Fox version of The Hound of the Baskervilles, and with Lucille Ball in RKO's Five Came Back. During 1939 and the early 1940s, Barrie made several of The Saint and The Falcon mystery films with George Sanders. She made her final motion picture in 1954. With the dawn of television, in the late 1940s, Barrie turned to roles in that medium. In 1956, she had a disc jockey program, the Wendy Barrie Show, on WMGM in New York City. She also hosted a widely syndicated radio interview show into the mid-1960s. After appearances in more than 15 films in Britain and more than 30 in Hollywood, Barrie's contribution to the industry was recognized with a motion pictures star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1708 Vine Street, near the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Her star was dedicated February 8, 1960. Barrie became a naturalized American citizen in 1942. She was reportedly engaged to and had a daughter named Carolyn with the infamous gangster Benjamin "Bugsy" Siegel, and at one time was married to textile manufacturer David L. Meyer. She died in Englewood, New Jersey, in 1978, aged 65, following a stroke that had left her debilitated for several years. She was buried in the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 18, 1912
Died
February 2, 1978 (aged 65)
From
Hong Kong, British Crown Colony [now China]
Works as
Actor
Titles
15 on MovieCove · 53 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 20% in 30 days

What are Wendy Barrie's films like?

Across their 12 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Crime6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 60th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
42%
Bonds
24%
Self
15%
Power
10%
Survival
10%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 12 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 7 · Serious 4 · Dark 1

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 11 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 9 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 4

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 1 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 3

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 3 of 5 analyzed roles.

Ally
3 of 5
Shapeshifter
2 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Warm
5
Thrilling
4
Joyful
2
Melancholic
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Feel-good6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy7
  • Bittersweet5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Wendy Barrie's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 7 of their 15 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wendy Barrie's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

53 credits, 15 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • It Should Happen to You(1954)

    as Guest Panelist

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Your Show of Shows (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Submarine Alert(1943)

    as Ann Patterson

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Follies Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Anne Merriday

  • Forever and a Day(1943)

    as Edith Trimble-Pomfret

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Eyes of the Underworld (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Betty Standing

  • A Date with the Falcon(1942)

    as Helen Reed

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Gangs Of The City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Bonnie Parker

  • The Gay Falcon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Helen Reed

  • Repent at Leisure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Emily Baldwin

  • The Saint In Palm Springs (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Elna Johnson

  • Who Killed Aunt Maggie? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Sally Ambler

  • Men Against the Sky (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Kay Mercedes

  • Cross-Country Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Diane North

  • The Saint Takes Over(1940)

    as Ruth Summers

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Women in War (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Pamela Starr

  • Day-time Wife (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Kitty Fraser

  • The Witness Vanishes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Joan Marplay

  • Five Came Back(1939)

    as Alice Melbourne

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • The Hound of the Baskervilles(1939)

    as Beryl Stapleton

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Saint Strikes Back(1939)

    as Valerie 'Val' Travers

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Pacific Liner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Ann Grayson

  • Newsboys' Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Gwen Dutton

  • I Am the Law(1938)

    as Frances 'Frankie' Ballou

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Prescription for Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Valerie Wilson

  • A Girl with Ideas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mary Morton

  • Dead End(1937)

    as Kay

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • What Price Vengeance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Polly Moore

  • Wings Over Honolulu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Lauralee Curtis

  • Breezing Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Gloria Lee

  • Under Your Spell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Cynthia Drexel

  • Ticket to Paradise(1936)

    as Jane Forbes

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Speed(1936)

    as Jane Mitchell

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Love on a Bet(1936)

    as Paula Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Millions in the Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Marion Keller

  • A Feather in Her Hat(1935)

    as Pauline Anders

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Big Broadcast of 1936 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Sue

  • College Scandal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Julie Fresnel

  • It's A Small World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Jane Dale

  • There Goes Susie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Madeleine Sarteaux

  • Freedom of the Seas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Phyllis Harcourt

  • Give Her a Ring (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Karen Svenson

  • It's a Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Mary Bogle

  • This Acting Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Joyce

  • The House of Trent (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Angela Fairdown

  • Cash (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Lilian Gilbert

  • The Private Life of Henry VIII(1933)

    as Jane Seymour

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Where Is This Lady? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Lucie Kleiner

  • The Barton Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Phyllis Grey

  • Wedding Rehearsal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Lady Mary Rose Wroxbury

  • Collision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Joyce Maynard

  • The Callbox Mystery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Iris Banner

  • Threads (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Olive Wynn

Career shape

Star power in the 87th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 53 titles from 1932 to 1954.

Highest rated

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

Midcredits 91st

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 53: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score67th

By decade

1930s37 · acting1940s14 · acting1950s2 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Wendy Barrie's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 15; across their 12 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 65th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Approval · how many liked their films

58thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Reach · how many have seen their films

37thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 12

Midcredits score across 15 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up7
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

None of their 15 titles divides audiences: 10 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved1
  • Crowd Pleaser10
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed1

Most loved · actor

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1939)

Midcredits 91st · 83% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 51. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Wendy Barrie work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wendy Barrie's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Allen Jenkins shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles