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Ruth Hussey

Ruth Hussey

Actor · Died April 19, 2005, aged 93 · Providence, Rhode Island, USA

​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Ruth Carol Hussey (October 30, 1911 – April 19, 2005) was an American actress best known for her Academy Award-nominated role as photographer Elizabeth Imbrie in The Philadelphia Story. After working as an actress in summer stock, she returned to Providence and worked as a radio fashion commentator on a local station. She wrote the ad copy for a Providence clothing store and read it on the radio each afternoon. She was encouraged by a friend to try out for acting roles at the Providence Playhouse. The theater director there turned her down, saying the roles were cast only out of New York City. Later that week, she journeyed to New York City and on her first day there, she signed with a talent agent who booked her for a role in a play starting the next day back at the Providence Playhouse. In New York City, she also worked for a time as a model. She then landed a number of stage roles with touring companies. Dead End toured the country in 1937 and the last theater on the road trip was at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, where she was spotted on opening night by MGM talent scout Billy Grady. MGM signed her to a players contract and she made her film debut in 1937. She quickly became a leading lady in MGM's "B" unit, usually playing sophisticated, worldly roles. For a 1940 "A" picture role, she was nominated for an Academy Award for her turn as Elizabeth Imbrie, the cynical magazine photographer and almost-girlfriend of James Stewart's character Macaulay Connor in The Philadelphia Story. In 1941, exhibitors voted her the third-most popular new star in Hollywood. Hussey also worked with Robert Taylor in Flight Command (1940), Robert Young in Northwest Passage (1940) and H.M. Pulham, Esq. (1941), Van Heflin in Tennessee Johnson (1942), Ray Milland in The Uninvited (1944), and Alan Ladd in The Great Gatsby (1949). In 1946, she starred on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning play State of the Union. Her 1949 role in Goodbye, My Fancy on Broadway caused a Billboard reviewer to write: "Miss Hussey brings a splendid aliveness and warmth to the lovely congresswoman...." She filled in for Jean Arthur in the 1955 Lux Radio Theater presentation of Shane, playing Miriam Start, alongside original film stars Alan Ladd and Van Heflin. In 1960, she co-starred in The Facts of Life with Bob Hope. Hussey was also active in early television drama.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
October 30, 1911
Died
April 19, 2005 (aged 93)
From
Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
24 on MovieCove · 54 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 42% in 30 days

What are Ruth Hussey's films like?

Across their 20 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: 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
Bonds
44%
Self
25%
Morality
20%
Power
6%
Survival
4%
Society
1%
Family bonds8 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 20 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 13 · Serious 6 · Dark 1

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

Grounded 14 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 1

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

Gentle 9 · Charged 10 · Intense 1

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

A split, not a type: Steady 10 · Shifting 8 · Whiplash 2

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

Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 8 · Funny 5

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

A split, not a type: Slow burn 11 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

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

Casual 12 · Engaged 8 · Full focus 0

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

Resolved 16 · Open-ended 4 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

13 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 8 of 13 analyzed roles.

Ally
8 of 13
Hero
2 of 13
Trickster
1 of 13
Shadow
1 of 13
Herald
1 of 13
Show the 13 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
8
Warm
8
Joyful
6
Romantic
6
Other
12

How their films linger

Feel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy13
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

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 Ruth Hussey's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 6 of their 24 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (4).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ruth Hussey'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

54 credits, 24 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • My Darling Daughters' Anniversary(1973)

    as Maggie Cartwright

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Resurrection of Broncho Billy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    as Voice Over

  • Vacation Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Nurse Edie Ramsey

  • The Facts of Life(1960)

    as Mary Gilbert

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Case of the Dangerous Robin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Maid

  • The DuPont Show with June Allyson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Maia

  • Playwrights '56 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Paula Hudson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • MGM Parade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Producers' Showcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Haines

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Alice Moore · as Katherine Benson · as Martha

  • The Christophers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Lady Wants Mink(1953)

    as Nora Connors

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Emma

  • Stars and Stripes Forever(1952)

    as Jennie Sousa

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Woman of the North Country(1952)

    as Christine Powell

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • That's My Boy(1951)

    as Ann Jackson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Hill Number One: A Story of Faith and Inspiration (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Mary

  • Mr. Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Lorna Marvis

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Harriet Craig · as Irene · as Kit Marlowe · as Linda Carson · as Meg · as Polly Baxter

  • Louisa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Meg Norton

  • The Great Gatsby(1949)

    as Jordan Baker

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as Nancy Edison

  • I, Jane Doe(1948)

    as Eve Meredith Curtis

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Bedside Manner(1945)

    as Dr. Hedy Fredericks, MD

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Marine Raiders(1944)

    as Lt. Ellen Foster

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Tender Comrade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Barbara Thomas

  • The Uninvited(1944)

    as Pamela Fitzgerald

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Tennessee Johnson (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Eliza McCardle Johnson

  • Pierre of the Plains(1942)

    as Daisy Denton

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • H.M. Pulham, Esq.(1941)

    as Cordelia 'Kay' Motford Pulham

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Married Bachelor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Norma Haven

  • Our Wife(1941)

    as Professor Susan Drake

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Free and Easy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Martha Gray

  • Flight Command(1940)

    as Lorna Gray

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Philadelphia Story(1940)

    as Elizabeth 'Liz' Imbrie

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Susan and God(1940)

    as Charlotte

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Northwest Passage(1940)

    as Elizabeth Browne

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Another Thin Man(1939)

    as Dorothy Waters

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Fast and Furious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Lily Cole

  • Blackmail (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Helen Ingram

  • The Women(1939)

    as Miss Wattson

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sybil Ames

  • Within the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mary Turner

  • Honolulu(1939)

    as Eve

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Spring Madness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Kate McKim

  • Time Out for Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Peggy Norton, victim

  • Marie Antoinette(1938)

    as Duchess de Polignac (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Rich Man, Poor Girl(1938)

    as Joan Thayer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Hold That Kiss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nadine Piermont

  • Judge Hardy's Children (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Margaret Lee

  • Man-Proof (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Jane (dialogue scenes deleted)

  • Madame X (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Annette

  • Big City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mayor's Secretary (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 54 titles from 1937 to 1973.

Biggest box office

Another Thin Man (1939)

$4.8M worldwide

Highest rated

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting54 of 54: 54 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1930s16 · acting1940s17 · acting1950s16 · acting1960s3 · acting1970s2 · acting

Billing

usually 4th · top billed in 0% of 8 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 Ruth Hussey's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 57th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 20 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Reach · how many have seen their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 20

Midcredits score across 24 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th6
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 24 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed4
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

My Darling Daughters' Anniversary (1973)

80th percentile spread · 21% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Midcredits 97th · 85% liked

Reviewers score the acting 70/100 in their films, across 18 reviewed titles; fans 78, detractors 49. 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 Ruth Hussey work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ruth Hussey's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Robert Young shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers