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Norma Varden

Norma Varden

Actor · Died January 19, 1989, aged 90 · London, England, UK

Norma Varden Shackleton (20 January 1898 – 19 January 1989), known professionally as Norma Varden, was an English-American actress with a long film career.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 20, 1898
Died
January 19, 1989 (aged 90)
From
London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
60 on MovieCove · 120 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 39 days to Oct 28Down 11% in 30 days

What are Norma Varden's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 62nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 73rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama 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
45%
Morality
28%
Self
12%
Power
9%
Survival
5%
Society
2%
Romantic love7 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGreed2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 12 · Serious 3 · Dark 1

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 7 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 5

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

A split, not a type: Gentle 8 · Charged 7 · Intense 1

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

Steady 11 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 2

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

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 9

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

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 10 · 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 13 · Engaged 2 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 15 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
9
Warm
7
Tense
5
Romantic
4
Absurd
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Feel-good11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy12
  • Bittersweet2
  • 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 Norma Varden's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 28 of their 60 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (20).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Norma Varden'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

120 credits, 60 with a MovieCove page.

  • Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid(1982)

    as (in "The Glass Key") (archive footage)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Doc (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    as Mrs. Dobson

  • Istanbul Express(1968)

    as Englishwoman

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Doctor Dolittle(1967)

    as Lady Fetherington

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Batman(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Monteagle

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • A Very Special Favor(1965)

    as Mother Plum

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Sound of Music(1965)

    as Frau Schmidt

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Bewitched(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Lucille Dumont

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Kisses for My President(1964)

    as Miss Disendorff (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Island of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Wife in Nightclub (uncredited)

  • 13 Frightened Girls(1963)

    as Miss Pittford

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Lucy Show(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Van Vlack

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • The Beverly Hillbillies(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Van Ransohoff

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Rome Adventure(1962)

    as Dean of Briarcroft College for Women (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Five Minutes to Live(1961)

    as Priscilla Auerbach

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Hazel(1961)

    Show 13 episodes · as Harriet Johnson

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Mister Ed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Davis

  • Moochie of Pop Warner Football (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Miss Devon

  • Coronado 9 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Miracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Mrs. MacGregor

  • The Third Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Caroline Waterbury

  • Bonanza(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Ma Nutley

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • The Buccaneer(1958)

    as Madame Hilaire

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • 77 Sunset Strip (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Maude Courtright · as Mrs. Hotchkiss

  • In the Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Mrs. Smythe-Chumley

  • Witness for the Prosecution(1957)

    as Mrs. French

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Real McCoys(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Barton · as Mrs. Murdock · as Woman

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Winifred Wileen

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Gale Storm Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Gompers

  • Telephone Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Matinee Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Sylvester

  • Alfred Hitchcock Presents(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Jenny (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Jupiter's Darling(1955)

    as Fabia

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • The Wonderful World of Disney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miss Devon

  • Three Coins in the Fountain(1954)

    as Woman at Cocktail Party (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Danny Thomas Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Governess Quincy

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Head Nurse · as Mrs. Masters

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Gentlemen Prefer Blondes(1953)

    as Lady Beekman

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Young Bess(1953)

    as Lady Tyrwhitt

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Loose in London (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Aunt Agatha

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

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. MacDowell

  • The Life Of Riley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Mother

  • Mr. & Mrs. North(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Four Star Playhouse(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Tarmigan

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all shows

  • Adventures of Superman(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Mabel McCredy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Les Miserables(1952)

    as Madame Courbet (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Thunder on the Hill(1951)

    as Pierce

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • I Love Lucy(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Benson

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • The Red Skelton Hour(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Wealthy Art Patron

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Strangers on a Train(1951)

    as Mrs. Cunningham

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

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

    Show 1 episode · as Aunt

  • Fancy Pants(1950)

    as Lady Maude

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Secret Garden(1949)

    as Nurse

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Adventure in Baltimore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Helen Hadley Hamilton

  • Let's Live a Little(1948)

    as Nurse Brady

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Hollow Triumph(1948)

    as Mrs. Gerry (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Amazing Mr. X(1948)

    as Wealthy looking woman

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Where There's Life(1947)

    as Mabel Jones

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Forever Amber(1947)

    as Mrs. Abbott

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Ivy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Joan Rodney (uncredited)

  • The Trouble with Women (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Wilmer Dawson

  • Millie's Daughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Mrs. Sarah Harris

  • The Searching Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mrs. Hayworth

  • The Green Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mrs. Bosomley

  • Hold That Blonde!(1945)

    as Flora Carteret

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Girls of the Big House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Mrs. Thelma Holt

  • The Cheaters(1945)

    as Mattie

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Those Endearing Young Charms(1945)

    as Mrs. Woods, Hall's Floor Lady

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Bring on the Girls(1945)

    as Martha Neely

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • National Velvet(1944)

    as Miss Sims

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Mademoiselle Fifi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as The Wholesaler's Wife

  • The White Cliffs of Dover(1944)

    as Mrs. Bland

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • What a Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Miss Timmons

  • Sherlock Holmes Faces Death(1943)

    as Gracie the Barmaid

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • The Good Fellows(1943)

    as Mrs. Drayton

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Dixie(1943)

    as Mrs. LaPlant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Slightly Dangerous(1943)

    as Opera singer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Casablanca(1942)

    as Wife of Pickpocketed Englishman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Doughboy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Miss Penticott

  • Random Harvest(1942)

    as Julia

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Major and the Minor(1942)

    as Mrs. Osborne

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Glass Key(1942)

    as Henrys' Dinner Guest (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Flying with Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Miss Mullens

  • We Were Dancing(1942)

    as Mrs. Bryce-Carew

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Glamour Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mrs. Lee

  • Road to Zanzibar(1941)

    as Clara Kimble (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Scotland Yard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Lady Heathcote

  • Mr. District Attorney (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Hat Saleswoman

  • Waterloo Bridge(1940)

    as Hostess at Restaurant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Earl of Chicago(1940)

    as Maureen Kilmount

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Shipyard Sally (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Lady Patricia Randall

  • Everything Happens to Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mrs. Prodder

  • Rhythm Racketeer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Della Nash

  • Wanted! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Mrs. Smithers

  • Make-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Hostess

  • Fire Over England(1937)

    as Elena's Governess (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Windbag the Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Olivia Potter-Porter

  • East Meets West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lady Mallory

  • Where There's a Will (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Lady Margaret Wimpleton

  • The Amazing Adventure(1936)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Music Hath Charms (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Bit (uncredited)

  • Foreign Affaires (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Hardy Hornett

  • Get Off My Foot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Rawlingcourt

  • Stormy Weather (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Mrs. Dulcie Bullock

  • Boys Will Be Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Lady Dorking

  • Mimi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Madame Durand

  • The Student's Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Dora Streudelmeier, Karl's Aunt

  • Dirty Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Tiara Customer

  • The Iron Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Duchess of Richmond

  • Evergreen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Barmaid (uncredited)

  • Crime on the Hill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Editor's Secretary

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

    as Miss Stone, Secretary with Glasses

  • Turkey Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Ernestine Stoatt

  • A Night Like This (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1932)

    as Mrs. Tuckett(uncredited)

  • The Chance of a Night Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as Mrs. Rashley-Butcher (uncredited)

  • The Glorious Adventure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1922)

    as Court Lady (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 120 titles from 1922 to 1982; peak year 1966.

Biggest box office

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

$31K worldwide

Highest rated

Witness for the Prosecution (1957)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19221982

Peak 1966 · at the high point of their film career. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting120 of 120: 120 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score66th

By decade

1920s1 · acting1930s25 · acting1940s38 · acting1950s37 · acting1960s18 · acting1980s1 · acting

Billing

usually 12th · top billed in 0% of 21 roles
364656

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; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Norma Varden's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 63rd percentile, the median of all 45; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

45thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 60 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th28
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

39 of their 60 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved10
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed7

Most divisive · actor

The Good Fellows (1943)

84th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Casablanca (1942)

Midcredits 99th · 90% liked

Reviewers score the acting 69/100 in their films, across 15 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 43. 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.

Is Norma Varden's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 3 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Profanity3 titlesmedian 13 · minimalMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Norma Varden work with?

People who share at least 2 of Norma Varden's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Werner R. Heymann shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers