Trivia

While at MGM in the 1940s she said that she would liked to have been cast in more comedies rather than dramas, and was jealous that those roles were given to another redhead who recently signed with the studio, Lucille Ball. Ironically, Ball was dissatisfied at being overlooked for dramatic roles.

Played the wife of Walter Pidgeon a total of eight times; in Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), Julia Misbehaves (1948), The Miniver Story (1950), Scandal at Scourie (1953) and That Forsyte Woman (1949).

Donated millions to have the Greer Garson Theater built, at the College of Santa Fe. She had three conditions that had to be followed: 1) It had to be a working circular stage, 2) the first play had to be A Midsummer's Night Dream, and 3) it had to have large ladies' restrooms.

Tutored by Laurence Olivier during her theatre days in London.

In the 1982, she turned down Aaron Spelling's offer of a part in the hit soap Dynasty (1981), playing mother to Joan Collins's Alexis.

In 1952, she accepted the Oscar for best actress in a leading role on behalf of Vivien Leigh, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.

There is a Greer Garson Theater on the campus of Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Greer also donated many of her papers and personal effects to the Southern Methodist University Jake and Nancy Hamon Library.

Her mother's maiden name was Greer, a contraction of the name MacGregor. She is a descendant of Rob Roy MacGregor (he had red hair), of the Scottish clan Gregor.

Nominated for an Academy Award five years in a row: 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 and 1945. She holds the record for most consecutive nominations with Bette Davis.

A fire at her home destroyed the original Oscar she had won for best actress in Mrs. Miniver (1942). The Academy of Motion Pictures later sent her a replacement.

In 1938 she suffered malnutrition from embarking on a crash diet to achieve the standard Hollywood slimline figure.

Her first marriage lasted for the duration of her honeymoon. On her honeymoon in Germany (Harz Mountains) she was practically held hostage by her possessive husband and on her return to England she moved in with her mother and her husband moved to India.

Was the third English actress to win the Academy Award for Best Actress but the first to have been born in England (Vivien Leigh having been born in India and Joan Fontaine in Japan).

Although it is sometimes bandied about as an anecdotal piece of Oscar trivia, she did not "ramble on for over an hour" after receiving her 1943 Academy Award for Mrs. Miniver (1942). Her acceptance speech was actually only 5-1/2 minutes in length. This still makes it the longest acceptance speech ever.

She married Richard Ney after filming Mrs. Miniver (1942), in which he played her son.

Signed up by MGM boss Louis B. Mayer after he saw her acting on a London stage. (1937)

In the MGM all-star spectacular Ziegfeld Follies (1945), there is a skit entitled "The Great Lady Gives an Interview" written by Roger Edens and Kay Thompson. It was originally meant to be performed by Garson as a spoof of her image in dramas such as Madame Curie (1943). She refused to do it due to disapproval from her mother Nina Garson, and Judy Garland did a satirical impersonation of her as "Madame Crematon, the inventor of the safety pin".

Greer had one step-child, Gayle Fogelson (1934-2017), who was adopted by her husband Buddy E.E. Fogelson after his sister's death.

Was a naturalized citizen of the United States.

Was the 20th actress to receive an Academy Award; she won the Best Actress Oscar for Mrs. Miniver (1942) at The 15th Academy Awards on March 4, 1943.

Lana Turner remembered that in the MGM wardrobe department, Garson's fitting mannequin had the largest hips, "but she is a tall woman."

Is one of 12 actresses who won the Best Actress Oscar for a movie that also won the Best Picture Oscar (she won for Mrs. Miniver (1942)). The others are Claudette Colbert for It Happened One Night (1934), Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936), Vivien Leigh for Gone with the Wind (1939), Louise Fletcher for One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Diane Keaton for Annie Hall (1977), Shirley MacLaine for Terms of Endearment (1983), Jessica Tandy for Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Jodie Foster for The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Gwyneth Paltrow for Shakespeare in Love (1998), Hilary Swank for Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Frances McDormand for Nomadland (2020).

Replaced Rosalind Russell in the Broadway version of Auntie Mame in 1958.

In 1962, she accepted the Oscar for best actress in a leading role on behalf of Sophia Loren, who wasn't present at the awards ceremony.

Was a registered Republican and briefly considered running for Congress as a Republican in 1966. Despite this, she allegedly supported RFK's candidacy in 1968, along with Rosey Roosevelt Grier.

During the filming of Blossoms in the Dust (1941) she informed fan magazines that she planned to adopt two babies if she did not marry soon because every home in America should not be without children. She did not carry out her statement even though she did marry twice after declaring her wish to adopt.

Well-known for activities on behalf of educational and cultural institutions.

Had homes in Dallas, Los Angeles and ranch near Pecos, New Mexico.

She was a fan of the film Top Gun (1986).

Graduated from the University of London and studied at the University of Grenoble

Received the Women's International Center (WIC) Living Legacy Award in 1990.

She was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 1993 Queen's Honours List for her services to drama and entertainment.

Was a recipient of the prestigious TACA/Neiman-Marcus Silver Cup Award for her contributions to the arts in Dallas.

Best known for her role in Mrs. Miniver (1942)

First cousin twice removed of Jamie Dornan.

Starred in six Oscar Best Picture nominees: Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939), Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Mrs. Miniver (1942), Random Harvest (1942), Madame Curie (1943) and Julius Caesar (1953). Mrs. Miniver is the only winner. She was nominated for Best Actress for her performances in all of these except Random Harvest and Julius Caesar.

She was honored as Turner Classic Movies Star of the Month for March 2013.

Was in consideration for the part of Susan Trexell in Susan and God (1940), but Joan Crawford was cast instead.

She was Oscar nominated 7 times,.

Daughter of Nina Garson.

Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 225-227. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

A memorial service was held for her at St. Paul's Church, Covent Garden on 4th July 1996.

She was 'The fourth most-nominated woman' for the Best Actress Oscar.

Garson received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 1991.

In Italy, almost all her films were dubbed by Tina Lattanzi, except When Ladies Meet (1941) and The Happiest Millionaire (1967) where she was dubbed respectively by Giovanna Scotto and Rosetta Calavetta.