Belita

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Gladys Lyne Jepson-Turner (Belita) (October 25, 1923 - December 18, 2005) was born in Nether Wallop, Hampshire, England.

'Belita', as she was known, was an Olympic ice-skater, dancer and early film actress. She skated for Britain in the 1936 Olympics then turned to Hollywood to further her career.

In 1946 'Belita' married Joel McGinnis (marriage dissolved 1956), second James Berwick (died 2000).

As an actress 'Belita' starred in several highly profitable low-budget productions made by Monogram Studios. Her appearances included Silver Skates (1943), Lady, Let's Dance (1944) and Suspense (1946). Suspense, with its novel mixture of ice-skating and film noir proved enormously popular at the box-office and more than repaid the studio's investment.

'Belita' also appeared with Clark Gable in Never Let Me Go (1953), and played opposite Charles Laughton in The Cherry Orchard.

In 1956 she retired from skating and three years later gave up show business altogether.

Belita's autographed ice skates remain on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

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