Margaret Lindsay was a lesbian actress who refused to live her life in the closet
She was born Margaret Kies on September 19 1910 in Dubuque, Iowa. Her father was a druggist and she had five younger siblings. After graduating from high school she enrolled at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Then she moved to London, England and began acting on the stage. Margaret could do such a convincing British accent that people often believed she had been born in England! In 1932 she went to Hollywood and made her film debut in Okay, America. Soon after she was offered a contract at Warner Brothers. She had supporting roles in numerous films including Dangerous, Isle Of Fury, and Jezebel with
Bette Davis. The lovely brunette played James Cagney's love interest in Frisco Kid and Lady Killer. Unfortunately she was rarely given the chance to play leading roles. Margaret was a
lesbian and had a serious romance with actress
Janet Gaynor. Then she fell in love with actress Mary McCarty. The studio insisted she go out on public dates with actors like Cesar Romero and Dick Powell.
However she refused to get married and lived openly with Mary in Hollywood. She was devastated when her close friend Thelma Todd died mysteriously in 1936. Margaret had dined with Thelma the night before she died and was called to testify at her inquest. Her performance in the 1940 drama The House Of Seven Gables won rave reviews and she later said it was her favorite role. She co-starred with Marlene Dietrich in The Spoilers and with Joan Bennett in Scarlet Street. In 1943 she starred in Broadway in Another Love Story. During the 1950s she appeared on the television shows Studio 57 and Lux Video Theatre. Her final role was in the 1974 TV movie The Chadwick Family. Margaret and Mary enjoyed one of Hollywood's longest relationships. Sadly in 1980 Mary died from a heart attack at the age of fifty-six. On May 9, 1981 Margaret died from emphysema at the age of seventy. She was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
