Genevieve Blinn


Genevieve Blinn was a Canadian actress who appeared on stage and in Hollywood silent motion pictures. Born Genevieve Clothilde Nannery, she was a native of New Brunswick, Canada.

Family

Genevieve Nannery was the last member of an old theater family from Saint John, New Brunswick. Her brother Ed Nannary was a stage actor in New York City and on the west coast. Her sister May performed as a star of the old Alcatraz Theater in San Francisco, California.

Stage career

In October 1906 Blinn was the leading woman in the Ezra Kendall production of Swell, Elegant Jones. A comedy in three acts, the play was staged at the Wilmington, Delaware Opera House. The author of the play, Herbert Hall Winslow, also wrote The Vinegar Buyer. Brinn acted in stage roles opposite Richard Mansfield, Robert Mantel, and Willard Mack.
Blinn came to Los Angeles, California in February 1912 as the leading lady of the Burbank Stock Company. Her arrival was in the press after she established a name for herself in eastern theatrical engagements. In New York she appeared at the head of the Crescent Stock Company for the previous five months. Her first performance with Burbank came as "Ann Brown" in a farce called Seven Days. The primary comedy figure, Blinn played a woman who believed in theosophy.

Silent films

Blinn's career as a performer in movies began with a role as "Countess de Moray" in A Wife's Sacrifice. She is best known for her role as the Bath-Sheba in The Queen of Sheba. Aside from this feature, she was in a number of other films which starred Theda Bara.
Blinn retired from the stage and screen with the advent of sound motion pictures. Her last film was Common Clay, in which she played the role of "Mrs. Fullerton."

Personal life

Genevieve Nannery was married to a lumberman named Irving L. Blinn from Los Angeles, California. She petitioned for a divorce from her husband in July 1904.
Blinn died in 1956 in San Rafael, California following a long illness. A son, William Lewis Blinn, predeceased his mother. He was a member of the Olympic Club and a graduate of the University of Santa Clara.

Partial filmography