Belita Jepson-Turner, 82; Skater in 1936 Olympics Starred in Films Designed to Exhibit Her Skills
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Belita Jepson-Turner, 82, who skated for Britain in the 1936 Olympics and later starred in Hollywood films designed to show off her prowess, died Sunday in France, where she had lived for many years.
During the 1940s she was described as “one of Hollywood’s top box-office stars” and appeared in about 10 highly profitable low-budget productions, such as “Lady Let’s Dance” (1944) and “Silver Skates” (1943).
As an actress she appeared with Clark Gable in “Never Let Me Go” (1953), played opposite Charles Laughton in “The Cherry Orchard” and was taught mime by Marcel Marceau.
She was mobbed by fans wherever she went. Then in 1956 she abruptly retired from the rink and three years later gave up show business altogether.
“I hated the ice. I hated the cold, the smell, everything about it,” she confessed, adding that she had only ever done it “for the money.”
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