Constance Smith: Limerick’s Hollywood tragedy to air on TG4 

THE TRAGIC true story of the rise and fall of one of Hollywood’s shining female stars of the 1950s, Limerick actress Constance Smith, will be broadcast on TG4 this week.

The documentary Constance Smith—Tragóid Hollywood will air on TG4 on Wednesday, May 30 at 9.30pm.

Constance Smith, born in Ardnacrusha in 1928 and raised in 46 Wolfe Tone Street, was one of Hollywood’s leading actresses in the early- to mid-1950s. Headhunted by world-famous producer Darryl Zanuck after featuring in low-budget films in the UK, Smith had quickly forged a career in the United States by her early 20s.

“But she was her own worst enemy in a way. They wanted her to change her name because they thought Smith was too common; she wouldn’t do it. They wanted her to lose her Irish accent; she wouldn’t do it,” said documentary director, Brian Reddin. 

And after being refused desired leading roles in Zanuck’s films and being forced to have an abortion by the studio, the cards started to tumble for the young actress.

Zanuck, who was known to have a reputation for abusing women in the studio, made numerous advances towards young Smith.

“She wouldn’t have any of that either. With all that’s happening now with Harvey Weinstein, that’s nothing new in Hollywood, that was happening from day one in Hollywood. And it was certainly very prevalent in the 50s, and women like Constance Smith stood up to them–and probably to the detriment of their career,” he told the Limerick Leader. 

In 1958, Smith attempted suicide before being to rushed to hospital in Italy, where she was living with her partner.

In 1960, she and her partner and director Paul Rotha visited Limerick, and did exclusive interviews with both the Limerick Leader and the Limerick Chronicle. However, one year later, Smith was charged in connection with stabbing Rotha in the leg. On a later date, she was arrested in connection with an attempted murder.

Mr Reddin said when the inactive actress returned to England, she fell into a “tumbling cascade of disaster”, suffering from a drink and drug addiction.

Constance Smith died in Islington, England, in 2003, aged 75.

Mr Reddin said he was able to interview Smith’s half-sister and niece, thanks to the assistance of Limerick Chronicle historian Sharon Slater and archivist Declan McLoughlin, who both feature in the documentary.

“We spend a lot of time documenting the success stories, and I thought it would be interesting to look at a story that wasn’t a success, and that’s where it came from,” he said. 

Brian Reddin says Limerick “features quite significantly” in the documentary. Mr Reddin hosted the well-known The Last Picture Show on RTE and is a regular director of documentaries.