Dame Mary Louise Whitty, known professionally as May Whitty, was a British actress who worked in both theatre and film. After a long and celebrated career on the London stage, for which she was one of the first actresses to be made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1918, she moved to Hollywood in her later years. There, she became one of the most respected character actresses of her era. Her most iconic film role is arguably that of the governess Miss Froy in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller *The Lady Vanishes* (1938). She received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her performances in *Night Must Fall* (1937) and the celebrated *Mrs. Miniver* (1942), becoming the first Dame to receive an Academy Award nomination. Her other significant film appearances include *Bringing Up Baby* (1938) and *Gaslight* (1944), solidifying her reputation for a remarkable screen presence and an ability to portray mature and charismatic characters.