Elsa Chauvel Biography

Elsa Chauvel, OBE (née Elsie May Wilcox; 10 February 1898 " 22 August 1983) was an Australian filmmaker and actress, and the wife and collaborator of film director Charles Chauvel.

Early years

Elsa Chauvel was born Elsie May Wilcox in Collingwood, Melbourne, Australia on 10 February 1898. Her parents were Irish actor Edward Wilcox, also known by his stage name Edward Sylvaney, and Australian Ada Worrill. Elsa had an elder brother named Kyrle. In her early years, Elsa was often involved in her parents' theatrical performances, often under the name Elsie Sylvaney. While still a child, Elsa and her family travelled to South Africa, where they formed a travelling troupe. Elsa and Kyrle typically portrayed children onstage, but also used makeup to play adults when necessary. When the success of the family's shows waned, they returned to Cape Town, where, in 1909, youngest sibling Terry was born. Following World War One, in which Kyrle fought, the family travelled to Johannesburg. Here, Elsa performed in chorus lines, and later appeared in such plays as The Thirteenth Chair, A Royal Divorce, and Sign of the Cross. Following a successful stage tour in Basutoland, the family returned to Australia in 1924.

Charles Chauvel

Elsa first met her future-husband Charles Chauvel in 1926, following a performance of the musical Crackers at the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane, Queensland. Charles, a film director, was scouting for a leading lady for his second film, Greenhide. Though initially reluctant to audition for the part, she was persuaded by Charles to give a screentest, and was cast in the role. Charles and Elsa were married on 5 June 1927, at St James Church, Sydney, the ceremony officiated by Charles' brother, the Reverend John Chauvel. Following her marriage, Elsa performed on stage only occasionally, such as her 1929 season in San Francisco with Conway Tearle.

Work in film

In addition to starring in Greenhide, Elsa Chauvel was a frequent collaborator in her husband's work, active in various behind-the-scenes roles. Elsa often referred to herself as a "Girl Friday," but it has been remarked that "her occasional credits on the films do not do justice to her endless contributions." At first, Elsa's contributions were uncredited. Elsa accompanied Charles and cameraman Tasman Higgins to Pitcairn Island and Tahiti to film scenes for In the Wake of the Bounty (1933). Elsa was credited (under the pseudonym Ann Wynn) as production assistant on Heritage (1935), in which she also portrayed the character Mrs Macquarie. She later co-wrote the screenplays for Rangle River (1937), Forty Thousand Horsemen (1940), The Rats of Tobruk (1944), Sons of Matthew (1949) and Jedda (1955). Elsa served as associate producer on Sons of Matthew, and dialogue director on Jedda. Her various other duties included actor coaching, costume design, research, and make-up.

Later years

On 11 November 1959, Charles Chauvel died unexpectedly from coronary vascular disease. Following his death, Elsa worked to promote Australian film and preserve her husband's films. On 13 June 1964, she was awarded the Order of the British Empire, "in recognition of service to the Australian film industry." In 1973, she published a memoir, My Life with Charles Chauvel. Elsa moved from Sydney to Toowoomba, Queensland in 1977. She died there on 22 August 1983.