Daughter of a former treasurer of the Melbourne Opera House, Marie Lohr made her debut on stage at the Criterion Theatre in Sydney in 1894, aged three. During her lengthy career, she became one of the most respected and prolific actresses of the British stage - both in comic and dramatic roles - much noted for her wit. She also toured Canada and the U.S. during the 1920's. Her screen appearances, beginning in 1916, were by necessity fewer. From the 1940's, she often played harridans, dowagers and formidable characters to be reckoned with.