17 September 2026 marks 95 years since the birth of American actress Anne Bancroft. She was born Anna Maria Louisa Italiano in the Bronx, New York, into a family of Italian heritage. She studied acting and first appeared in live television. Early in her film career she adopted the name Anne Bancroft.

After several Hollywood roles she turned to the New York stage. In The Miracle Worker she played teacher Anne Sullivan. The part brought a Tony on stage and the Academy Award for Best Actress in the film adaptation; the Academy ceremony was in 1963. One of her best-known characters is Mrs Robinson in The Graduate (1967), which brought another Oscar nomination.

Her films include The Pumpkin Eater, The Turning Point, Agnes of God, 84 Charing Cross Road and The Elephant Man. She was married to Mel Brooks from 1964 until her death. Her honours include Academy, Tony and Emmy awards. She died in 2005, aged 73.

Photo: 1952 publicity still for Don’t Bother to Knock. Public domain in the United States (studio publicity, copyright not renewed) via Wikimedia Commons.

Source consulted: Encyclopaedia Britannica — Anne Bancroft; AMPAS — 35th Academy Awards (1963).